Rialto De Pijp has been running as a movie theater since 1921 and has become a fixture for movie lovers in the neighborhood. It is not a commercial chain, but an arthouse cinema focusing on European and non-Western independent films. The program includes feature films, documentaries and classics, complemented by themed programs and special nights.
The theaters are relatively small. You sit close to the screen and notice that the audience consciously comes for the film. You notice this especially on evenings with an introduction, an interview afterwards or a themed program. Then the audience remains seated to listen to makers, programmers or guests who go deeper into the subject of the film.
Rialto De Pijp is more than just a place to catch a movie. The cinema positions itself as a cultural meeting point in the neighborhood. After-show discussions or question-and-answer sessions are regularly organized around larger programs and specials, sometimes extended with a small after-party. As a result, the audience does not walk away immediately after the credits roll, but the conversation moves to the foyer.
Rialto De Pijp is more than just a place to catch a movie.
The organization behind the cinema has recently expanded to include a second location: Rialto VU, on the campus of the Vrije Universiteit. This has added more theaters and more space for programming, while Rialto De Pijp remains the familiar neighborhood cinema where world cinema and conversation with the audience are central.