Zita, Movie theater in Östermalm, Stockholm, Sweden
Zita is a cinema at Birger Jarlsgatan 37 in Stockholm, run by Folkets Bio since 1993 in three halls designed by Lollo Riemer-von Platen. The building, Italien större 12, was designed by Hagström & Ekman and finished in December 1912. Above the screen, high under the ceiling, two gilded stucco cupids survive from the original decoration.
The building, designed by Hagström & Ekman, was completed in December 1912 and opened as the Vinter-Palatset cinema on 10 September 1913 with 424 seats, its first film being a French adaptation of Zola's novel. It was renamed Gyllene Göken in 1914, became Rita in 1930 after a rebuild, and Nya Rita in 1965. From 1984 it operated as the Zita porn cinema until 1991; Folkets Bio reopened it on 2 April 1993 after a conversion into three halls.
Zita is run by Folkets Bio and shows quality films that struggle to reach the big cinema chains. It is a key venue for many of Stockholm's film festivals throughout the year, and in 2024 the Europa Cinemas network awarded it Best programming for its work showing European film.
You can purchase tickets at the box office, which opens before the first screening and closes shortly after the final show. Arriving early gives you time to explore the space and choose a good seat.
The only original decoration left is the pair of gilded stucco cupids flanking the screen high under the ceiling. The hall also had a glazed lantern in the ceiling, covered underneath with an iron plate to keep the auditorium dark; the old ceiling is now hidden by a lowered one.
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