Cine São Carlos, Historic movie theater in São Carlos, Brazil

Cine São Carlos is a movie theater housed in a heritage-listed building in downtown São Carlos with two screening rooms and a combined seating capacity of 540 seats. The screens show both international releases and Brazilian films throughout the week.

The current cinema opened on 10 November 2008 in the building of the former Cine Studio I (1976-1999) and Cine Progresso (1964-1969), acquired under mayor Newton Lima Neto, who announced the purchase in 2007. Its reopening night screened O Quintal dos Guerrilheiros, a short film directed by João Massarolo and made in the city. The upper floor also housed the TV Educativa de São Carlos studio. An earlier Cine São Carlos, opened in 1953, was demolished in the 1970s.

The 2008 reopening night screened O Quintal dos Guerrilheiros, a short film directed by João Massarolo and produced in São Carlos. The upper floor also housed the TV Educativa de São Carlos studio, installed at a cost of about R$ 700,000. Ticket sales are handled by Cinematográfica Casella & Casella, which won the bidding and passes 4% of ticket revenue to the Municipal Culture Fund.

Cine São Carlos sits at Rua Major José Inácio 2514, in the city centre, on the upper floor of the building that also housed the TV Educativa de São Carlos studio. The two screening rooms together hold 540 people, so check which room your film is in before heading up.

The building was designed and constructed by an Italian immigrant who made his fortune in furniture manufacturing and invested his wealth into several architectural projects across São Carlos. It stands as an example of the architectural vision brought by foreign entrepreneurs to Brazil during that era.