Cinema Europa, the last neighborhood cinema in Bucharest, turns 90 this year and is marking the anniversary with a special event on Wednesday, alongside the launch of the #LocCuLoc campaign — a large-scale renovation program that aims to rebuild the cinema seat by seat, with support from the community and partnering organizations.

Founded in 1935, Cinema Europa (formerly Mioriţa) is one of the few interwar cinemas that have survived in Bucharest. Less than a year ago, the building was in an advanced state of decay, with an almost empty hall and the real risk of being lost for good. After being taken over by the Sustin.org Association, the cinema went through an accelerated revitalization process: over 400 films screened, 50,000 spectators, dozens of themed weekends, and an active volunteer community that keeps the place alive night after night.

Anniversary Event

The anniversary will be marked by a special event hosted at Cinema Europa (Calea Moşilor 127). Starting at 18:00, guests will be welcomed with live music and a welcome drink, in an atmosphere inspired by the 1920s, celebrating the stories that kept the cinema alive and the community that brought it back onto the cultural map.

From 19:00, representatives of the Sustin.org Association, Cinema Europa volunteers and Irina-Margareta Nistor, Cinema Europa Ambassador, will share the story of the place — from an almost abandoned cinema to a cultural venue that, in just one year, has become a vibrant community space filled to capacity every weekend. The evening continues with a screening of Midnight in Paris, a symbolic choice — a film about memory, art and places that keep their soul intact, just like Cinema Europa. The event ends with socializing in the foyer accompanied by live 1920s-style music.

The #LocCuLoc Campaign: a three-stage renovation plan supported by the community

The same evening marks the official launch of the #LocCuLoc campaign, an initiative through which every spectator can directly contribute to the reconstruction of the cinema. This next major phase of rehabilitation proposes a full reconstruction of the hall, where each “adopted seat” directly supports infrastructure upgrades — from seat comfort to acoustic treatments, screen, sound, lighting, foyer improvements and the entire projection system.

The total estimated investment is €760,000, structured into three stages:
 • Stage 1 – Start & Active Projection (€220,000): general repairs, seat refurbishment, foyer improvements, acquisition of the main projector.
• Stage 2 – Comfort & Infrastructure (€320,000): full modernisation of the hall, HVAC systems, electrical installations, and acoustic treatments.
• Stage 3 – Full Experience (€220,000): Dolby audio system, new screen, digital signage, and complete replacement of all seats.

Through #LocCuLoc, companies and individuals can contribute directly via dedicated packages: from adopting a single seat — with public recognition and access to special cinema events — to corporate packages offering extended visibility, hall branding opportunities, and the option to host private events.

“When we first entered Cinema Europa, it was more of a ghost cinema than a living space: old seats, an almost empty hall, no sign that anything relevant could still happen there. In just one year, the public and the volunteers proved the opposite. The #LocCuLoc campaign is how we move from patchwork repairs to a serious reconstruction: we rebuild the hall end to end, seat by seat, together with everyone who believes this place deserves to be saved,” said Costin Creţulescu, co-founder of Sustin.org.

“We see Cinema Europa every weekend, from inside the hall: from the first applause after a good film to the children discovering a big screen for the first time. #LocCuLoc means putting real infrastructure behind those moments. Every adopted seat is a statement that Bucharest still needs neighborhood cinemas and that heritage cultural spaces can be saved with community support. If we succeed here, we show that this model can be replicated in other forgotten places on the city’s map,” added Andrei Gâţu, co-founder of Sustin.org.

Sustin.org is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the development of education and culture in Romania through projects that connect communities, teachers, children, artists and public institutions. Its mission is to create contexts where children and young people have access to modern learning resources, meaningful stories and high-quality cultural experiences.

Written by Aura Marinescu | 19 11 2025, 11:55