Freiluftkino Insel am Tempelhofer Feld

A Move, Not a Farewell

Freiluftkino Insel was home to the RAW grounds in Friedrichshain for years — on a meadow between old railway workshops, with a Kreuzberg vibe and a regular audience of film buffs and locals. In 2026, the cinema is moving to the south of Berlin: to the Atelier Gardens site on Oberlandstraße, located directly on the southern edge of Tempelhofer Feld. The location is new, the concept remains.

Atelier Gardens — Where Films Are Made

Atelier Gardens is a newer cultural area on the grounds of the historic Berlin Union-Film Tempelhof. Legendary films have been produced here since the 1920s — Bob Fosse's "Cabaret" (1972), Wolfgang Becker's "Sonnenallee," and countless other classics. The film studio heritage is still visible on the premises (old sound studios, workshops) — the organizers play with this past, creating a cinema experience that considers the history of the location.

The Program: Arthouse, Classic, International

The Insel's program differs from commercial cinema: it primarily features independent films, contemporary German and European auteur cinema, classics (often in thematic series), silent films with live musical accompaniment, festival films from Berlinale, and documentaries. Most films are shown in their original language with German or English subtitles — a service that reaches Berlin's international audience.

Atmosphere

Seating with folding chairs, some blanket spots on the lawn, a small bar with beer, wine, and snacks. The screening only begins when it's truly dark — in midsummer, this means around 9:45 PM. Those who arrive early can experience the pre-show (short film, ads for local cinemas, sometimes an introductory talk). In case of rain, the screening will be rescheduled to a later date — tickets remain valid.

Berlin's Open-Air Cinema Tradition

Berlin has an unusually dense open-air cinema scene — Insel, Pompeji, Kreuzberg, Friedrichshain, Schloss, Hasenheide, and many more. Insel positions itself as a curated cinema with a clear film selection, distinct from the mainstream open-air experience of large multiplex chains. Those who want to spend summer evenings with sophisticated cinema belong to the Insel clientele.