Kino Světozor offers seats for adoption, it needs money

Prague - A large-scale reconstruction of the main hall, projection booth, and some other areas is planned for the end of this year at the Prague cinema Světozor. The operators want to secure funding, among other things, through the adoption of new seats. The project entitled "Adopt Your Seat" was presented to the public today.
    Starting from early December, the Světozor cinema will be closed due to the planned reconstruction. Over the course of a few weeks, there will be a complete replacement of seats in the main hall, the projection screen will be moved closer to the audience, and plans also include improved sound insulation. The projection booth, bar area, exhibition gallery, and not least the cinema's restrooms will also undergo reconstruction. "We hope that the modernization will not take more than two months. We would like to reopen the cinema at the end of January," stated Ivo Andrle, the program director of the Aero and Světozor cinemas.
    The designer of the reconstruction is architect Marcela Steinbachová. "The new design will be conceived as a tribute to some famous film works. We have tried to reinterpret some well-known film scenes in the interior, for example, from the films Twin Peaks or Dogville," Steinbachová presented the project. The operators decided on the reconstruction on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the cinema's opening.
    The modernization has been financially supported by the Czech Film Fund for the support and development of Czech cinematography, but the operators would also like to secure part of the funds from sponsors and private donors. They have prepared the "Adopt Your Seat" project for them. Interested individuals will have the opportunity to adopt a new seat in the main hall for five years. By contributing CZK 5,000 for individuals or CZK 20,000 for companies, they will become members of the adoptive parents' association and, in addition to having their names placed on the seat, will receive several other benefits, including free access to ten film screenings.
    The first godmothers and godfathers of the adoption initiative are documentary filmmaker Helena Třeštíková, director of the Prague Zoo Petr Fejk, soprano Magdalena Kožená, artistic director of the Karlovy Vary festival Eva Zaoralová, director Petr Zelenka, and theater artists Matěj and Petr Forman. "I love Světozor cinema. I spent my childhood and youth there since I lived nearby, and the cinema has always been an important part of my world. Being a godparent of a seat in Světozor is a great joy for me," Třeštíková added.