Sivori Cinema marks 130 years in Genoa

Sivori Cinema, recognised as the oldest cinema in Italy, celebrates its 130th anniversary with a programme of events on 25 May 2026. The day includes screenings, director talks and discussions highlighting the venue's cultural and social heritage.

The cinema's story began on 30 May 1896 with the first Lumière films; since then the venue has continuously screened films, evolving from celluloid to digital projection.

Schedule for 25 May

• 10:00 – Morning session for kindergarten and primary schools featuring stop-motion films created by students within the educational project La scuola di Cartoonia. Admission reserved for participating schools.
• 15:00 – Screening of the documentary Amianto: ten years of the trade union fight, followed by a public discussion with the directors and union representatives about the social and health impacts of asbestos exposure.
• 16:30 – Conversation in the series My Life's Film with the editor of Il Secolo XIX and a film critic, followed by a screening of Pietro Germi's Signore e signori.
• 19:30 – Public interview with Genoa's mayor on her chosen "film of life", followed by a screening of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire.

Practical information: the 25 May programme includes both public and school-only events. Check ticketing, reservations and access rules with the cinema's box office or official communication channels.

The Sivori stands as a cultural landmark in Genoa: originally a concert hall in the late 19th century, it has preserved an unbroken exhibition history that makes it a notable monument in Italy's cinematic heritage.