What Cinemateket does

Cinemateket is Norway's national cinema, established in May 1984 as part of Norsk filminstitutt (NFI), the Norwegian Film Institute founded in 1975. It operates as a state-affiliated cultural institution under the Norwegian Ministry of Culture, screening classic and alternative contemporary films in their original theatrical formats — including 70mm, 35mm analog, and DCP (Digital Cinema Package) projection — at its headquarters at Dronningens gate 16 in Oslo. The venue serves cinephiles, families, youth, and educational institutions through curated programming cycles, themed retrospectives, and special events, with sub-brands dedicated to children (Barnas Cinematek) and young audiences (Cinemateket Ung). Its two primary cinema halls, Tancred and Lillebil, host ongoing screenings alongside signature events such as the biennial 70mm Festival (running since 2000 and reaching its 15th edition in 2026), silent film concerts with live accompaniment, and the audience-request series Ønskefilmen.

The business model combines earned revenue from ticket sales (100 NOK adult, 60 NOK youth), annual membership subscriptions, and cinema rental (Kinoutleie) for private events, supplemented by state funding through its parent organization. Cinemateket extends its programming reach beyond Oslo through the satellite 'Cinemateket rundtomkring' program at partner venues including Vega Scene, Symra kino, and Kunstnernes Hus kino, and through cross-institutional collaborations with Oslo Jazzfestival, Institut français, and TrAP. After closing for renovations in 2022, the venue reopened in April 2023. The institution operates with a lean team of approximately 14 employees and is part of the broader Norwegian and international cinematheque network, with no venture capital, private equity, or listed-company ownership structures in evidence.

Name

Cinemateket

Legal name

Norsk filminstitutt (operates Cinemateket)

Website

https://cinemateket.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Cinemateket is Norway's national cinema, operated by Norsk filminstitutt, screening classic and alternative contemporary films in 70mm, 35mm, and DCP formats from its Oslo headquarters and serving cinephiles, families, youth, and educational institutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art House Cinema Exhibition

NAICS

Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Independent & Art-house Cinemas (MPADAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ), Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Alternative Content Exhibition (Live Broadcasts, Concert Films, Sports, Opera) (MPADAKAG)

Keywords

• Classic film exhibition
• Art house cinema
• Specialty film formats
• Film history education
• Cultural cinema programming

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from individual and group ticket sales for film screenings across multiple price tiers
2. Membership Program: Annual membership subscription offering discounts on tickets and exclusive benefits
3. Cinema Rental: Kinoutleie - renting out cinema facilities for private events and screenings

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Cinemateket operates as Norway's national cinema, screening classic films and alternative contemporary films in dedicated theatrical formats (70mm, 35mm, DCP) at its Oslo location across multiple cinema halls. Programming is delivered through thematic cycles, festivals such as the 70mm Festival, dedicated sub-brands for children and youth, educational outreach to schools and kindergartens, satellite screenings at partner venues across Norway, and a private cinema rental service.

Product overview

Cinemateket is a Norwegian cinema operated by the Norwegian Film Institute (Norsk filminstitutt), offering a unified cinema experience centered on screening classic films and alternative contemporary films as they are meant to be seen. The organization operates two primary cinema halls in Oslo — Tancred and Lillebil — and extends its programming nationally through satellite screenings at partner venues including Vega Scene, Symra Kino, and Kunstnernes Hus Kino. Its portfolio spans multiple program series: regular film screenings (Forestillinger) as the core product; specialized sub-brands such as Barnas Cinematek (children's cinema), Cinemateket Ung (youth cinema), and Cinemateket rundtomkring (satellite/outreach screenings); seasonal events such as the 70mm-festivalen (70mm film festival); educational offerings including Skoler og barnehager (school programs) and Filmhistoriekurs (film history lectures); and services such as Kinoutleie (private cinema rental) and Medlem (membership). Thematic program series include audience-request films (Ønskefilmen), and collaborations with festivals such as Oslo Jazzfestival and events like Stumfilmkonserten (silent film concerts).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Barnas cinematek: Children's cinema programming featuring family-friendly and child-appropriate films.
• Cinemateket ung
• 70mm-festivalen

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Oslo JazzfestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Annual partnership for jazz-themed film screenings during the Oslo Jazz Festival, featuring films like Round Midnight and En katt i Paris as part of festival programming.
• Institut françaisminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022French cultural institute supporting French film screenings including Pacifiction through Institut français and IF Cinema partnerships.
• TrAP (Transcultural Arts Production)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Collaboration on the 'My Voice You Can't Hear' film series exploring gender-nonconforming identities in partnership with Salam, Nasjonalmuseet and cinematekene in Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, and Tromsø.
• Vega ScenecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner cinema venue for 'Cinemateket rundtomkring' satellite screenings, hosting special events and festival programming.
• Symra kinominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional cinema partner for expanded reach of Cinemateket programming.
• Kunstnernes Hus kinominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorArt house cinema partnership for 'Cinemateket rundtomkring' programming.
• Norsk filminstitutt (NFI)flagshipOthersParent organization. Cinemateket is part of the Norwegian Film Institute, which operates the national cinema as a cultural institution.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Metrograph: New York City repertory and new-release cinema with a strong curatorial identity and in-house dining. Comparable to Cinemateket in its art-house positioning, premium screening formats, and emphasis on curated thematic programming for film enthusiasts.
• Det Danske Filminstitut (Danish Film Institute): Denmark's national film institute, operating Cinematheque programming in Copenhagen. A direct Nordic peer with a comparable mandate — state-funded cinematheque operations, festival programming, educational services, and curation of classic/art cinema for a national audience.
• Svenska Filminstitutet / Cinemateket Stockholm: Sweden's national film institute and cinematheque in Stockholm, the closest Nordic counterpart to Cinemateket Oslo. Both operate as state-backed national cinematheques with curated classic/alternative programming, membership programs, and educational outreach under a national film institute umbrella.
• BFI (British Film Institute): The UK's national film institute, operating BFI Southbank and the BFI IMAX. Closely comparable as a publicly-backed cinematheque and repertory cinema operator with curated classic/arthouse programming, membership, educational outreach, and a national film culture mandate.
• Anthology Film Archives: New York-based nonprofit devoted to the exhibition and preservation of avant-garde, classic, and experimental cinema. Comparable to Cinemateket as a curated cinematheque-type institution showing rare and historically significant films in dedicated theatrical settings.
• IFC Center: Independent art-house cinema in New York City operated by AMC. Comparable as a specialty cinema focused on independent, classic, and repertory programming with curated retrospectives and special-format screenings targeting cinephile audiences.
• American Cinematheque: Los Angeles-based nonprofit cinematheque operating repertory screenings at the Egyptian Theatre and Aero Theatre. A direct international peer with a similar mission of preserving and exhibiting classic and alternative cinema in dedicated theatrical settings.
• Film Forum: Nonprofit art-house cinema in Greenwich Village, New York, renowned for curated retrospectives, independent releases, and restored classic prints. Comparable to Cinemateket as a mission-driven repertory cinema with a cinephile focus and curated programming cycles.
• Cinémathèque française: Paris-based cinematheque founded by Henri Langlois, one of the world's most renowned film archives and exhibition institutions. Directly comparable to Cinemateket as a national-level cinematheque offering curated retrospectives, rare-format screenings, and educational programming.

Regional players

• Yleisö (Finnish Film Foundation) / Cinema Kino Helsinki: Finnish national-level film culture body supporting cinema programming in Finland, including repertory cinema offerings. Comparable as a Nordic regional peer focused on state-supported film exhibition and audience development, though operating in a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cinemateketioslo
• Instagraminstagram.com/cinemateketioslo
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cinemateket

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cinemateket