Stadtkino Basel

What Stadtkino Basel does

Stadtkino Basel is an independent art-house cinema operator headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, running a multi-venue cultural cinema network. The main Stadtkino venue sits at Klostergasse 5 in Basel city center, supplemented by the Landkino satellite network of three regional cinemas (Sputnik in Liestal, Im Alten Kino in Allschwil, and Marabu in Gelterkinden) and the Kinemathek Le Bon Film program for curated retrospectives and archive work. The cinema is a member of FIAF (Fédération Internationale des Archives du Film) and positions itself as the Basel region's principal platform for independent, foreign-language, classic, and documentary film. Programming is organized around Filmreihen (themed film series), Spezialprogramme (special programs), premiere screenings, and co-presentations with established festivals including Lust*streifen, Bildrausch, CultureScapes, Konomi, and Aube.

The technical stack is conventional cinema exhibition infrastructure: DCP digital projection capability alongside 35mm film projection, supported by box office operations at the main venue, phone reservations, and online ticketing through the advance-ticket.ch platform. Marketing is multi-channel — official website, Mailchimp-distributed newsletter, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram social accounts, partner cross-promotion, downloadable program booklets, and an online poster shop (Plakatshop).

The business model is a diversified B2C cinema operation. Primary revenue comes from ticket sales at CHF 17 (standard), CHF 13 (reduced), and CHF 8 (social discount for KulturLegi/IV recipients); recurring revenue from annual and multi-year membership programs (Abos, including Passpartout Super8); ancillary revenue from an on-site bar, private cinema rental (Kinovermietung), gift vouchers (Gutscheine), and cinema advertising (Kino-Werbung & Inserate). Customer segments are local Basel-region cultural film enthusiasts, the broader Basel community (membership and school group bookings), and film industry/artists attending festivals and premieres. The authorized representative listed on the privacy notice is Michelle Nüssli; no parent company, external investor backing, or public listing is disclosed.

Name

Stadtkino Basel

Legal name

Stadtkino Basel

Website

https://stadtkinobasel.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1931

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Stadtkino Basel operates an independent art-house cinema network in the Basel region, comprising a main venue plus three Landkino satellites and the Kinemathek Le Bon Film program, serving cultural film enthusiasts, local community members, and festival attendees.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art House Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Museums (712110)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830)

akta.pro primary industry

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Private Screenings & Venue Rentals (Corporate, Parties) (MPADAKAJ)

Keywords

• Art house cinema
• Independent film exhibition
• Film festival programming
• Cinema venue rental
• Film archive screenings

Headquarters

HQ city

Basel

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue from individual film screenings and special events across Stadtkino Basel, Landkino, and Kinemathek venues. Standard tickets at CHF 17, reduced tickets at CHF 13, and discounted tickets (KulturLegi/IV) at CHF 8.
2. Memberships and Subscriptions (Abos): Annual and multi-year membership programs offering discounted access to screenings and special benefits.
3. Bar Operations: On-site bar providing refreshments to cinema patrons.
4. Venue Rental: Cinema rental services for private screenings and events (Kinovermietung).
5. Advertising: Cinema advertising and advertising space (Kino-Werbung & Inserate) for local businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Stadtkino Basel operates a multi-venue art house cinema in the Basel region of Switzerland, screening independent, international, classic, and documentary films across its main Stadtkino venue, three Landkino satellite cinemas, and the Kinemathek Le Bon Film archive program. Its core offering is curated film exhibition complemented by themed film series, special programs, premieres, festival co-presentations, an on-site bar, gift certificates, cinema rental for private events, and annual membership subscriptions (Abos).

Product overview

Stadtkino Basel operates as a multi-venue cinema organization offering a unified cultural experience. The core offering consists of the main Stadtkino Basel cinema, the Landkino network of satellite venues (Sputnik, Altes Kino, Marabu), and the Kinemathek Le Bon Film archive. Programming centers on Filmreihen (themed film series), Spezialprogramme (special programs), Premieren (premieres), and Le Bon Film (curated selections). Additional services include membership programs (Abos), gift certificates (Gutscheine), a bar, private cinema rental (Kinovermietung), and advertising opportunities (Kino-Werbung & Inserate).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Landkino: A network of multiple cinema locations operated by Stadtkino Basel, including Sputnik (Liestal), Im Alten Kino (Allschwil), and Marabu (Gelterkinden).
• Kinemathek Le Bon Film

Products and services

• Stadtkino Basel Main Cinema
• Landkino Network
• Kinemathek Le Bon Film
• Filmreihen (Themed Film Series)
• Spezialprogramme (Special Programs)
• Premieren (Premiere Screenings)
• Abos (Membership Subscriptions)
• Gutscheine (Gift Vouchers)
• Stadtkino Bar
• Kinovermietung (Cinema Rental)
• Kino-Werbung & Inserate (Cinema Advertising)

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Hochschule der Künste Bern (HKB)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of the Arts Bern collaborates with Stadtkino Basel on film presentations and screenings, including events like Diaspora Diaries presented by HKB.
• Gustav Benz HausminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration on the 'Aufbruch – Vom Mut, neue Wege zu gehen' film and lecture series focused on aging, now also involving the Diakonie Fachstelle of the Reformed Church Baselland.
• BalimagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing cooperation for the Basler Filmtreff series, featuring Basel films and filmmakers with discussions and events. Organized and moderated by Balimage representatives.
• CultureScapes FestivalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the annual CultureScapes festival programming, including retrospectives such as Jocelyne Saab and documentary programming on Sahara themes.
• Bildrausch Filmfest BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-presentation of films including the Peter-Liechti-Wanderpreis winner The Shards by Masha Chernaya.
• Lust*streifen Film Festival BaselcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for the 18th Lust*streifen Queer Film Festival Basel with 'Queer Coming of Age' as the central theme.
• Konomi FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint programming with Konomi Festival for Japanese culture events, including 'Japan in Blüte' (Cherry Blossom) film programming and sake tasting combinations.
• Short Shorts Film Festival & AsiaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCollaboration partner for Japanese short film programming in conjunction with Konomi Festival events.
• Aube Film FestivalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPresentation of Aube Film Festival content including Deal at the Border from Kyrgyzstan.
• FIAF (Fédération Internationale des Archives du Film)coreOthersInternational Federation of Film Archives membership demonstrating commitment to film preservation and archival standards.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Kino Xenix: Independent art-house cinema in Zürich offering curated independent, foreign, and documentary films with themed film series. Directly comparable to Stadtkino Basel as a Swiss cultural cinema institution with similar programming philosophy and event-driven model.
• Bourbaki Kino: Programmkino in Lucerne offering curated art-house and independent cinema with special events and filmmaker discussions. Comparable as a Swiss independent cultural cinema with similar event-driven programming and festival partnerships.
• Kino Rex Bern: Independent program cinema in Bern offering curated film programming with festivals and special events. Comparable as a Swiss cultural cinema institution focused on art-house and auteur cinema with a similar city-based venue model.
• Filmpodium Zürich: Film archive and curated cinema in Zürich presenting classic films, retrospectives, and auteur cinema. Comparable to Stadtkino Basel's Kinemathek Le Bon Film archive mission and special screening programming for cinephile audiences.
• Cinéma Spoutnik: Independent art-house cinema in Geneva with curated programming and festival partnerships. Comparable as a Swiss cultural cinema with a similar curatorial and event-driven model targeting cinephile and culturally engaged audiences.
• Kino RiffRaff: Independent art-house cinema in Zürich with a curated program of independent, foreign, and classic films. Comparable as a Swiss cultural cinema with similar curatorial approach, community engagement, and multi-screen programming.

Emerging players

• MUBI: Global streaming platform specializing in curated independent, foreign, and classic cinema. Comparable as an emerging player in the art-house film exhibition space, representing a substitute for the curated cinema experience that competes for the same audience attention.

Broad incumbents

• blue Cinema: One of Switzerland's largest cinema operators with multiplex venues across the country. Comparable as a broader Swiss cinema chain, though oriented toward mainstream commercial releases and competing for the same overall Swiss cinema attendance pool.
• KITAG Kino-Theater AG: Major Swiss cinema chain operating multiplex and art-house venues across Switzerland. Comparable as a broader cinema operator in the Swiss market with overlap in the art-house segment and similar revenue mix considerations.
• Pathé Schweiz: Major Swiss cinema chain operating multiplex and premiere venues across Switzerland. Comparable as a broader cinema operator in the same national market, though focused on commercial films rather than art-house cinema.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/stadtkinobasel
• Facebookfacebook.com/stadtkinobasel
• Instagraminstagram.com/stadtkinobasel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/stadtkino-basel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries5 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 Stadtkino Basel