On 2 July, VU Griffioen, the cultural centre of VU University Amsterdam, will take over the running of the Rialto VU cinema, located in Amsterdam-Zuid. The cinema, which is currently still managed by the Rialto cinema on Ceintuurbaan in Amsterdam, will change its name on that day: Rialto VU will become Rialto VU Griffioen.
In November 2021, the Rialto cinema, which has been based on Ceintuurbaan for over a hundred years, opened the doors of a new venue at 1111 De Boelelaan: Rialto VU. The VU’s new university building, which had been completed shortly before, offered an excellent opportunity to revitalise cultural life in both the neighbourhood and on the university campus. Alongside Rialto VU, the VU Griffioen cultural centre and the VU Art Science Gallery also took up residence in the building.
Following close consultation, it has been decided to transfer the day-to-day running of Rialto VU to VU Griffioen with effect from 2 July; after all, VU Griffioen has extensive experience of running the Griffioen arthouse cinema, having previously been based in Uilenstede. This autumn, Rialto will once again open a new venue on Zeeburgereiland: Rialto Silo. In view of the efforts required to make that cinema a success, it has been decided to transfer Rialto VU to VU Griffioen.
The handover does not mean an end to the close collaboration between VU Griffioen and Rialto – on the contrary: Rialto will remain (jointly) responsible for the programme. To ensure the transition goes as smoothly as possible, Rialto will be supporting Griffioen with advice and assistance in the coming period. To emphasise this, but also to ensure continuity, it has been decided to retain the name Rialto VU, but with Griffioen added: Rialto VU Griffioen.
Apart from the fact that, from 2 July, cinema-goers will need to book their tickets via the VU Griffioen website, you will notice little else about the transition. The regular film programme, a mix of arthouse films and popular blockbusters, will remain unchanged, whilst the regular special programmes, such as Fiction & Science, Movies That Matter on Tour and Expat Meetup, will also continue. In addition, from September onwards, the film programme will be enhanced with, amongst other things, film clubs, discussion evenings, post-screening talks and student initiatives.
