Nowadays, the concern of the film community, as well as all Athenian moviegoers, is about the fate of the central cinemas Ideal and Astorwho are threatened with eviction-destruction in connection with the transfer of buildings owned by (owner) EFKA to create hotels. As has long been known, it is the Schliemann Mansion, which also includes the Ideal, that has already been transferred in an open tender to the Hellenic Hotels Mitsis Company AE (“K”, 09/03/2023).

However, the competent Ministry of Environment and Energy submitted two and a half months ago (01/13/23) a statement of reasons, according to which it asks to characterize the use of the cinema as preserved in accordance with the new status of ownership. We also remind you that on October 2, the EFKA objection was mediated by a specific proposal, which, among other things, characterizes the presence of the hall as a “brake” in terms of the use of the building. And now we have come to the moment when the final decision on classification or not should be made by the Central Council of Architecture of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

According to “K” from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, however, the specific issue was not discussed, although two meetings of the CECA took place during this time. Even the third one is planned for today, but, according to information, the issue of cinemas is again not on the agenda. FECA repeatedly failed to get any comments on the decision to change the attitude of the organization, recalling that in a press release dated 11/22/2022 it was promised that “no change in the use of cinemas is planned”.

In connection with the above, the question arises whether the Ministry of the Interior and the EFKA “frozen” the qualification process intentionally or not (for example, due to workload); no matter which of the two is true, the risk to Ideal is direct, as it is convenient for the Owner Company to act quickly to prevent a negative decision from being made. Yesterday “K” contacted Mitsis Company AE, who did not comment.

And, of course, this is not only the Ideal, but also Astor, whose building at the Stadium is also in concession from EFKA, and the “student” Irida on the corner of Hippocrates and the Academy. All three are organizing free screenings and live broadcasts to the public this Sunday (2/4) in an appeal to support all moviegoers and residents of a city that has lost many of its central theaters over the past decade. (Attikon, Apollo, Embassy, ​​Titania, Aavora) and sees how the former movie theater is being converted into a hotel area. And an additional comment: the leadership of the Ministry of Culture declares and (typically) incapacitated, according to a statement yesterday, which clarifies that cinemas do not meet the requirements of the law to be classified as monuments and receive appropriate protection. However, one would expect that the issue of cinematic art and how it reaches the general public would publicly express its support in theaters, for example. The municipality of Athens came up with a resolution – or even a proposal at the government level – in their favor.