Children's cinema Weilheim-Schongau is celebrating 40 years of magical film fun!

Children's cinema Weilheim-Schongau is celebrating 40 years of magical film fun!

What event excites children and parents alike in the Weilheim-Schongau district? The answer is clear: the children's cinema! On July 1, 2025, the children's cinema in the district celebrated its exciting 40th anniversary with a celebratory special screening in the impressive Radome in Raisting. A nice occasion to look back and appreciate the development of this unique institution.

In 1985 the starting signal was given for the children's cinema, which began with its first performances in Weilheim and Peißenberg. At that time there were already 1,596 enthusiastic visitors in the first year. The initiator Waltraud Zeidlmaier had the brilliant ideas for bringing the children's cinema into the villages in the district. She organized the first village cinema in Hohenfurch, and the first film shown, “The Animal Conference”, was one of the successful beginnings of this eventful history. Weilheim-Schongau reports that Many other popular films have been shown over the years, including “Konrad from the Can” and “The Children of Bullerbü”.

From the beginning to today

What makes the children's cinema so special? The basic idea is simple: local cinema experiences for children and all at an affordable price. Just four years after its launch, the children's cinema was already shining at 17 venues in the district. In 1995, a record attendance was set with an impressive 6,208 cinemagoers. The film “River Trip with Chicken” was particularly popular at the time and was shown a whopping 209 times. To date, the children's cinema has shown an impressive 175 different films and is currently represented at 22 venues. Weilheim-Schongau emphasizes that the children's cinema is part of the district office's cultural education work and makes valuable contributions to children's leisure activities.

The praise for the constant commitment of everyone involved was unmistakable at the anniversary celebration. District Administrator Andrea Jochner-Weiß took the opportunity to thank all those involved and supporters and to emphasize the importance of the children's cinema for the region. “A good hand” is not only demanded by the organizers of the children's cinema, but also by many parents who have recognized the influence of positive children's media. Children's cinema in Munich added, that good children's films create space for dreams and desires and that this concept is pursued at a high level.

A look beyond the borders

But children's cinemas are not only flourishing in the Weilheim-Schongau district. The neighboring district of Berchtesgadener Land also recently celebrated an important anniversary. The children's cinema there, which was launched 25 years ago, became known under the project management of Elke Lachmann. Since 1995, over 150 films have been shown here and events have been organized in 12 out of 15 communities. Over 60,000 kindergarten children have already been able to experience the magic of the children's cinema. Berchtesgadener Land announces that it will start again in November 2022 after a break due to the pandemic.

It turns out that children's cinemas not only offer a cultural experience, but also act as an important platform for early childhood education. Topics such as adventure, fantasy and even more sensitive content are carefully integrated into the films, allowing children to develop with confidence. In today's world, when many media offerings are competing, it is important to offer the little ones alternatives and to create critical media awareness.

Whether in the district of Weilheim-Schongau or Berchtesgadener Land - the children's cinemas will continue to play an important role in the future and offer a lot of fun and education for the little ones. Because where could you dream better than in a dark cinema, surrounded by people your own age who are experiencing the same stories? The children's cinema remains an institution that makes children's eyes shine.