5 charming independent cinemas in Valencia

La Filmoteca was founded in 1985 to preserve Valencian cinema, and in 1988 it made the historic Rialto building their home (they’ve since stashed over 35.000 titles in their archives). The festival Filmoteca D’Estiu collates the most decorated films and shows them at Rialto and their open-air screen by Palau de la Musica.

Sweltering evenings in July and August are a little cooler thanks to this cinema under the stars. El Mar Que Nos Mira is a seasonal movie house set up by La Rambleta on their terrace with a soft focus on Mediterranean films. Watch nail-biting dramas and Spanish black comedy while scoffing popcorn.

Every June, Cinema Jove floods the city with brilliant international flicks and opportunities for young filmmakers to flex. Find competitions for directors aged 5 to 25 years old, screenings of very early releases by iconic names like the Coen Brothers, and screenings at cool, unexpected venues around the city.

One of the most charming cinemas in Valencia, Cines Babel offers five small screens, nostalgic card tickets on entry and vintage film posters in the adjoining restaurant. It also shows films in the original language, never dubbed, which means that the subtleties of Tom Hanks’ delivery in Asteroid City are not lost in translation.

Founded in 1951, this is the oldest cinema in Valencia and interiors retain that midcentury magic. Fancy a film marathon? One ticket is valid for two films. Brush up on your Spanish though, all the movies are dubbed in Castellano.