Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen
Berlin's museum of film and television history, housed temporarily since 2025 in the E-Werk in Mitte, with exhibitions, a studio cinema and a library.
About the museum
The Deutsche Kinemathek was founded in West Berlin in 1963 as a foundation to collect, preserve and provide access to film heritage. Over decades, it built up one of the most important film history collections in Europe, with around one million objects such as photos, posters, screenplays, costumes and personal papers – including the Marlene Dietrich Collection and the archive of production designer Ken Adam. Since 1977, it has also organized the Berlinale retrospectives.
On September 25, 2000, the Filmmuseum Berlin opened in the Filmhaus at Potsdamer Platz with a permanent exhibition on German film history, from its beginnings through exile in Hollywood to the present. A television section was added in 2006, and since then the museum has been called the Museum für Film und Fernsehen (Museum of Film and Television). Major special exhibitions were devoted to Fritz Lang, Romy Schneider and Loriot, among others.
At the end of October 2024, the museum at Potsdamer Platz closed. In 2025, the Kinemathek moved into the listed E-Werk as interim quarters, a former electrical substation and later techno club on Mauerstraße. In January 2026, the hall there opened with the presentation “Screentime,” complemented by a studio cinema, workshops and the specialist library. In the long term, a new building of its own, the Filmhaus next to the Martin-Gropius-Bau, is planned.
Highlights
- Collection of around one million objects on film and television history
- Marlene Dietrich Collection Berlin
- Ken Adam Archive with thousands of designs for film sets
- Studio cinema with weekly film talks
- Specialist library with around 90,000 media items
- Interim location in the historic E-Werk, a former electrical substation and techno club
- Founded
- 2000
- Operated by
- Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek
- Director
- Heleen Gerritsen (Künstlerische Direktorin), Florian Bolenius (Verwaltungsdirektor)
Admission & discounts
| Reduced | –The unemployed and Bürgergeld (basic income support) recipients, university students, people with severe disabilities, Berlin WelcomeCard holders, Berlinale staff, members of the TheaterGemeinde Berlin and the Verband Szenenbild/Kostümbild |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 18 · Children and teenagers up to and including age 18 as well as school students with proof free |
| Seniors | –No senior discount listed |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · Reduced with a severe disability ID (Schwerbehindertenausweis); registered companion free |
| Students & apprentices | –Reduced |
| Groups (10+ people) | €5 per personGroup rate for 10 or more people; with a booked guided tour €3 admission per person; accompanying adults free. Free registration via the Museumsdienst Berlin; groups of more than 25 are split into two time slots. |
The official website currently lists no regular admission price for exhibitions; according to press reports on the opening in January 2026, admission was €10, reduced €7. Free admission with the Museum Pass Berlin, for ICOM and Museumsbund members, members of the friends' association and the press, among others. No cash payment; tickets online or in the foyer; events have their own prices.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials
- Audio description: no information
Main entrance not accessible due to cobblestones; accessible entrance to the hall next to the foyer rotunda through the large gate (Building F), only with an escort. Parts of the exhibitions reachable only by elevator with an escort; some levels not accessible. Accessible restroom at the back of the hall. “Barrierefreiheit geprüft” (Accessibility Checked) certificate (Reisen für Alle) until 04/2029: accessible for people with walking impairments, partly accessible for wheelchair users. Website information in Easy Language and German Sign Language.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 18 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Kids’ birthday parties
Limited program at present due to the move to the E-Werk: monthly family Sunday with workshops and family cinema, free animation workshops for 8- to 12-year-olds and animation-themed children's birthday parties. Online platform “Filmspielplatz” for children from preschool age.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Leipziger Str./Wilhelmstr. · 5-min walk · 350 m
U2/U6 Stadtmitte (approx. 6 min.), U6 Kochstraße/Checkpoint Charlie (approx. 7 min.), U2 Anton-Wilhelm-Amo-Straße (approx. 8 min.); bus 147 Wilhelmstr./Kochstr., buses 200, 300, M85 Leipziger Str./Wilhelmstr., M29 U Kochstr.
By car
Parking available
According to the museum, public parking in the area is limited; for parking garages and parking zones it refers to Parkopedia and recommends arriving by public transport.
Bike parking available.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café: not available
- Restaurant: not available
- Coat check: not available
- Lockers
- Wi-Fi
Drinks sold during exhibition hours; outside food and drinks not allowed. Limited number of lockers in the entrance area. Free Wi-Fi.
Events & venue rental
As far as we know, the museum does not rent out spaces for external events.
No rentals at present; new offerings at the E-Werk location have been announced.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Photography | Allowed in public areas for private purposes |
| Good to know | Group tours, hands-on filmmaking workshops for schools and city walks to Berlin filming locations via the Museumsdienst Berlin (tel. 030 24749-888). Library tour on the first Thursday of the month at 17:00. |
