In November 2021, film theater Rialto, which has been located on Ceintuurbaan for over a hundred years, opened the doors to a new location at De Boelelaan 1111: Rialto VU. The new university building of the VU, which was recently completed, provided an excellent opportunity to enliven the cultural life of the neighborhood and the university campus. In addition to Rialto VU, the cultural center VU Griffioen and the VU Art Science Gallery also established themselves in the building.
In close consultation, it has been decided to transfer the actual operation of Rialto VU to VU Griffioen as of July 2, as VU Griffioen has considerable experience running film house Griffioen in the past, when it was still located in Uilenstede. This fall, Rialto will open another new location, this time on Zeeburgereiland: Rialto Silo. In light of the efforts that need to be made to make that theater a success, it has been decided to transfer Rialto VU to VU Griffioen.
The changeover does not mean an end to the close collaboration between VU Griffioen and Rialto – on the contrary: Rialto will remain (co) responsible for the programming. To ensure that the transition goes as smoothly as possible, Rialto will support Griffioen in the coming period with advice and assistance. To emphasize this, and also to ensure continuity, it has been decided to maintain the name Rialto VU, but with Griffioen as an addition: Rialto VU Griffioen.
Aside from the fact that as a film visitor you will start ordering your tickets on the website of VU Griffioen from July 2, you will notice little of the transition. The regular film programming, a mix of arthouse films and popular big titles, will remain unchanged, while the regular special programs, such as Fiction & Science, Movies That Matter on Tour, and Expat Meetup, will continue to exist. Additionally, the film offerings will be enhanced starting in September with film clubs, dialogue evenings, after-show discussions, and student initiatives.
