Issue 1/2009 - Messe Essen

Lichtburg
Helge Schneider came to the première of one of
his Ruhr district films in a white Peugeot, driving
across the red carpet and directly into the entrance
hall. Being a star certainly has its advantages!
Other celebrities have been less flamboyant,
graciously strolling past the cordon of movie
fans into Germany’s largest and perhaps most
beautiful film palace. After an elaborate renovation,
the popular Lichtburg in Essen’s pedestrian
zone has once again become that magical type of
place, able to draw German movie stars and
cinema lovers to highly acclaimed premières.
Most recently, Heike Makatsch (as “Hilde”),
Ulrich Tukur and Daniel Brühl (“John Rabe”)
honoured the crowds with their presence. Just
over the past six months, Dani Levy, Heino Ferch,
Elmar Wepper, Benno Fürmann, Franz-Xaver
Kroetz, Joseph Vilsmaier, Wim Wenders, Heinrich
Breloer, Armin Müller-Stahl and Iris Berben
have all attended NRW and German premières
in Essen.
In October of 2008, a rare anniversary was
celebrated here. Speakers at “Lichtburg’s 80th”
gala included Essen Mayor Dr Wolfgang Reiniger
and the Artistic Director of the Capital of
Culture, Prof. Dieter Gorny. The renovation of
the Lichtburg is largely due to the commitment
of its director, Marianne Menze. She was not prepared
to see this magnificent historical building
turned into another multiplex with shoebox
cinemas. The Lichtburg opened back in 1928
with 1,250 seats; after the 1943 renovation
following World War II bombing, stars such as
Gary Cooper, Romy Schneider and Pierce
Brosnan were all welcomed into its hallowed
halls. The Lichtburg is now historically pro-
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tected; six years ago, it was remodelled from the
bottom up and furnished with state-of-the-art
cinema and stage technology. Now it is ready for
the films, stars and celebrities of the next 80
years.
Lichtburg
Kettwiger Strasse 36, 45127 Essen
Tel. +49 (0)201/ 231 023
www.lichtburg-essen.de