Summary
Zurich's largest cinema Corso at Bellevue is to be replaced by an event house after renovation starting in 2029. The city council made this decision last week – without securing broad parliamentary support. Massive resistance is building against this: the FDP and Greens are criticizing the approach, and a petition has already gathered over 2,000 signatures. The Zurich Film Festival fears for its existence. The next hurdle is a vote by the district council on the FDP's voting rights appeal.
People
- Florinka Paul (FDP city councillor)
- Urs Ricklin (Greens, city councillor)
- Christian Jungens (ZFF director)
Topics
- Cinema culture & urban development
- Participation & government action
- Cultural infrastructure Zurich
Clarus Lead
The City of Zurich plans to close its landmark cinema Corso and convert the building into an event house. This decision hits cultural politicians, film enthusiasts and festival organizers hard: Corso has been the home venue of the Zurich Film Festival since 2005 and is one of the oldest cinemas in the city. The city council made the closure decision unilaterally – without the municipal council or parliament having any say. This provokes a rare alliance between FDP and Greens against the procedure.
Detailed Summary
The city council has decided to renovate the Corso building starting in 2029. During these renovation phases, the cinema will no longer have space; instead, the city is planning a custom-designed event house with live performances. The existing club and restaurant remain part of the concept – only the cinema does not.
The FDP has criticized this as undemocratic. City councillor Florinka Paul filed a voting rights appeal with the district council to review whether the decision should have been supported more broadly in the municipal council and parliament. Resistance is also coming from the left: AL politician Mischa Schiwow launched an online petition that has already gathered over 2,000 signatures. Greens like Urs Ricklin are surprised by the contract termination with Blue Cinema and are calling for transparency about future plans.
The biggest loser is the Zurich Film Festival (ZFF). Director Christian Jungens emphasizes that Corso has been essential for festival operations since its founding year in 2005. Although the city knows this, the festival is not included in the new concept. Another sign of the city council's uncoordinated approach.
Key Points
- The city council decided to close the Corso cinema without the municipal council/parliament
- FDP filed voting rights appeal; over 2,000 citizens signed petition
- Zurich Film Festival loses central venue without alternative planning
- Next decision by district council on parliamentary participation
Critical Questions
Evidence: What cost-benefit analysis did the city council have? Was dual use (cinema + event) during/after renovation really impossible?
Conflicts of Interest: Who benefits economically from the event house concept? Are there connections between the city council and planned event house operators?
Causality: Why is the closure of the cinema necessary for the renovation – not just delayed in time, but permanently?
Legitimation: Would the procedure via municipal council instead of city council unilateral action have led to different solutions? Why was parliamentary breadth avoided?
Cultural Risks: What economic/cultural consequences does the loss of Zurich's largest cinema have for the scene – beyond the festival?
Event House Concept: What exactly is meant by "custom-designed concept"? Is there an operating plan or just a statement of intent?
Transparency Deficit: Why did the public only learn of the plans after the decision, not before?
Sources
Primary Source: Regionaljournal Zürich-Schaffhausen (SRF) – 2026-02-04 https://download-media.srf.ch/world/audio/Regionaljournal_Zuerich_Schaffhausen_radio/
Verification Status: ✓ 2026-02-05
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 2026-02-05