Cinema Centre Romuva, located in the heart of the city of Kaunas, is a cultural beacon and the oldest operating cinema in Lithuania. Since its opening in 1940, Romuva has remained a symbol of European cinema and a place where films are not only watched but deeply experienced. Beyond its beautiful art deco architecture and curated programmes, Romuva offers a rich range of educational activities for children and youth. That’s a perfect reason to team up with ECFA!
At the core of Romuva’s mission is the belief that cinema is a powerful tool for learning, empathy, and self-expression. “We’re not just showing films – we’re raising a new generation of viewers who understand and appreciate European cinema,” says Gailė Janulevičė, Head of Educational Programmes. The centre nurtures critical thinking, creativity, and cultural awareness, encouraging young audiences to engage with films in meaningful ways.
A safe distance
The programme “Learning from Cinema” introduces students to films from major international festivals and local creators. The discussions afterwards help to explore complex topics through shared emotional experience. “A film creates a safe distance – it’s easier for students to talk about friendships, identity, or family challenges while leaning on the stories of character’s on a screen rather than deeply personal experiences,” explains Gailė.
Educational programmes at Romuva go far beyond the screen. In workshops like “The V. Starevičius Animation Lab” or “Animation from Scratch”, children explore stop-motion techniques and create their own stories using puppets, clay, and tablets – building patience, teamwork, and storytelling skills.
Scriptwriting workshops invite teens to write and perform scenes based on real-life issues. They not only teach young people about the basics of filmmaking but also help them to express themselves and develop empathy. “When students write about what matters to them, their voices grow stronger. And when they perform their scripts, they learn to listen better and immerse themselves in the written situations,” says Gailė.
The cinema board game
Romuva’s educational landscape also includes interactive film quizzes, silent cinema workshops, and creative holiday camps. To deepen engagement, the team has developed unique tools – including “Let’s Play Cinema”, the first Lithuanian board game about running a film theatre, and a playful way to explore the behind-the-scenes world of cinema. Another key tool is a set of film discussion cards (downloadable PDF’s available in English), designed to make thoughtful conversations about European films easy and accessible.
Through all of this, Romuva stays true to its goal: to grow with its audience while nurturing young people’s connection to films. By investing in cinema education, it cultivates a generation that not only watches films – but understands, questions, and finds meaning within them.