Central Europe’s first LED cinema opened in Budapest: another universe of film magic – video, photos

Starting today, audiences can purchase tickets to Hungary’s—and indeed Central and Eastern Europe’s—first LED cinema, whose grand opening we had the pleasure of attending yesterday.

A stunning spectacle of colours and lights

Unlike traditional cinemas that project films onto a screen, the new auditorium operated by the Kultik cinema network displays movies on a giant nine-metre-wide HeyLED panel. This groundbreaking setup replaces the classic combination of film, projector, and screen with an independently illuminated LED wall, revolutionising picture quality. While this may sound like bold marketing, the experience truly lives up to the hype.

When a speeding asteroid hurtles towards you through space, or a child’s thrown stone seems to fly right at you, your natural reaction is to brace yourself in your seat—or, if you’re easily startled, to jump and perhaps even let out a shout.

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Revolutionary technology

Although the technology is not entirely new worldwide, István Kalmár, owner of the 100% Hungarian Kultik cinema network, first encountered it in Los Angeles and immediately decided to bring it home. Kultik is dedicated to reviving small cinemas in towns that have closed or are at risk of closure, bringing high-quality movie experiences closer to local communities.

LED cinema first in Csepel

Kultik already operates cinemas in Sopron, Hódmezővásárhely and Kaposvár, and thanks to a successful collaboration with the Indotek Group led by Dániel Jellinek, they have relaunched the cinema in Csepel, Budapest’s 21st district. The cinema’s second auditorium now features a 4,000 kg HeyLED screen manufactured by a Chinese company, along with extensive renovations to the auditorium and sound system—both of which left a strong impression.