The municipality, led by socialist Carla Almeida, announced its support to prevent the closure of the cultural space, which is struggling due to the lack of state funding for the renewal of its technical equipment.
“Protecting Cinema Ideal also means preserving the authenticity of Misericórdia, ensuring that this parish remains a vibrant area, with accessible culture and social diversity, and not just a nighttime amusement park,” she stated.
The mayor emphasized, “This gesture is more than just aid – it is a commitment to culture, collective memory, and the identity of the parish.”
“Misericórdia needs policies that balance tourism, housing, and culture, ensuring it doesn’t become an empty landscape, devoid of life and cultural offerings for its residents. Closing Cinema Ideal would impoverish the parish and deprive citizens of a unique cultural space. Misericórdia deserves to preserve its cultural symbols,” highlighted Carla Almeida.
In October, Pedro Borges, manager of Cinema Ideal in Lisbon, requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Culture to return the cultural merit medal, due to a funding issue for renewing projection equipment.
In a letter to Margarida Balseiro Lopes, Pedro Borges expressed concern about “the disregard for more than a decade of work and an absolutely unique investment in this country – the recovery of a historic cinema hall by a private company.”
The producer and exhibitor explained the need for 40,000 euros to renew the digital projection equipment, as the current one, purchased 11 years ago, “is nearing the end of its life and could fail at any moment,” potentially leading to the cinema’s closure.
Cinema Ideal, situated between Chiado and Bairro Alto, reopened on August 28, 2014, by the film production company Midas Filmes. It is one of the few cinema halls in Lisbon with street access, outside of a shopping mall, and features a program that especially highlights Portuguese cinema.
