Tivoli BBVA Theater Awarded “Treasure of European Film Culture”
The Tivoli BBVA Theater is the first cultural facility in Portugal to receive this distinction from the European Film Academy, the second awarded in the country, following Ribeira in Porto in 2022.
The Tivoli BBVA Theater is, as of today, the first cultural facility in Portugal to be recognised by the European Film Academy as a “Treasure of European Film Culture.” The commemorative ceremony took place on Monday afternoon in Lisbon.
This distinction, announced in April, is the result of a recommendation from the Portuguese Film Academy to the European Film Academy, which reinforces the historical, architectural, and symbolic value of this venue in preserving the collective memory and cultural diversity of the European continent.
Since 2015, the European Film Academy has recognised venues of historical and symbolic value to European cinema, promoting their preservation. In 2025, the Tivoli BBVA Theater will join this prestigious list, alongside the Trevi Fountain and Vienna’s Ferris Wheel. This is the second such distinction in Portugal, following Porto’s Ribeira in 2022.
“This recognition as a Treasure of European Film Culture goes far beyond the walls that support the Tivoli. It underscores its importance as a space of memory, encounter, and cultural exchange. For a century, this cinema has been the stage for premieres, applause, and emotions, uniting audiences and artists, indelibly inscribing itself in the cultural history of Lisbon, Portugal, and Europe,” emphasises Paulo Trancoso, President of the Portuguese Film Academy.
“Over its hundred years of existence, the Tivoli Theater has established itself as a landmark of national culture, and this distinction constitutes a recognition of great nobility. This deep connection with cinema will forever remain engraved in this building—in its structure, in its nooks and crannies, in its soul—and, day after day, a repertoire of artistic works, encounters, and memories will continue to be written here, making the Tivoli BBVA Theater a home for all who allow themselves to be touched by it,” adds Ana Carvalho, Director of the Tivoli BBVA Theater.
TIVOLI BBVA THEATER
Inaugurated on November 30, 1924, the Tivoli Cinema-Theatre was designed by architect Raúl Lino and commissioned by Frederico Lima Mayer, to provide Lisbon with a modern and sophisticated movie theater worthy of the great European capitals.
The silent film Imperial Violets, by Henry Roussel and starring Raquel Meller, was screened at the inauguration, accompanied by a sextet conducted by violinist Nicolino Milano. Since then, this venue has become an essential landmark in the city’s cultural life, hosting not only iconic film premieres, such as Doctor Zhivago or The Sound of Music, but also a diverse program that includes theater, concerts, and dance performances, featuring renowned names.
The Tivoli BBVA Theater was acquired by UAU Produtora in late 2011. Since then, the production company has invested in the theater’s restoration, preserving its architectural legacy, equipping the venue with new technologies, and presenting a consistent and diverse cultural program. In 2015, the Tivoli BBVA Theater was classified as a Monument of Public Interest.
In 2024, the Tivoli BBVA Theater celebrated the theater’s centenary through a commemorative program that began in 2023 and ended on November 30, 2025. As part of this celebration, which brought together more than 400,000 spectators, the Theater presented more than 100 national and international productions, with sessions ranging from music to dance, from theater to cinema, and from magic to conferences.
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