Just off to one side of Hong Kong’s jumbled restaurant supply area is an impressive complex that seems slightly out of place. Facing a wide open plaza is the sprawling Broadway Cinematheque that is home to four theaters, the Kubrick bookstore, a library, a gallery, a top-notch DVD shop, and a cafe.
Opened in 1996, Broadway Cinematheque is the flagship of the Broadway theater chain, one of Hong Kong’s largest cinema circuits.
In addition to a distinct location, the Cinematheque has the most varied programming of any movie theater in Hong Kong, offering a diverse range of films each week. Broadway Cinematheque hosts so many themed festivals and special programs throughout the year that it can be difficult to keep up!
Although the theaters themselves didn’t make our top 5 list, the extensive facilities, combined with the community aspect, and friendly vibe, make this a very special place.
The Kubrick bookstore has been redesigned many times over the years, and its newest incarnation contains a cafe with an exhibition space along the walls.
Kubrick is fun to browse, and you will find an emphasis on local artists in addition to interesting international selections. They even have small wicker stools to sit on while you read, making it a user-friendly kind of place.
The DVD store is located in the other half of the complex and includes many hard to find foreign films from around the world. It’s a great place to browse, and you can locate Hong Kong classics alongside indie films that typically only get shown at festivals.
Membership has its privileges!
Broadway Cinematheque has a member-only’s film society, now called Bcinephile, that offers a large number of perks and discounts. It costs just $120 HKD per year, and entitles you to free tickets (one when you join, and another on your birthday,) plus additional opportunities over the course of the year.
With membership you gain access to their large library of indie and art-house DVDs, (which includes Hong Kong films,) available for free rentals! There is also an extensive collection of books on film and filmmaking that members can check out.
Even if you use your membership just once a year, it ends up being worth it!
You also get discounts on purchases at the cinematheque and on tickets from the Broadway circuit.
Read more about the benefits of becoming a member here.
Getting there:
The Broadway Cinematheque is just a short walk West from the Yau Ma Tei MTR station. If you take Exit C, and walk South towards Tsim Sha Tsui, you will hit Public Square Street. Next take a right on Public Square Street, and continue walking towards West Kowloon. After about three blocks you will see the complex on your right, next to an open plaza with a McDonald’s.
Recommended!
Broadway Cinematheque, Kubrick Bookstore & Cafe
Prosperous Garden Block 3
3 Public Square Street
Yau Ma Tei, Hong Kong
