In the nineties, Santa Coloma de Gramenet had six cinemas. Over time, in 2011, the last cinema hall that the people of Coloma could enjoy, Cinema City, opened. In 2013, however, the economic crisis forced the closure of these multiplex cinemas located in the controversial residential and leisure complex Cúbics, on Avinguda Pallaresa, which included a promotion of rental housing and a hotel. This closure was added to the previous ones: Goya, Capitol, Savoy, Principal, or Lux.
Since then, film buffs in Santa Coloma have been able to watch movies in alternative spaces such as the city's libraries or have had to travel to La Maquinista, in Sant Andreu, Barcelona. This is how a group of young people from the city have lived throughout their adolescence, who, tired of having to leave the municipality to enjoy cinema, two years ago created an association not only to have cinema but also to promote culture among the youngest in the municipality.
It is Bohemia Kollectiv, an entity formed by five people from Coloma and friends from high school. They are Berta Lorenzo García, Pol Santamaría Martín, Albert Barbosa Olayo, Dani Rodríguez López, and Àlex Redón Lago, and this summer they have set out to bring cinema back to Santa Coloma. Redón, one of the partners, says with conviction that "it was time for cinema to return to the city, because we haven't had it for more than a decade."
For this reason, they have scheduled free sessions every Friday between July 3 and August 7 at the Mas Fonollar Youth Resource Center, a space with a capacity for up to 150 people. "We have always been interested in culture and especially in cinema and, since we have been involved in the neighborhood movement, we have noticed a lack of access to culture, especially for young people," claims the Colomenc.
A collective choice
"Cinema close to home is possible," claims Redón, who adds that when Bohemia Kollectiv conceived the cycle, they decided that young people could not passively attend the screening, but had to get involved from the beginning with the choice of films. Thus, over the last few weeks, through social networks, they have made forms available to choose one out of four. As they explain, each session will revolve around a theme and, in addition, will host a Colomenc entity specialized in it. For example, the first session, on July 3, will be feminist and the chosen entity will be La Ciba.
The next date, as it will coincide with the events around Pride, will feature an LGTBI film and will be energized by La Qultural from Santa Coloma. In the coming days, the films will be published on the entity's Instagram. The idea, furthermore, is for the entities to offer a brief debate around the day's theme before the screenings. "This way we make going to the cinema also a space for vindication," Redón details.
More known than ever
The success of the entity is evident, as over time they already have the support of the culture department of the City Council and the brand new Santako més jove entity. At the beginning, they explain, they had the help of small businesses in the city. Following the current film series, Bohemia Kollectiv feels that they are starting to be known in Santa Coloma. "At first it was hard to gather people beyond our colleagues and now they come because the activities reach them through social networks," Redón reflects.
Beyond the cinema sessions, the collective does not stop organizing activities, such as the reading club they held a few days ago or this weekend they have organized "one of the biggest events" they have had in their hands so far: the final of the Colomenc bands contest Sona al Mas. They also form part of the organization of the city's major festivals.
There is no doubt, therefore, that these five young people are putting all their effort into making culture vibrate in Santa Coloma, whether in the form of cinema or a concert.
