The collection on GDR cinema culture contains unique documents, such as national cinema statistics collected all over the country in 1968 and 1978 by the Zentralstelle für Filmtechnik (central institution for film technology) as well as project correspondence and plans of the VEB Filmtheatertechnik (state-owned enterprise for cinema technology) concerning restorations and new constructions of cinemas. Primarily realised by Kurt Enz, the 1968 statistics include rare photos of the majority of the country′s cinemas. Moreover, the photo archive preserves pictures of GDR cinemas of the 1960s and 1970s. The 1978 enquiry, which comprises approx. 850 public cinemas of the GDR, is currently being made available as a database.
Mobile presentation platforms like campsite or travelling cinemas form a special aspect. The time until the early 1950s is covered by single documents and etstates of, e.g., Arnstadt-based cinema owner Paul Wüst or Max Adler from Oelsnitz (Vogtland). Considerable amounts of material on the cinemas "International" (Berlin), "Melodie-Lichtspiele" (Potsdam) and Kreislichtspielbetrieb Plauen have been collected. Also, cinema-specific advertising media, display cards, large-screen slides (e.g., "coming soon" ads) and admission tickets have been stored.