Plain language

Here is information in plain language about the website deutsche-kinemathek.de/en. You will learn about the Deutsche Kinemathek – museum for film and television and how to use this website.

The plain language area has 5 parts:

1. About the Deutsche Kinemathek

2. Structure of the webpage

3. The main areas of our website

4. Accessibility and inclusion at the museum

5. Tips for using our website

If you have questions or ideas about our website, send us an email at jpattis [at] deutsche-kinemathek.de (jpattis[at]deutsche-kinemathek[dot]de).

We want to include all people. For example, people who are male, female, and nonbinary. Nonbinary means someone who is not male or female. We use language that includes everyone.

This text was translated from German to English. Most of the words in this text are easy to understand. If there are difficult words in the text we try to explain them.

The Deutsche Kinemathek is a museum about the history of film from around the world and television in Germany, from the beginning to today. 
Here you can experience the world of film and television. 
The Deutsche Kinemathek collects films from Germany and from around world. 
Many films come from Hollywood, the center of American film. 
Our collection also includes many objects related to film and television. 
For example, costumes, director’s notes, or photos of film stars.

The Deutsche Kinemathek has moved. 
It is no longer at Potsdamer Platz.
It has been in a new building since January 2025. 
The building is called E-Werk.

People won't be able to visit anything here for a while. 
All areas of our museum are closed.
 

Normally, these areas belong to the Kinemathek:

The museum is especially interesting for our visitors. 
Because of the move, we have to close our permanent exhibition on the history of film and television.

People won't be able to visit anything here for a while.
This is only for a short time.

We want to reopen in the fall of 2025.
There will be a new exhibition then.
It will be a special exhibition. 
Special exhibitions are on specific topics from the history of film to the present day.
For example, a special exhibition can show films from a specific period
or introduce a filmmaker.

Our library is also closed at the moment.
But the library will reopen in spring 2025.

You can read books, magazines, and brochures on film and television there. 
You can also borrow DVDs and other media. 
Different experts use the library and film archive for their work, for example, filmmakers or researchers.

With our collection, the Deutsche Kinemathek wants to guard the history of film and television and show it to people. 
Because film and television are important ways to communicate in our culture and society.

In our film archive we have more than 40,000 films. In our television archive there are more than 13,000 TV shows. Other museums, cinemas, and organizations can borrow these films from our film distribution.

The archives are currently closed.

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The Deutsche Kinemathek logo is always at the top left:

Click here to return to the homepage. 
This will take you away from the plain language area.

The main menu is always at the top right:

Here areas are changing photos and texts with information about exhibitions, programs, and events. 
Under the text there is a “more information” button. 
Click on this button to get more information about the program.

Share the website

Here are links to different functions and social media:

You can also copy this link. 
You can send an email with a link to the Deutsche Kinemathek website. 
You can print the information on this webpage or save it as a PDF. 

Newsletter

In the red box you can sign up for the newsletter. You can learn more about this in part 5.

This white box is always at the bottom of the webpage:

You will see 4 parts at the top:

– Contact
Under “Contact” there are important links for visitors to the Deutsche Kinemathek: Opening hours, Getting to the museum, Contacts, and information about Accessibility. You can find out more about accessibility in part 4.

– Programs
Under “Programs” there are links to programs for families, groups, and high schools and elementary schools. These include tours, workshops, and educational programs.

– Services
Under “Services” there are links to these services: Film distribution, Press, Tickets, and Rentals.

– Follow us
Under “Follow us” there are 3 logos:

Click on the logos to go to the Deutsche Kinemathek’s pages at
Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.
You will have to agree to go these websites.
This will take you away from the website deutsche-kinemathek.de/en.

In the lower left corner of the white box are 3 links:

– Federal act to protect cultural property
The Deutsche Kinemathek often borrows things from other museums, like films or costumes. These things are protected under the Federal Act to Protect Cultural Property.

– Statutes
The statutes are the rules and duties of the foundation “Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek”. A foundation stands up for ideas and people in the community. For example, different parts of culture or people who have less money, education, or rights.

– Fee schedule
This list tells you if the services the “Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek” provides cost money. For example, the lending of films. It also tells how much these services cost.

Under this are the words “Funded by” and 1 logo:

This takes you to the website of the German government.
This will take you away from the website deutsche-kinemathek.de/en.

The German government give financial support to the Deutsche Kinemathek.

On the right side of the white box is this link:

Click here to change the language of this website from English to German.

Under this are 2 links:

– Imprint
Here you can find out about who is responsible for this website. This is the Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek – Museum für Film und Fernsehen.

– Data privacy
This website collects certain data, for example, via your internet browser. Click here to find out how your data is used.

At the bottom right you will see the words “Stiftung Deutsche Kinemathek Berlin © 2025”. The C with a circle around it stands for “copyright”. This means that the information on this website is protected by copyright law.

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The 4 main areas are Visit, Online, Research, and Kinemathek.
Each area has different links with more information.
You can click directly on the main areas and the links.

Here is information about every part of the museum.
For example, about the exhibitions and film festivals.
You will also find our event calendar, educational programs,
and information about our library.
The link “Education” has inclusive tours for people with and without disabilities.

Here are the links under “Visit”:

– Program

– Plan your visit

– Families

– Groups

– Schools

Here are programs you can see at home or while out and about. You can use your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Here are links with more information:

– Streaming
Visitors can watch films for free on our website. The films are about different topics.

–  Digital collection
You can see old photos, texts, and film clips on your computer.

– 360° exhibitons
There you can view pictures of exhibitions.

Here is information about our different archives. For example, the television archive and the photo archive. Film and television materials are organized by different topics. They are described in detail and saved in the archives. Museums, cinemas, and other organizations can borrow films from our film library. In the library there are also books and magazines on different film and television topics. In the “Digital collection” you can see old photos, texts, and film clips on your computer.

Here are the links under “Research”:

– Archives

– Film distribution

– Library

Here you will find information about the Deutsche Kinemathek. 
For example, about its history or about the staff members and information about the E-Werk. 
You will also find information about publications by the Deutsche Kinemathek. 
This includes catalogs, books, and visual materials.

Here are the links under “Kinemathek”:

– About us
 

– E-Werk
 

– History
 

– Publications

– Jobs

– Press

Below are these links:

– ​Become a supporter
This takes you to the “Förder-Kreis des Museums für Film und Fernsehen e.V.” page. 
Members of this group give money and support to the Deutsche Kinemathek.

– Contact
There you find contact information for all the people who work at the Kinemathek.

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All people are welcome at the Deutsche Kinemathek. 
Many parts of our museum are usually accessible.
This means people with disabilities can enjoy them too.
Our programs are inclusive. 
This means they are for all people.

Unfortunately, you can't visit us at the moment. 
The museum is closed.

Experts have checked that our building is accessible.
Our building is:

– accessible for people with mobility disabilities,

– accessible for wheelchair users in many parts of the museum.

You can find information about the accessibility check and certification
at the website reisen-fuer-alle.de.
This will take you away from the website deutsche-kinemathek.de/en.

Here is more information about accessibility:

– Entrance
There are no stairs at the entrance to the museum.
The entrance for wheelchair users is at the back of the Film-Haus,
in the Sony Center.

– Elevator
There is an elevator in the museum.
Wheelchair users and people with strollers can use the elevator
to get to all the rooms of the museum.

– Accessible restrooms and changing room
Accessible restrooms are on upper floor 3 and lower floor 2.
There is also a diaper-changing room on lower floor 2.

– Getting to the museum
Wheelchair users and people with mobility disabilities can use public transportation to get to the museum.
For example, with the subway, train, and bus. 

– People with mobility disabilities
People with mobility disabilities are people who might need extra help to get around.
They can borrow chairs at the box office.
The chairs are extra light.
There is a 10-euro deposit for a chair.
When you return the chair you will get the 10 euros back.

– Accessible parking
There are no accessible parking spaces in front of the Deutsche Kinemathek.
There are 38 accessible parking spaces in the underground parking garage at the Sony Center.

– Service animals
People with disabilities may bring their service animals into the museum.
For example, a guide dog that helps a person who is blind.

For our visitors we usually have many different inclusive programs.
For example, touch tours for people who are blind and tours in German sign language.

There are also tours for children and for families.
You will find all the information about our inclusive programs here.
This will take you away from the plain language area.

The museum is currently closed.
We do not offer any inclusive activities.

Would you like to get advice about our inclusive programs?
Then write us an email at museumsdienst [at] kulturprojekte.berlin (museumsdienst[at]kulturprojekte[dot]berlin).

Do you still have questions about accessibility?
Then call us at this telephone number: 030 300 903 0.
We are happy to help you.

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On mobile devices or smartphones our website looks similar.
The main menu is always at the top right, it looks like this:

There you will find all the links and functions on the website.

Our newsletter tells you about the exhibitions and events at the museum. We send it out every month. To sign up for the newsletter go to the bottom of the webpage.

Do you want to sign up for the newsletter?
Then write your email address in the white part of the red box.
Click on the “subscribe to the newsletter” button. You will get an email in your inbox.
Click on the link in the email. Now we will send the newsletter to you every month.
The newsletter is in German.

There is a magnifying glass symbol at the bottom of the menu.

You can enter a search word here.
Click on the magnifying glass again or press “Enter” on your keyboard.
You will get a list of all the texts that contain your search word.

You can make the website look bigger.
To do this, press the keys “Ctrl” and “+” on your keyboard at the same time.
To make the website look smaller, press “Ctrl” and “-” at the same time.
To return to the normal view, press “Ctrl” and “0” at the same time.

To see where you are in the website, look to the left under “Visit”.
In the mobile view, your location in the website is under the logo.
The location shows what page you are on in the website.
The location in the website looks like this:

Your location is always to the right.
The homepage is always to the left.
In the middle are other pages.
These are the pages that connect your location and the homepage.

Do you want to go back to the top of the webpage?
Look for the “Go to top” button at the right side of the webpage.

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