Film remains a central recreation and passion for cariocas, despite the fact that many early institutions have closed. Wonderful art house cinemas pepper the city, such as Cine Santa Teresa and Cine Museu da República (Museum of the Republic Cinema), located in Catete in the beautiful grounds of the old palace of the republic.

What's more, Cultural Centers have tapped cinema and film with the wand of social interaction, exploration and education. The Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim (Laura Alvim Cultural House), located in Ipanema, has been, from its inception in the 1960s, much more than simply a cinema, bringing together young artists and intellectuals engaged in all forms of artistic production. The center is constituted of two theatres, three cinema screens, an art gallery, a classroom for seminars and workshops, and a bookstore.