Milan's beloved Cinemino seized again over bureaucratic and safety disputes

On January 23, 2026, Milan's Cinemino, a cherished 74-seat arthouse cinema in Porta Romana, was seized by local police for the second time (first in 2018), accused of operating as a public entertainment venue rather than a private club. The preventive seizure followed a complaint from a private citizen citing safety concerns, which police claimed included an obstructed exit and difficult egress routes. Co-founder and programming director Agata De Laurentiis strongly denies the safety allegations, stating the cinema passed all Fire Department checks and that police lacked competence in safety matters. The real issue, she says, is the city's refusal to recognize the venue's cultural association status, requiring membership cards 24 hours in advance to avoid being classified as public entertainment. Media reports linked the closure to the Crans-Montana tragedy in Switzerland, where 40 people died, but De Laurentiis called this distortion deeply hurtful, noting the cinema holds all certifications including an EVAC alarm system. Unlike 2018, the founders chose a restrained response, issuing only a brief press release out of respect for the Swiss victims.