The Urania has been a venue for events since 1888 and it is one of the most important historical places for film in Germany, as some of the first motion pictures were shown here. Nowadays it serves not only as a multi-purpose lecture hall and cultural centre, but it is also one of the largest repertory cinemas in Berlin.

In the Humboldt Auditorium and in the smaller Kleist Auditorium, the Urania shows selected repertory films, classics, art house films, special film series and, on selected dates, films followed by a discussion. Today the Urania hosts repeat screenings of Competition films – and the beginning of the show is still announced by the striking of a gong.