“The most important of cinema for us is art”: the social significance of the activities of the “Sigma” film club in Novosibirsk akademgorodok (1960s - 1980s)

The Soviet cities of science of the 1950s - 1980s are now studied as vibrant environments that encapsulate various social and cultural contexts. The article examines, for the first time, the history of the “Sigma” film club in Novosibirsk Akademgorodok. The club gained considerable fame throughout the USSR and continues to function today, albeit in a more intimate format.. The methodological approach taken in this analysis combines modernization theory, new political history, and social anthropology. This synthesis enables a comprehensive understanding of the history and socio-political significance of amateur leisure socio-cultural practices in the context of the relationship between power and society during the late Soviet period and conditions that led to its unexpected collapse during the period of Perestroika. The principles guiding the organization and activities of the “Sigma” film club identified it as a gathering of engaged individuals rather than merely a venue for film screenings. In addition to showcasing elite films, the club cultivated a communicative environment that facilitated significant cultural events. By promoting the exchange of information and ideas characterized by a distinct ethical focus, the cinema club subculture contributed to the formation of small but genuine enclaves of a pluralistic society, thereby indirectly contributing to the dismantling of the ideological shell of late socialism.