The collection includes a rare collection of hand-cranked cameras used in early 20th-century cinematography.
The museum holds specific artifacts related to the 'Caliwood' era, a period in the 1970s and 80s when the city became a hub for independent Colombian filmmaking.
The founder, Hugo Suárez, spent over three decades curating the collection before opening the museum to the public.
Some projectors on display are still functional and are occasionally demonstrated during guided visits.
The museum contains rare stereoscopes and pre-cinema optical toys that predate the invention of the motion picture camera.
Museo Caliwood is the first cinematographic museum in Colombia, dedicated to preserving the history of film technology. The collection features over 1,000 pieces including vintage cameras, projectors, and editing equipment dating from the 19th century to the present. It houses rare 35mm, 16mm, and 8mm projectors alongside a significant archive of movie posters and cinema memorabilia. The facility serves as an educational center for film history and production evolution. Tours are led by experts who demonstrate the mechanics of the displayed machinery. The museum emphasizes the development of Colombian cinema and its technical foundations. It is housed in a dedicated building in the western hills of Cali. The exhibits are curated to highlight the transition from silent film to digital media.
Beside the vintage, large-format movie projectors in the main hall.
Engage with the guides as they provide essential technical context for the vintage machinery.
Check the museum's social media for special film screenings or temporary exhibitions before visiting.
Wear comfortable shoes as the museum space involves navigating various exhibition rooms across different levels.
Do not touch the equipment without permission, as many pieces are fragile, irreplaceable, and date back over a century.
Closed on Mondays.
