If you were under the impression that in Paris we go to the cinema just to see films, then that’s only half the story. You can also enjoy concerts, meet the performers, see exhibitions, dance the tango or salsa, attend lectures or join in film club sessions. Film buffs certainly are spoilt for choice in Paris: there are even screenings in the open air and in places that you wouldn’t normally associate with the silver screen. Here’s a selection.
More ideas from Parisian filmgoers
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Art house cinema
Paris, capital of the silver screen, boasts 372 cinemas including 89 in the art house category. It is also the leading city worldwide for the number of foreign films shown in their original language. These typically-Parisian cinemas, some with cosy bars suitable for discussions and debates, schedule film club sessions where you can exchange points of view and impressions. The Pagode draws us into a Far-Eastern setting, the Balzac takes us on a cruise and the Studio 28 is, according to Jean Cocteau, who designed the chandeliers in 1928, “a cinema of masterpieces and a masterpiece of a cinema”.
-Studio 28
28 rue Tholozé (18e).
M° Blanche
Evenings with aperitif-quiz on a cinema theme, dinner and film accompanied by the actors, approximately twice a month.
www.cinemastudio28.com.
-L’Arlequin
75, rue de Rennes (6e).
M° Saint Sulpice
Film club on Sundays at 11am
-La Pagode
57, bis rue de Babylone (7e)
M° Saint François Xavier
Film club one Saturday per month at 11am
programme on www.ligueparis.org
-Le Balzac
1 rue Balzac (8e).
M° George V
www.lebalzac.com
-Le Studio Galande
For more than 20 years now, the legendary Rocky Horror Picture Show has topped the bill at the Studio Galande (5th). The only cinema in France to show the film, this cinema awaits you every Saturday at 10.10pm for a wild and wonderful interactive show where the spectacle spills over into the auditorium: spectators dance, throw rice and water, and join in the songs from the soundtrack…
42, rue Galande (5e).
M° Maubert-Mutualité
www.sweet-transvesties.com (in French and English).
Ciné-club des artisans
Twice every quarter, on the initiative of the local authorities, an artisan tapestry-maker in Paris’s 11th arrondissement opens his studio for a film-club session preceded by a short film. In the interval, there will be time for exchanging impressions, a drink and a snack.More details under Paris with Parisians/Events.
NB: remember to bring a chair!
5, cité de l’Ameublement (11e).
M° Faidherbe-Chaligny
“A short lesson in cinema”
One Thursday each month at 7pm, the Pavillon de l’Arsenal will screen short films and documentaries, of which Paris or the suburbs will be either the subject or the setting. Each screening will be followed by encounters with architects and cinema-industry professionals.
Free admission according to availability of seats, booking recommended on 01 42 76 33 97
and on infopa@pavillon-arsenal.com.
21, boulevard Morland (4e)
M° Sully-Morland ou Bastille
www.pavillon-arsenal.com
La Cinémathèque Française
This institution has had a big makeover since it moved to the site of the former American Center, built by Frank Gehry, in Bercy park (12th arrondissement), at the end of 2005.
Today it is a real treasure trove for movie buffs: retrospectives, debates with visiting guest speakers, lectures, series of screenings, tributes to…etc.
See the Cinémathèque’s website for the full programme of events.www.cinematheque.fr
51 rue de Bercy (12e) M° Bercy
Tel.: 01 71 19 33 33
La Péniche Cinéma !
A barge entirely devoted to cinema, this is what this barge moored next to the Parc de la Villette, in winter, and moored in the La Villette canal basin, in summer, has to offer. A cinema that is out of the ordinary, due to its location and its line-up of films. Art-house cinema and experimental cinema with a large part given over to debates, workshops, meetings with people from the world of cinema etc. The programme is varied, and there are also training courses!
The best thing is to consult their website: www.penichecinema.com Everything is there !
Péniche Cinéma
Parc de la Villette, next to the Cabaret Sauvage
M° Porte de Pantin / Porte de la Villette
Tél : 01 48 03 10 30 ou 06 14 17 64 18
penichecinema@gmail.fr.
Special initiatives
- The Printemps du Cinéma (generally in March or April) is for those who just can’t get enough of cinema, as all films in their original languages or in French can be viewed for 3.50 €, in participating cinemas.
www.printempsducinema.com
- "Three days, 3 euros:" organised by the Paris City Council, this softens the impact for those returning from holiday as it takes place at the end of the month of August. You can bring yourself up to date with films, over three days, for 3€ per film, in all Parisian cinemas. www.paris.fr
-and all year...
It is worth knowing that films on Monday and/or on Wednesday, as well as those screened before midday benefit from a reduced-rate tariff; full information can be found in the weekly Pariscope and l'Officiel des Spectacles.
- Also see
- Le Latina
- L’Archipel
- L'Entrepôt
- More ideas from Parisian filmgoers
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