31/10/2002

At the end of 2004, the new Cinémathèque Française will have a new home in the American Center situated in 51 rue de Bercy in Paris’s 12th arrondissement. The French Minister for Culture and Communications, Jean-Jacques Aillagon made the announcement yesterday, 29 October, during a speech outlining his policies for France’s real estate heritage. Modernisation work is scheduled to begin at the American Center early in 2003 and the new Cinémathèque will house the film library and archive services.
Initially reluctant about the move, Jean-Jacques Aillagon changed his mind after reading the audit report for the Cinémathèque and learning that it was in the red to the tune of Euros 406,000. He was also persuaded that the Cinémathèque needed more space after attendance at the current Chaillot and Des Grands Boulevards theatres rose (110,000 tickets sold in 2001). Despite receiving 85 per cent of its funds from the CNC, the Cinémathèque is to clarify its relationship with the French state through a new convention that is currently still in preparation. Furthermore, the operational activities of the new Cinémathèque – to be renamed the « Cinémathèque Française » - will have to take into account and implement the findings of a special ministerial commission headed by Serge Toubiana. The Toubiana Commission is scheduled to present its report at the end of this year.

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(Translated from French)