The Cinémathèque française

After a long residency at the Palais de Chaillot, the Cinémathèque Française has since September 2005 made its home within the modern building designed by the architect Frank Gehry, situated 51 rue de Bercy, in Paris’ 12th district, at the heart of a neighbourhood in full development.

Enjoying fresh support, the Cinémathèque is now in a position to exhibit, host, restore, and display its collections in three exhibition spaces, programme films on three screens, receive students and researchers in its library and archive centre, and organise educational events for young audiences.

Since the move, the Cinémathèque has seen hundreds of thousands pass through its doors. Several exhibitions have been held, exploring the major themes of cinema history or contemporary production: Renoir-Renoir, Pedro Almodòvar, German Expressionist Cinema, “l’Image d’après” in collaboration with Magnum Photos, and “Sacha Guitry, Life of an
Artist”, organised with the French National Library.

Rich with experience, the Cinémathèque Française continues to fulfil its original mission: preserving and restoring films and archives within its collections, programming major classics as well as complete etrospectives and tributes to filmmakers, actors, producers and film technicians, exhibiting precious pieces from its collections within the “Passion Cinéma” permanent exhibition, organising temporary exhibitions displaying the riches of its vault, and highlighting the ties connecting cinema to the other arts. Thanks to its many initiatives, the Cinémathèque Française strives to transmit a passion for cinematographic art, through its educational and cultural activities in particular, intended for younger audiences.

 Download the PDF presentation of the Cinémathèque française

Audio visit of the Museum of Cinema

You can now visit the Museum of Cinema with a free audio guide available in four foreign languages: English, Italian, Spanish, and German. MP3 files can be listened to and downloaded from the following address.

Listen to audio guide samples / Download the podcast :