All the cinema lovers already know that the French Cinema is considered as one of the most sophisticated of all the productions in the world.
In France, the Cinema, called the seventh art, is part of the lifestyle and takes a great place in French peoples live. All this greatness can be witnessed in the place dedicated to this art, the Cinémathèque Française, located in Bercy, in the 12nd arrondissement.
The Cinémathèque Française houses a unique exhibition and is composed of two museums, a library, a screening room and 2 studios.
Through this article, we will give you all the information about exhibitions, history, tickets and guided tours as well as helpful information on how to get there.
What can I do at the Cinémathèque Française ?
Completely renovated in summer 2020, the Cinémathèque Française deals with the distribution and preservation of films as a cultural asset.
With extraordinary exhibits from film history, it offers visitors an insight into the world of movie making in France.
The main museum has an extensive collection that includes unique objects on the subject of film and cinema.
Films, videos, DVDs, but also cult objects, film reviews, posters, photos, costumes and props that come from different parts of the world can be seen.
Highlights include costumes by Hollywood stars like Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo and Elisabeth Taylor.
A brand new museum called the Méliès Museum has been inaugurated in the Cinémathèque Française in summer 2020 in the Cinémathèque.
This museum goes back to the origins of cinema. It displays objects of deceptive art, costumes, important devices and gear, drawings, unusual objects...
In October 2020, the Cinémathèque even created a new educational filming space for making movies.
At these two new studios, only students will be invited to manipulate, frame, illuminate, build sets, invent stories, play and watch.
The postmodern building itself is also interesting. It was designed by the Canadian-American star architect Frank Gehry - one more reason why the Cinémathèque Française stands out among the museums in Paris.
Special Exhibitions & Events
Furthermore, the museum regularly hosts exhibitions and events focusing on specific periods, actors and directors. Moreover, around 1300 films are shown annually in the in-house cinema available for visitors willing to watch them.
You can find a current overview on Cinamethèque Française Official Website.
Entrance, Tickets and Tours at Cinémathèque Française
How to get to the Cinémathèque Française ?
The museum is located in the Bercy neigborhood of the 12th arrondissement.
- The easiest way to get there is by metro line 6 or 14, station “Bercy”.
- Alternatively, you can also take the bus line 24 or N32 and get off at the station “Bercy-Arena”.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
The regular opening times of the Musée du Cinéma are Wednesday to Saturday from 12:00 to 19:00. For the lastest information about opening times, please consult the official website.
Tickets for the Musée du Cinéma can be purchased on site at the ticket counter.
The Musée du Cinéma, with its new name Musée de la Cinémathèque, is located in a postmodern building in the Bercy neigborhood of the 12th arrondissement. The address is: Cinémathèque Française, 51 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris
The easiest way to get to the Cinémathèque Française that operates the Musée du Cinéma is by metro line 6 or 14 (station “Bercy”). Alternatively, you can also take the bus line 24 or N32 and get off at the station “Bercy-Arena”.
History of the Cinémathèque Française
The Cinémathèque Française with the Musée du Cinéma goes back to Henri Langlois and Georges Franju, who founded the film institute in 1935 under the name Cercle du cinéma.
In 1936 the two founders, who had already dedicated themselves to the rescue and preservation of film copies in the past, began to collect objects related to film and cinema together with Paul-Auguste Harlé. As Cinémathèque Française, they also made the preservation and distribution of films as a cultural asset their mission.
Especially during the Second World War, the Cinémathèque managed to save numerous films from the National Socialists.
With its collection, the Cinémathèque Française also had a significant influence on the directors of the Nouvelle Vague (“New Wave”), a style of French cinema.
In 1968 the then Minister of Culture and filmmaker André Malraux canceled funds in order to force the dismissal of the co-founder Henri Langlois. This led to the temporary closure of the Cinémathèque Française.
Only after intense demonstrations, in which the greats of French cinema took part, Malraux backed down from his decision and the Cinémathèque could be reopened.
After several moves, the Cinémathèque Française has been located in its current location at 51 Rue de Bercy since 2005, where it operates the Musée de la Cinémathèque - formerly the Musée du Cinéma.