Italy, the United States, China... These countries all have one thing in common: hosting a national cinema museum, where the rich audiovisual heritage of their country is showcased through exhibitions and screenings that are more exciting than the last. Among these experimental grounds of the seventh art, a giant is missing from the list: France. Fortunately, Cannes is setting things right and has announced the upcoming opening of a International Cinema Museum, dedicated to the renowned festival that draws millions of visitors each year, but also to the broader history of the industry.
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Finally a REAL cinema museum in France ?
With its 6,200 cinemas, 800 festivals, and exemplary funding model (that of the CNC), France is more than ever the home of the seventh art. But here’s the catch: it has “missed several opportunities to create the grand cinema museum that the public is waiting for,” lamented a recent article in Le Monde signed by a collective of cinema personalities.
If the Cinémathèque Française immediately comes to mind, there’s a nuance: yes, this Parisian institution preserves, restores and distributes the cinematographic heritage from around the world, but despite its successful exhibitions launched every season – the James Cameron retrospective in 2024, alongside this year's Wes Anderson exhibition, it only plays the role of a collector and doesn’t cover the broader history of the industry. Fortunately, the future international museum in Cannes aims to set things right.
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Permanent retrospectives around the Cannes Film Festival
The establishment, covering an area of 5,200 m², will first offer a permanent exhibition about the Cannes Film Festival. “Its location in Cannes, the birthplace of this prestigious event, which remains the largest cultural event in the world, is more than justified,” said Thierry Frémaux during a press conference.
The journey, designed as a true immersion at the heart of the Palais des Festivals, will plunge visitors into its behind-the-scenes, retracing its glorious moments, its cultural and media impact on an international scale, its emblematic moments, with the challenge of capturing the essence of an event in perpetual motion. Archives, obrare jets, costumes, projections and testimonials will enhance the experience. Every year, the exhibition will be updated to include highlights from the last edition, ensuring a lively and evolving story.
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A rich cultural program centered around the seventh art
Another ongoing event, more educational but just as retrospective: Long Live Cinema!, created by the French Cinematheque, will trace the history of the industry through numerous reconstructed sets, mythical objects, and immersive screenings. Additionally, The Children's Gallery, designed by Universcience, will invite kids aged 6-12 to discover the jobs in cinema through play, experimentation, and creation.
On top of that, 1,000 m² will be dedicated to temporary exhibitions. A 100-seat screening room will host cinema clubs, film series, and school sessions, while u.In a 650-seat auditorium, equipped for film concerts, conferences, and meetings with professionals, there will be an exciting event program throughout the year. The museum, with a total budget estimated at 80 million euros, might be inaugurated in 2029 or 2030, according to the city. Its location hasn’t been finalized yet.
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