La Clef Cinema, Paris, France
Paris’s historic La Clef cinema, a beloved cultural venue, has been saved from closure after a five-year battle, thanks to crucial support from filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, David Lynch and Céline Sciamma. The no-strings-attached donation will help the community-run cinema purchase its physical assets, ensuring its continued operation and funding essential renovations.
Located in Paris’ 5th arrondissement, La Clef has been a crowd-pleaser since 1973. Facing eviction since 2018, the cinema will celebrate its victory with a four-day event from June 27-30, offering free screenings to the public. The celebration marks the start of a year-long renovation project that aims to modernise the building and add a canteen that will also serve as an event space.
The Cinema Revival Collective, which operates La Clef, raised $430,000 with initial support from Lynch, Sciamma and others including Leos Carax, Agnès Jaoui and Wang Bing. Subsequent generous contributions from Quentin Tarantino and Cedric Klapisch helped secure the $2.1 million needed to finalize the purchase.
A major supporter and board member of the cinema revival, Sciamma emphasizes the importance of preserving La Clef not just as a cinema but as an important cultural institution. “We must protect the value of an institution that is measured less in square meters and more in opportunities for interaction and creativity,” he told the La Clef board. He believes such institutions should be at the heart of major cities, not pushed to the margins by market forces.
The win comes at a crucial time for the French film community, which is currently facing political uncertainties. The group hoped that this positive news would inspire and empower others. “The grave political context makes it more essential than ever that there are places to meet, reflect and make choices,” they said, expressing hope that La Clef’s success would provide a ray of hope amid the turmoil.
