Cinémathèque Française Museum

Address: 51 Rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France

Website: https://www.cinematheque.fr/

The Cinémathèque Française is a major film archive, museum and cultural institution in Paris, founded in 1936 to collect, preserve and present cinema-related material. In the 21st century it moved into a purpose-built facility in the Parc de Bercy / 12th arrondissement, designed to host archives, screenings and exhibitions.

Its holdings include film prints, posters, stills and documents used for restoration, study and public display, and the institution runs regular public programming of screenings and retrospectives. Visitors commonly come for themed programs, rotating exhibitions and access to archival material under supervised conditions.

The organisation has played a central role in film preservation and scholarship in France since the mid-20th century and continues to mount exhibitions and public events for both specialist and general audiences.

The facility sits in the 12th arrondissement of Paris in the Bercy area, linked to public transport and cultural venues in eastern Paris.

• Founding and location: Founded in 1936 and later relocated to its current purpose-built facility in the Parc de Bercy area, it is a major institution for film preservation and programming in France.
• Visitor planning: Programs include regular public screenings, retrospectives and exhibitions, so checking the schedule is advised before visiting.

What to See#

• Archives and library: Houses a film archive and research library containing film prints, posters and documents used for restoration and scholarship, supporting preservation work and scholarly access.
• Screening and exhibition spaces: Contains multiple screening halls and exhibition spaces used for regular film screenings, retrospectives and temporary displays of cinema-related material.

La Cinémathèque Française is on rue de Bercy in the Bercy area of Paris (12th arrondissement). The nearest metro is Cour Saint-Émilion (Line 14) and Bercy station (Lines 6 and 14); both are a short walk (about 5-10 minutes) to the rue de Bercy address. By car it’s in the southeastern part of central Paris (Bercy), a 15-25 minute drive from central Paris depending on traffic.

• Check the programme online and book tickets in advance - special retrospectives and director-focused seasons frequently sell out.
• Arrive at least 20-30 minutes before a screening to secure seating for popular shows and to browse the cinema's temporary exhibitions and poster displays, which are often overlooked by visitors who only come for films.
• Plan your visit as part of a trip to the Bercy area (park and riverside walks) so you can combine a screening with the neighbourhood's cafes and cultural venues nearby.