The Jeu de Paume launches arthouse cinema

“There is no image without a frame, nor frame without space”, one could say of the Jeu de Paume, which, beyond being a major art center, is now becoming a space dedicated to cinema. Film enthusiasts and art lovers have much to look forward to this fall: the Jeu de Paume, an iconic center nestled between the Tuileries Gardens and Place de la Concorde, is set to open its very first cinema theater. Known for its photography exhibitions and contemporary imagery, this historic site is expanding to include a new space, transforming its walls into a temple of cinema. To mark this bold transition, the center is inaugurating its cinema with a retrospective of Belgian filmmaker Chantal Akerman, a major figure in auteur cinema. This transformation, scheduled for November 12 to celebrate Jeu de Paume’s twentieth anniversary, brings a new dimension to this venue dedicated to imagery, offering viewers a chance to dive into an intimate, demanding, and boldly cinematic universe.

With support from the National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC), which has awarded Jeu de Paume the prestigious “Art and Essay” label, this new space commits to screening nearly 400 films per year. This label highlights unique, challenging, and often underrepresented works, providing a platform for inventive and committed cinema, far removed from mainstream productions. Screenings, scheduled from Tuesday to Sunday, will offer a diverse program in partnership with prestigious festivals like the Cannes Critics' Week and the Champs-Élysées Film Festival. Jeu de Paume thus invites the public to discover works by independent filmmakers from around the world, emphasizing diversity and boldness. Additionally, morning screenings specifically for young viewers will take place on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, cultivating a cinematic curiosity in younger audiences in a 90-seat theater, intimate and perfect for an exclusive viewing experience.

To celebrate this opening, Jeu de Paume is honoring the work of Chantal Akerman, whose deeply introspective and innovative films continue to inspire generations of filmmakers. Akerman, who passed away in 2015, left behind a unique body of films, blending fiction and documentary, that explore themes of time, memory, and feminism. As part of the exhibition Travelling, open until January 19, 2025, the public will have the chance to rediscover iconic works like Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles, named “the greatest film of all time” by British magazine Sight & Sound in 2022. This exhibition, enriched with rare archives from the Chantal Akerman Foundation, traces the artistic evolution of the filmmaker, from her beginnings with Saute ma ville in 1968 to her more mature projects, allowing visitors to appreciate the depth of her approach. Through this programming and new space, Jeu de Paume invites audiences to fully immerse themselves in auteur cinema, where each screening becomes a rare experience, offering a privileged encounter between the public and cinema works seeking meaning and singular expression.