Cité du cinéma in Saint-Denis Reopens with Free Festive Weekend

The Cité du cinéma in Saint-Denis will celebrate its reopening with a free festive weekend on September 19 and 20, 2026, during the European Heritage Days. The venue, housed in a former thermal power plant designed by architect Gustave Umbdenstock in the early 1930s, was originally launched by filmmaker and producer Luc Besson in September 2012. After facing financial difficulties and the closure of its film school three years ago, the site was requisitioned in 2024 to serve as a restaurant for athletes during the Paris Olympics. Now, under a new identity, it reopens with film studios, the ENS Louis-Lumière school, event spaces including the grand nave, and a cinema. The inaugural weekend offers a rich program: dance performances by Paris Dance Project (September 19 at 2pm, 4pm, and 5pm; September 20 at 12pm and 4pm), Michel Gondry's 'Usine de films amateurs' where participants can create their own short film, dubbing and makeup workshops, stunt initiations and demonstrations, and tours of ENS Louis-Lumière's film sets. Screenings include Michel Gondry's short films on Saturday and 'De la Comédie-Française' by Martin Darondeau and Bertrand Usclat on Sunday. A silent film tribute in immersive theater style will take place at 1pm on both days. The Cité du cinéma aims to become a key cultural destination in the Paris region.