In Châlons-en-Champagne (Marne), the La Comète cinema has just launched a partnership with the Ozzak platform, which offers cinema tickets at reduced prices. This art house cinema is aiming to reach a new audience. Other cinemas in Nancy and Sarrebourg (Moselle) are also using this service.
Reduced prices to avoid empty seats, that was the initial idea behind the Ozzak platform created in 2022 by three cinema-loving friends from Nantes. This service, already used by nearly 90 cinemas in France and Belgium, has recently been implemented at the La Comète cinema in Châlons-en-Champagne. It is the fourth establishment in the Grand Est region to join, following the two Caméo cinemas in Nancy and the Cinesar in Sarrebourg (Moselle).
“The partner cinemas set their own schedules, number of seats, and prices,” explains Sylvain Mante, the co-founder of the platform. “Some cinemas target quieter screenings.” La Comète has decided to sell about ten tickets per screening through this platform, except for special events.
Usually, discounted rates are for specific categories: students, seniors, under 14. This time, they are accessible to everyone, with no age conditions, cards, or subscriptions. The prices range from 5 to 6 euros, depending on the screenings, plus an additional 79 cents for platform fees. In comparison, the full-price ticket at La Comète is 7.50 euros, which is not excessive compared to other cinemas.
“The idea is not to compete with ourselves, because we already offer many advantageous rates, especially on Thursdays or for those who buy the 10-ticket cards,” says Mathilde Boureau, the cinema manager and programmer at La Comète. “The goal is primarily to reach a new audience who may not be aware of this cultural venue in the heart of Châlons and to enhance our digital visibility.”
Since their partnership started in early March, about twenty viewers have purchased their tickets through this platform. “It’s starting slowly,” says the Châlons programmer, “but we have noticed people coming for the first time to La Comète thanks to Ozzak. That’s what we were looking for since our establishment can suffer from an outdated image with elitist and less accessible works, while we strive to offer demanding and mainstream programming.”
In Nancy, the two art house cinemas Caméo (La Commanderie and Saint-Sébastien) have been using this system since September 2024. A few tickets are offered daily on Ozzak for 6 euros instead of almost 10 euros for the full rate. Last year, around 500 spectators used this platform to buy their tickets for these two Nancy cinemas. “It’s not huge, but it has brought us a younger audience,” says Bruno Broutéc, communication manager at the Cameo in Nancy. “And it doesn’t cost the cinema anything, it’s just a bonus.”
In Sarrebourg, Moselle, the director of Cinesar, Lionel Chaffiol, is pleased with this platform, which he had already worked with in a previous cinema in Le Touquet. Every month, Ozzak brings him between 200 and 250 spectators since January. “Mostly young people, who sometimes come with one of their parents.”
This service aims to overcome several obstacles to cinema attendance: price, habit loss, and lack of information. According to Sylvain Mante, co-founder of the platform, “65% of users increase their cinema attendance thanks to these offers. It’s a gateway to win them back and introduce them to new films they may not have gone to see without this promotion.”
