After a non-stop night of screenings, the celebration for the reopening of the Cinémathèque de Toulouse continues on Sunday, April 12th, with free screenings and a warm welcome at the Vertigo Café despite a last-minute setback.
Closed for eighteen months for renovation work that included the creation of a new 100-seat screening room, the Cinémathèque de Toulouse reopened on Saturday at 10 am with free film screenings that are ongoing on Sunday. As soon as the doors opened, the audience arrived eagerly, both loyal and new viewers excited to explore the venue.
“I find it magnificent, more accessible, more attractive, with an additional room, a somewhat designer café, all of which I like,” said Marianne, one of the early spectators on Saturday morning. “Before the renovations, I used to come about once a month, but I think I will now come more often.”
Similar sentiments were shared by Hélène, who expressed happiness about returning. She reminisced about her previous visits to the old cinema on Rue Roquelaine and expressed her plans to bring her son to the current venue as well.
Some visitors traveled from far away to attend the event, like Jacques from Lot-et-Garonne, who decided to spend the weekend in Toulouse after learning about the reopening of the Cinémathèque. Despite not reserving tickets in advance, the staff kindly found him a few seats, which he appreciated.
The director of the Cinémathèque, Franck Loiret, expressed joy at the strong attendance and enthusiasm for the venue, especially among young people, hinting at a potential renewal of the audience. He highlighted the unveiling of the third screening room with a program aimed at future audiences.
The cinematic marathon continued on Sunday, coinciding with the Marathon des Mots event offering readings in nearby locations for a literary break between films.
The article then touches on the mystery surrounding the Vertigo Café, a newly opened but soon-to-be-closed venue meant to cater to cinema-goers and locals. The lack of approval from the new municipal committee led to its sudden closure after just three days, sparking questions about the decision-making process.
In response, Eric Jean-François, a new city councilor overseeing cinema and museums, clarified that no subsidy discussions had taken place with the municipality regarding the café, citing legal uncertainties around its operation. An open call for project proposals was announced to ensure a secure and inclusive process in the coming months for utilizing the space for communal purposes.
