Samatan’s cinema is going through a rough patch. The main source of difficulty: the drop in the number of spectators, according to the association’s president, Josette Roudié: “2025 was a bad year, there was a slight catch-up at the end of December but attendance was insufficient. We have to deal with challenges and that’s why we asked for the support of the municipality.” It should be noted that this cinema is partly funded by the special additional tax (TSA) on tickets. A dedicated account, managed by the CNC (National Center for Cinema), supports cinematographic activity. It is for this reason, and in the face of the cash flow difficulties of the managing association, that a municipal council meeting mainly focused on this issue was held last Wednesday in a serene and constructive atmosphere. The elected officials of Samatan voted unanimously to grant an exceptional subsidy of 10,000 euros to the cinema and to withdraw 15,000 euros from the TSA account. The goal being to anticipate three months of salaries and stabilize the association’s cash flow. “We are fortunate to have a municipality that supports us, it will cost the town nothing. There is a good spirit, the mayor is sensitive to the cinema and, during a meeting I had with him, he gave us leads and ideas,” specifies Josette Roudié. This is a crucial issue for the sustainability of this local cultural venue, which attracts not only people from Samatan but also many residents from the villages of the Savès community. In this regard, why not consider seeking support from the community of municipalities in the coming years? This question is being raised within the association.
