More than a year after its expulsion from the Parisian cinema La Clef – which it had occupied since September 2019 – the association La Clef Revival signed a promise of sale on Wednesday April 26 with the current owner of the premises, the CSE of the Caisse d'Epargne Ile-de-France. The two parties have agreed on a price of 2.9 million euros (compared to 4.2 million euros at the start). The collective indicates that it has met "80% of the objective", by securing a bank loan of 1.7 million €, 600,000 € in sponsorship (for an objective of €1 million) and €175,000 in crowdfunding (out of 400,000 €) for more than 2,500 donors. Meetings with sponsors continue while the crowdfunding campaign is relaunched, specifies the association, which has 6 months to collect the full amount. The reopening is expected in January 2024.
It should be remembered that this project revolves around a collective organization and programming for the cinema located in the Latin Quarter, which aims to be "a space for the distribution at pay what you want price of films that are not widely shown and a space for independent creation and open to all. Since its expulsion in March 2022 after a judicial soap opera of several months, the collective had continued its programming work, hosted in several alternative places and cinemas to offer sessions at pay what you want price.
For Martin Scorsese, "La Clef must remain a cinema"
Filmmakers and actors Mathieu Amalric, Olivier Assayas, Robin Campillo, Leos Carax, Alain Cavalier, Agnès Jaoui and even American director Martin Scorsese are among the supporters and donors. “In recent years, La Clef has been occupied by people devoted to the art of cinema. The owners want to sell it without worrying too much about what will become of this beloved hall at a time when it is increasingly difficult for cinemas to survive. To all members of La Clef Revival, know that the filmmakers here in the United States, support you,” Martin Scorsese said in a video appeal for donations released Wednesday.
"I'm going straight to the point: La Clef must remain a cinema ", also insists the American filmmaker in a forum for Liberation. “The building must be saved and the spotlights must keep running – period, end of story. »