Until 1992, the event which took place over a single day was called “The longest day of cinema” and offered for the purchase of a place at the normal price a passport book allowing access to all the sessions at a preferential rate of 1 franc. The success was immediate with 1,400,000 tickets sold during the first edition. In 1988, only three years after the start of the operation, more than 2 million people, especially young people, went to the cinema, often with higher expectations but allowing a second wind to be given to French cinemas.
In 1993, a victim of its success, changes had to be made: “The longest day of cinema” became “The cinema festival” and the event was extended from one to three days, to meet high demand. The lengthening of the festivities led the organizers to increase the price, from one to ten francs. In 2000, “Le Printemps du cinéma” was launched with a similar concept: for three days during the month of March, cinema tickets are at a reduced rate. When the euro arrived in 2002, ten francs were transformed into 1.50 euros. Since the terms have changed, prices have fluctuated, until in 2023 we reached four days of cinema at 5 euros per screening.
A successful operation
This operation has been such a success for almost forty years that some films have taken the habit of being released in theaters during “La fête du cinéma”, to try to make a better start. The opportunity to offer you a non-exhaustive list of the feature films that have made the most admissions during these festivities, since 1985…
“The Purple Rose of Cairo” in 1985
Directed by Woody Allen, this film tells the story of Cecilia, a waitress forced to give her meager salary to her alcoholic and unemployed husband. To escape, she takes refuge in the cinema, always in front of the same feature film: “The Purple Rose of Cairo”. Cecilia gradually falls in love with the main character, played by Gil Shepherd, who has also noticed her and comes out of the screen to join her.
“The Big Blue” in 1988
This film directed by Luc Besson tells the story of the rivalry between two children, in the sea, in Greece, which continues when they are adults. Which of the two will dive the furthest and the deepest? Their loves, their friendships, with humans and with dolphins, in pursuit of an inaccessible dream.
“The Spanish Inn” in 2002
In this feature film, directed by Cédric Klapisch, we follow the life of Xavier, a 25-year-old Frenchman, who takes off for Spain to finish his finance studies. During this Erasmus, he finds himself living in a shared apartment with seven other people, all from a different country.
« Very Bad Trip » en 2009
In this American film, directed by Todd Phillips, we follow an eventful bachelor party and the adventure of three friends who try to find the fiancé, who disappeared 40 hours before the wedding ceremony. They will then have to ignore their hangover and gather their fragments of memories to understand what happened.
Animated films
In 2023, two animated films did very well: “Miraculous” and “Elementary”. Indeed, “La Fête du Cinéma” is an unmissable event for young people and their parents, and many of this type of feature films are successful: “Shrek 2” in 2004, “Cars” in 2006, “Kung-Fu Panda 2” in 2011, and “Toy Story 4” in 2019.
And in 2024?
Children (and older ones) will be treated to another animated film, “Vice Versa 2”.
The 2024 edition of the event will also be an opportunity to discover one of the most anticipated films of the summer: “The Count of Monte Cristo”, with Pierre Niney, in theaters this Friday, June 28.
In this feature film, directed by Alexandre de La Patellière and Matthieu Delaporte, the young Edmond Dantès, victim of a plot, is arrested on his wedding day for a crime he did not commit.
