this Seine-et-Marne cinema enters a new era

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He is not afraid to use words: his cinema is now among the best in France. “A few weeks ago, everyone was talking about the opening of the Pathé Palacein Paris. And I dare say that for an independent, we are not very far from it,” says Cedric Aubry. Owner of the seven Confluences cinemas located in the four corners of France, it has just invested €1.8 million in the renovation (in three phases, from May until September 27) of the only cinema in the Pays de Montereau, located in the commercial area from Bréau, to Varennes-sur-Seine.

Unique sound quality in Europe

An amount that may seem enormous, but the president of the medium-sized exhibition branch of the National Federation of Cinemas of France (FNCF) wanted nothing less than the best for his flagship cinema.

“What motivated this desire to move upmarket is that we are entering a new cycle for cinemas. After the era of multiplexes, which lasted 25-30 years, and which will continue, we have entered a new period, particularly in terms of comfort standards, he believes. Spectators are more and more demanding, and that’s normal. To leave their home, they must have at least one “ wow effect“, and that’s why I set myself the highest standards in terms of quality,” explains Cédric Aubry.

And from the first steps in the completely renovated theaters, we realize that it will be difficult to contradict the boss of the Varen cinema.

“I made an agreement with the DTX company in terms of sound so that the nine rooms will be equipped with either DTS surround or DTS-X. This means that we have several speakers at ceiling level to give spectators a totally immersive experience », he explains.

If this technology is present in other cinemas in France, the Confluences cinema is the only one in Europe to have all of its rooms equipped with this sound quality.

“All chairs are electric”

But, obviously, in addition to the sound, spectators come to the cinema for the comfort of the rooms and the quality of the image. Two criteria on which Cédric Aubry did not skimp.

« All chairs are electric and the step (between each row, editor’s note) is wider for increased comfort. The projections are done by laser, it is the best of the best of what exists today. All to allow total immersion,” he confides.

However, this considerable improvement in cinema performance is a bet that can prove risky for the establishment. Indeed, who says improvement in comfort also says reduction in the number of places: “We spend from 1,600 to 930 seats across all nine rooms. This requirement that we have for the comfort of the spectator results in a significant drop in our gauge,” recognizes Cédric Aubry.

But not enough to scare the owner of the premises: “The impact that this will have is that we will have full rooms much more regularly, if not weekly. But we come to the cinema for a collective experienceto share an emotion, so what could be better for that than a full room,” he emphasizes.

“The best of what can be done in terms of cinema”

On the price side, the full price has seen a very slight increase, going from from €10.10 to €10.90but the average number of tickets sold by the Confluences cinema remains well below the prices charged by most Parisian cinemas.

“We are sure very affordable premium. Certainly, the full price has increased slightly, but the subscription card (5 places for 36€editor’s note) remains at the same price. We also have a price €6.90 on Tuesday for all sessions. On average, the ticket costs 7€, and this allows you to escape for 2 hours and create memories that are sometimes eternal, so I will always fight against those who say that going to the cinema is expensive,” insists- he.

And for the moment, spectators seem delighted to see their cinema enter a new dimension: “The initial feedback is very good. The objective is to reconnect with an audience that came less often and to regain pre-Covid balances in terms of attendance, that is to say between 350,000 and 400,000 entries per year (compared to 260,000 in 2023, editor’s note),” he specifies.

Before concluding: “Historically, this cinema, which I opened in December 2008, was already the first in France to be equipped with digital projections. So I had this need to restore meaning to the beginnings of Varennes cinema by being present again with the highest standards of comfort. The goal is to say that in the Pays de Montereau, we have the best of what can be done in France in terms of cinema,” concludes Cédric Aubry.

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