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Editorial Guérande
Published on
Nov. 2 2024 at 2 p.m
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Created in 1994, when the Renaissance space in Donges (Loire-Atlantique) had just been given a facelift after major renovation work, the mayor at the time Alexandre Gravelle decided to propose the creation of a associative cinema. Martine Gérardin, a volunteer from the start, remembers:
“A survey was launched with the distribution of a questionnaire in mailboxes to find out if the people of Donge wanted a cinema. The response was positive and the first president was Pascal Leray, since then there have been five presidents including Marie-Hélène Bugalet who stayed for 15 years. »
12 964 entrées
With 12,964 entries in the first year, Cinema Donges met with real success in terms of attendance. But over the years, the number of tickets sold has dropped. With 5 000 entrées per year today, the association barely manages to maintain its operations, Catherine Cazères, secretary, explains:
This is particularly because cinema complexes in Saint-Nazaire and Savenay have been created, ensuring spectators a wide choice of films. We, as an associative cinema, are dependent on the distributor who imposes excessively long delays after the release of the films.
The anniversary program for Sunday, November 3
These are thirty-year-old films which were a real success during their screening at Donges which are programmed for the 30th anniversary of Ciné Donges: Who Framed Roger Rabbit? worldwide commercial success and Léon released in 1994, the cult film by Luc Besson with Jean Reno attracted three and a half million spectators in France.
At the end of the session, each spectator will be given a souvenir gift, a snack will be offered to the children and a coffee for the adults. The backstage areas of the cinema, notably the projection booth, will be open to the public. Volunteers invite visitors to come dressed in a cinema-themed costume, without obligation of course.
Sunday, November 3, Renaissance space, single price: 4 euros. Sessions at 2 p.m. and 5:30 p.m.
More spectators
Ciné Donges is a team of 48 volunteers available to ensure entries, screening, participate each month in a film programming meeting, share the same desire to celebrate 30 years and instill a dynamic of development, but they warn. “The average number of spectators is between 20 and 30 per film; 45 would be needed to ensure its future. The people of Donge need to keep the cinema alive, because once a cinema is closed, it’s permanent.”
By launching this appeal, they hope to relive the historic moments of attendance experienced by the films, An Indian in the cityThe Lion King and the Titanic. Éliane Bazin remembers: “We were sold out and the spectators were fighting to get in and they were stealing the film posters.”
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