What Le Cinématographe does

Le Cinématographe is a non-profit cinema association (association loi 1901), formally registered as Le Cinématographe Ciné-Nantes Loire-Atlantique and headquartered at 27 rue de Strasbourg, Nantes, France. The organization operates a single-screen repertory and associative cinema that programs diverse films across heritage, contemporary, documentary, experimental, and children's categories, including themed auteur retrospectives (Seijun Suzuki, John Ford, Akira Kurosawa) and annual cycles such as PlayTime, La Loi du Genre, and Vidéodrome. Beyond screenings, it runs an "Éducation à l'image" mission delivering national school programs (Ecole et Cinéma, Collège au Cinéma, Lycéens et apprentis au Cinéma) plus higher-education collaborations with Ciné Sup', ENSAN/CRENAU, and the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique. It also coordinates the SCALA mission (Salles de Cinéma Associatives de Loire-Atlantique), a regional network that relays programming across the department's associative cinemas.

The association is governed collegially by approximately 11 paid staff and member associations, with Emmanuel Gibouleau serving as Director of Publication responsible for direction, programming, and partnerships. There is no proprietary technology platform: the core "product" is the physical cinema experience and the surrounding educational and editorial activities (LIRE for written content, Écouter for audio/podcast with Jet FM, Voir for video, Espace Pro for cinema professionals, and historical Archives). No APIs, SDKs, AI capabilities, or technical integrations are disclosed.

Revenue is generated through three streams: ticket sales for daily screenings (transactional), fees for educational screenings to schools and universities (professional services), and recurring institutional subsidies and grants from DRAC des Pays de la Loire, Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire, Conseil Départemental de Loire-Atlantique, Ville de Nantes, plus mécène support (Volotea). Pricing is not publicly disclosed on the website. Marketing and audience development rely on the company website, Facebook and Instagram accounts, a podcast distributed via hearthis.at, printed program flyers, and regional media partnerships (Jet FM, Haut Parleur, Répliques, Prun', Sun radio). The association participates in national cinema professional bodies (GNCR, SCARE, ACID, ADRC, AFCA, CST), reinforcing its position within the French art-house and associative cinema ecosystem.

Name

Le Cinématographe

Legal name

Le Cinématographe Ciné-Nantes Loire-Atlantique

Website

https://lecinematographe.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1895

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Cinématographe is a non-profit associative cinema and film-education center in Nantes, France, operating daily repertory screenings, national school and university education programs, and the SCALA regional network coordinating Loire-Atlantique's associative cinemas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Art-house / Repertory Cinema

NAICS

Motion Picture and Video Exhibition (51213), Motion Picture Theaters (except Drive-Ins) (512131), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

SIC

Services-Motion Picture Theaters (7830), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Distribution (7829), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Programming, Booking & Repertory Exhibition Services (MPADAKAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Screening Rooms & Cinematheques (Nonprofit/Institutional) (MPADAKAF), Campus & Educational Screenings (Universities, Schools) (MPADAKAI), Non-Theatrical Distribution (Educational, Airlines, Cruise, Community) (MPADAJAJ)

Keywords

• Art-house cinema
• Film education
• Repertory cinema
• Associative cinema
• Image education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nantes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket sales and screenings: The cinema generates revenue from admission tickets for its daily film screenings across diverse programming including heritage films, contemporary works, documentaries, children's films, and experimental cinema.
2. Education à l'image programs: Revenue from organizing educational screenings and programs for schools (maternelle, primaire, collège, lycée) and higher education institutions, including Ciné Sup' for university students.
3. Institutional subsidies and grants: Ongoing financial support from institutional partners including DRAC des Pays de la Loire, Conseil Régional des Pays de la Loire, Conseil Départemental de Loire-Atlantique, and Ville de Nantes. Also patron/mécène support (e.g., Volotea).

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Le Cinématographe operates a physical repertory cinema venue in Nantes, France, screening heritage, contemporary, documentary, experimental, and children's films through curated cycles and retrospectives. It also runs structured "éducation à l'image" programs for schools and universities and coordinates the SCALA network of associative cinemas across Loire-Atlantique. The association is funded through ticket sales, institutional grants, and mécénat, and is governed as a non-profit (association loi 1901).

Product overview

Le Cinématographe is a non-profit cinema association (association loi 1901) in Nantes, France, operating as both a repertory cinema and an educational institution focused on film culture. The organization offers a unified service portfolio centered on film programming and education à l'image. Core offerings include regular film screenings with themed cycles (Cinéma d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui), children's programming (Cinéma des Enfants), and school-based initiatives (Ecole et Cinéma, Collège au Cinéma, Lycéens et apprentis). The SCALA mission coordinates a network of associative cinemas across Loire-Atlantique. Supporting resources include written content (LIRE), audio programming (Écouter with JetFM), video content (Voir), and professional development tools (Espace Pro). Archives document past programming. The cinema functions as a cultural venue rather than a software product, with no technical integrations, APIs, or AI capabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Programmation cin\u00e9matographique (Cin\u00e9ma d'Hier et d'Aujourd'hui)

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

27 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Ecole de Design (Nantes Atlantique)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProgramming partner collaborating on themed film seasons for design school students. Joint programming cycles (e.g., 'Corps', 'Monstres', 'Familles') developed with first-year design students, creating a structured educational cinema program.
• DRAC des Pays de la LoirecoreOthersRegional directorate of the French Ministry of Culture providing ongoing institutional funding to support the cinema's cultural programming and education mission.
• Conseil Régional des Pays de la LoirecoreOthersRegional council providing ongoing institutional funding for the cinema's operations and cultural activities.
• Conseil Départemental de Loire-AtlantiquecoreOthersDepartmental council providing ongoing institutional funding for the cinema's cultural and educational programming.
• Ville de NantescoreOthersCity of Nantes providing ongoing institutional funding and support for the cinema's operations and cultural mission.
• Académie de Loire-AtlantiquecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic authority for Loire-Atlantique, partner for school-based cinema education programs including Ecole et Cinéma, Collège au Cinéma, and Lycée programs.
• Jet FMcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional community radio station partnering with the cinema to produce and broadcast a radio show featuring film interviews, conferences, and cinema education content available online.
• GNCR - Groupement National des Cinémas de RecherchecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational professional organization for research and repertoire cinemas, providing network support, professional resources, and advocacy for art-house and associative cinemas.
• SCARE - Syndicat des Cinémas d'Art, de Répertoire et d'EssaicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational union representing art, repertoire, and independent cinemas, providing professional representation and network resources.
• ACID - Agence du Cinéma indépendant pour sa DiffusioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgency supporting independent film distribution, partnering with the cinema for programming and film circulation.
• ADRC - Agence pour le Développement Régional du CinémacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency supporting regional cinema development, providing resources and support for programming and cinema development in Loire-Atlantique.
• Centre d'Histoire du TravailminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for programming collaborations, notably contributing writing and historical context for film cycles (e.g., 'La Classe ouvrière va au paradis' with Christophe Patillon).
• CRENAU - Centre de Recherche Nantes Architecture UrbanitésminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArchitecture and urban research center collaborating on themed programming exploring cinema and urban environments.
• Bibliothèque Municipale de NantesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal library collaborating on programming, educational resources, and cultural events.
• TU-NantesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner for programming collaborations, contributing to the associative cinema network.
• VoloteaminorOthersAirline company listed as a patron/mécène supporting the cinema's operations.
• AFCA - Association Française du Cinéma d'AnimationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational association for French animation cinema, providing professional network support and programming resources.
• Haut ParleurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner covering and promoting the cinema's programming.
• RépliquesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner covering cultural and cinema programming.
• Prun'minorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional media partner providing coverage of the cinema's cultural activities.
• Sun radiominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional radio partner covering the cinema's programming and events.
• Lycée Guist'hauminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHigh school partner for the 'Education à l'image' program, participating in school-based cinema education.
• Lycée de l'image Léonard de VinciminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerImage-focused high school partner for cinema education programs.
• ACCOORDminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural organization partner collaborating on programming and cultural initiatives.
• L'Atelier des InitiativesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCultural partner organization supporting the cinema's programming and educational mission.
• Agence du Court MétrageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational agency supporting short film distribution and programming resources.
• Documentaires sur Grand EcranminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization supporting documentary programming and distribution for art-house cinemas.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• GNCR - Groupement National des Cinémas de Recherche: National federation of research and repertoire cinemas in France. A partner organization of Le Cinématographe providing network support and representing the associative cinema sector at national level.
• SCARE - Syndicat des Cinémas d'Art, de Répertoire et d'Essai: National union representing French art, repertoire, and independent cinemas. Le Cinématographe is a member and partner, making SCARE a directly relevant ecosystem organization for advocacy, resources, and professional representation.
• Cinémas Indépendants Parisiens: Federation grouping independent Parisian cinemas. Comparable as an ecosystem peer for independent art-house cinema operators in France, sharing similar programming challenges and policy advocacy interests.

Direct peers

• Le Champo: Historic art-house and repertory cinema in Paris's Latin Quarter. Directly comparable as a French repertory cinema programming auteur, heritage, and independent films, with similar curatorial identity and adult cinephile audience focus.
• Ciné-clubs and associative cinema network (Collectif national): National collective of French ciné-clubs and associative cinemas. Directly comparable as Le Cinématographe is a member of this associative cinema ecosystem, with similar non-profit governance and educational missions.
• Institut Lumière: Cultural institution in Lyon dedicated to cinema heritage, programming retrospectives, premieres, and education programs. Comparable as a French non-profit cinema institution combining repertory exhibition, education, and cultural programming.
• Cinéma Le Comédia: Independent art-house cinema in France with curated programming of independent, heritage, and international films. Comparable as a small-scale French independent cinema with similar curatorial focus on quality and non-mainstream films.
• La Filmothèque du Quartier Latin: Repertory cinema in Paris screening restored classic and rare films. Highly comparable as a French cinema dedicated to film heritage and education, with similar curatorial approach and institutional positioning.

Broad incumbents

• British Film Institute (BFI): UK national cultural institution for film, operating repertory cinemas (BFI Southbank, BFI IMAX) and running film education programs. A broader incumbent in the same cultural cinema space with significant public funding and a national education mandate.
• MK2: Major French cinema circuit with strong art-house and independent film programming across multiple Parisian venues. A larger incumbent operating in the same exhibition space with broader commercial scale and additional distribution activities.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/cinematographe
• Instagraminstagram.com/le.cinematographe
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/le-cinematographe

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Le Cinématographe