La Clef
La Clef is an independent, nonprofit associative cinema in Paris known for international, socially engaged and underrepresented films.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
La Clef is an independent cinema in Paris whose identity has been shaped by nonprofit cultural programming, affordable access and sustained support for filmmakers and films that receive limited exposure in commercial distribution. The cinema operates at premises on rue de la Clef and rue Daubenton and is associated with a long-running effort to make world cinema, self-produced work and politically or artistically marginal films accessible to local audiences. The cinema was established in 1973 by Claude Frank-Forter. Its original mission was to promote filmmakers who were underrepresented in mainstream exhibition and to keep admission prices affordable. In 1981, during a period of economic difficulty for the French cinema sector, Frank-Forter sold the cinema to Groupe Caisse d'Épargne. The venue subsequently continued to function as a place for specialist and international programming rather than as a conventional multiplex. A significant development came in 1990, when filmmaker Sanvi Panou created the Images d'Ailleurs project at the cinema. The initiative emphasized African and South American cinema and strengthened La Clef's role as a venue for films and perspectives that were comparatively absent from mainstream French screens. The cinema closed in June 2009 and reopened in September 2010 under a new associative structure, with Raphaël Vion as director. It adopted the name La Clef - L’Usage du monde, referencing Nicolas Bouvier's travel book and signaling a continuing commitment to world cinema. The venue's ownership and future became uncertain after Groupe Caisse d'Épargne announced in 2015 that it intended to sell the building. The cinema closed again in 2018. In 2019, the La Clef Revival Collective occupied the building with the objective of reopening it through a democratic, volunteer-led and culturally inclusive model. The occupation became both an exhibition project and a campaign for community ownership. The collective offered regular screenings at open prices, commonly followed by conversations with filmmakers and artists. Its programming continued to prioritize lesser-seen, independent and self-produced films. During the occupation, La Clef also hosted activities beyond conventional screenings. These included Studio 34, a program intended to help young filmmakers make short films; Tiny Escape, a workshop for local children; a fanzine; web radio projects; exhibitions; theater; and musical events. During the COVID-19 lockdown period, occupants projected films onto the building's exterior wall, maintaining public access to cinema while indoor cultural venues were closed and attracting wider media attention. The collective sought to buy the building through public fundraising and a dedicated endowment fund called Cinema Revival. A proposed sale to Groupe SOS for €4.4 million led authorities to order the building closed on 31 January 2022. The occupants responded with a continuous film festival running from early morning until late evening. On 1 March 2022, the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité evicted the collective after approximately three years of occupation. The proposed sale to Groupe SOS was not completed, and a later proposal for the City of Paris to acquire the cinema and permit the collective's activities was rejected by the city's executive authorities. After the eviction, volunteers continued presenting screenings in other cultural venues while pursuing negotiations and fundraising. A sales agreement with the collective was reached on 26 April 2023. Fundraising included outdoor screenings and an art exhibition and sale at the Palais de Tokyo in November 2023. On 19 June 2024, the building was sold to Cinema Revival for €2.7 million, and La Clef Revival resumed public screenings. The volunteer collective then began renovation work with a combination of professional assistance and supporter-led labor. A reopening announcement for 14 January 2026 was subsequently made. La Clef therefore represents both a cinema exhibition brand and a community-led cultural ownership project.
History
La Clef was founded in Paris in 1973 by Claude Frank-Forter as an independent cinema intended to broaden access to films and filmmakers overlooked by mainstream exhibition. Its founding principles combined support for underrepresented creators with affordable admission. In 1981, following a recession affecting the French cinema industry, Frank-Forter sold the cinema to Groupe Caisse d'Épargne. The venue developed a particular interest in international cinema. In 1990, filmmaker Sanvi Panou established Images d'Ailleurs at La Clef, creating a platform for African and South American films. The project reinforced the cinema's role as a specialist cultural venue and helped distinguish it from commercially oriented theaters. La Clef closed in June 2009 and reopened in September 2010 under a new associative structure. Raphaël Vion became director, and the cinema was renamed La Clef - L’Usage du monde, a reference to Nicolas Bouvier's book. Its programming continued to emphasize world cinema and films with limited visibility in the commercial market. The building's future became uncertain when Groupe Caisse d'Épargne announced in 2015 that it planned to sell the property. The cinema closed in 2018. In 2019, the La Clef Revival Collective began occupying the building, seeking to restart the cinema through a democratic, volunteer-supported model. The collective organized open-price screenings, discussions with directors, and a broad cultural program. The first night of the occupation included a screening of Attica, and the building later hosted a performance of Swan Lake by striking Paris Opera Ballet workers. The occupation expanded beyond film exhibition. Studio 34 supported young filmmakers producing short films, Tiny Escape offered workshops for neighborhood children, and the building hosted a fanzine, web radio projects, exhibitions, theater and music. The occupants also developed outdoor wall projections during COVID-19 lockdowns. These activities helped turn the cinema into a community cultural center as well as an exhibition venue. The collective established the Cinema Revival endowment fund and sought to raise enough money to purchase the building. A proposed €4.4 million transaction with Groupe SOS led authorities to order the premises closed on 31 January 2022. The collective answered with a permanent film festival operating from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and attracted public support from filmmakers, artists and activist groups. On 1 March 2022, the Compagnies Républicaines de Sécurité evicted the occupants. A proposal by municipal councillor Danielle Simonnet for the City of Paris to buy the cinema was rejected by the city executive. The collective continued organizing screenings in sympathetic cultural venues after the eviction. Negotiations eventually produced a sales agreement on 26 April 2023. Fundraising included outdoor screenings and an art exhibition and sale at the Palais de Tokyo in November 2023. Cinema Revival purchased the building on 19 June 2024 for €2.7 million, and La Clef Revival reopened it for public screenings. Renovation then proceeded through a mixture of professional work and volunteer participation. The collective announced a reopening date of 14 January 2026, subject to completion of the renovation program.
- 2026
Announced reopening
[2]The collective announced a planned reopening for 14 January 2026 after renovation work.
- 2024
Cinema Revival completes purchase
[1]Cinema Revival acquired the building on 19 June and La Clef Revival resumed public screenings.
- 2023
Purchase agreement reached
[1]The collective reached a sales agreement with the building's owner on 26 April.
- 2022
Collective evicted
[1]The occupation ended on 1 March after a security-force eviction.
- 2019
La Clef Revival occupation begins
[1]The La Clef Revival Collective occupied the building and restarted screenings and cultural events.
- 2018
Cinema closes again
[1]La Clef was closed after the ownership and property-sale uncertainty.
- 2015
Building put up for sale
[1]Groupe Caisse d'Épargne announced plans to sell the building housing the cinema.
- 2010
Associative reopening
[1]The cinema reopened in September with a new associative structure and Raphaël Vion as director.
- 2009
Cinema closes
[1]La Clef closed in June 2009.
- 1990
Images d'Ailleurs established
[1]Sanvi Panou founded the Images d'Ailleurs project at La Clef to present African and South American cinema.
Products and positioning
A nonprofit, community-oriented Paris cinema focused on affordable access, international and underrepresented film, filmmaker dialogue and participatory cultural programming.
Cinema exhibition · 1973
Independent and world cinema screenings
La Clef's central offering is a program of independent, international, self-produced and lesser-seen films. The cinema's identity emphasizes works and filmmakers that have limited access to mainstream screens, with programming frequently linked to social, political or artistic discussion. During the Revival period, screenings were generally offered at an open price rather than through a fixed commercial admission model.
World cinema program · 1990
Images d'Ailleurs
Established at La Clef by Sanvi Panou in 1990, Images d'Ailleurs presented African and South American films. The project broadened the cinema's international remit and made cultural perspectives underrepresented in French commercial exhibition a visible part of its programming.
Filmmaker development
Studio 34
Studio 34 is a program created by the La Clef Revival Collective to support young filmmakers in making short films. It forms part of the collective's effort to treat the cinema as a production and learning space as well as a place for screening finished work.
Children's workshop
Tiny Escape
Tiny Escape is a recurring workshop program for local children. It extends La Clef's community role beyond film exhibition by providing participatory cultural activity for neighborhood audiences.
Marketing campaigns
- 2023Cinema Revival fundraising campaign
France
The collective raised funds through screenings and cultural events, including an art exhibition and sale at Palais de Tokyo in November 2023.
Outcome. The campaign supported the eventual acquisition of the building by Cinema Revival in 2024.
- 2022Permanent film festival
Paris
After authorities ordered the building closed, occupants organized screenings continuously from early morning until late evening to defend the project.
Outcome. The action drew audiences and public support but preceded the eviction on 1 March 2022.
- 2020Outdoor lockdown screenings
Paris
The collective projected films onto the building's exterior wall during COVID-19 lockdown restrictions.
Outcome. The screenings preserved public cultural activity and attracted media attention to the cinema's campaign.
- 2019La Clef Revival occupation
Paris · France
The La Clef Revival Collective occupied the closed cinema to restore screenings and establish a democratic, volunteer-led cultural venue.
Outcome. The occupation lasted approximately three years and ended with the March 2022 eviction, but it created the basis for a later purchase campaign.
Brand decisions
2026
Announce post-renovation reopeningOtherBackground
Following the building acquisition, the new owner and supporters undertook renovation work.
Action taken
La Clef Revival announced a planned public reopening on 14 January 2026.
Aftermath
The announced date indicates the intended next stage of the cinema's community-owned operation; completion and operating details require confirmation.
2024
Acquire the cinema building through Cinema RevivalM&ABackground
After the collective's eviction, volunteers continued screenings and fundraising while negotiating with the owner.
Action taken
Cinema Revival purchased the building on 19 June 2024 for €2.7 million.
Aftermath
La Clef Revival resumed public screenings and began renovation work led jointly by professionals and supporters.
Purchase price. €2.7 million (19 June 2024)
2019
Adopt a volunteer-led democratic operating modelStrategyBackground
The cinema had closed again in 2018 after the building's proposed sale.
Action taken
The La Clef Revival Collective occupied the premises and organized screenings, workshops and multidisciplinary cultural activities.
Aftermath
The model generated substantial public and artistic support and became the foundation for the later ownership campaign.
2010
Reopen under an associative structureStrategyBackground
The cinema had closed in June 2009 and was relaunched the following year.
Action taken
La Clef reopened in September 2010 with Raphaël Vion as director and adopted the La Clef - L’Usage du monde name.
Aftermath
The venue renewed its focus on world cinema and nonprofit cultural programming.
1981
Sell the cinema to Groupe Caisse d'ÉpargneOtherBackground
The sale took place during a recession affecting the French cinema industry.
Action taken
Claude Frank-Forter transferred ownership of the cinema to Groupe Caisse d'Épargne.
Aftermath
The cinema continued operating under new ownership.
Sources2 sources
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