The Alpes-Maritimes department is implementing a new pricing policy at the Jean-Paul Belmondo cinema located in Garibaldi Square, Nice. The stated goal is to facilitate access to screenings and enhance attendance at a venue dedicated to auteur cinema.
Since Thursday, April 9, the departmental cinema Jean-Paul Belmondo, located in Garibaldi Square in Nice, has been applying a new pricing policy. As a venue classified as art and essay, the establishment is changing its prices to make screenings more accessible to a wider audience. This initiative is part of a strategy supported by the Alpes-Maritimes department, paying particular attention to purchasing power and cinema attendance.
The new pricing structure targets several audiences. Those under 18 now benefit from a rate set at 4 euros for all screenings. Students can attend screenings for 5 euros. This measure aims to encourage more frequent attendance by young audiences and to facilitate access to culture from a young age.
Two subscription cards are also being introduced. The “Cinéphile” card is offered at 10 euros per year. This option allows access to all screenings at a rate of 5 euros. A second offer, named “Ciné Pro,” is intended for cinema professionals and educators. This annual card is priced at 5 euros and also provides access to screenings at 5 euros. This system aims to support the missions of transmission and mediation related to cinema.
Beyond pricing, the programming is evolving with several announced initiatives. The “Ciné famille” program offers sessions designed to be shared across generations. The “Ciné solidaire” program is aimed at marginalized audiences, in collaboration with associations and medical-social structures. The “Ciné atelier” offer combines screening and practical workshops around image education for the youngest. Finally, “Ciné rétro” offers a chance to rediscover works from the cinematic heritage.
Jean-Paul Belmondo cinema maintains a programming focus on auteur cinema, international films, documentaries, and heritage works. Each week, films in their original subtitled versions are offered. Meetings, festivals, debates, and special screenings complete the offer. This diversity helps make the venue a space for exchange around the seventh art.
Located in the heart of Garibaldi Square, the establishment holds a recognized place in local cultural life. The site attracts approximately 57,000 spectators each year. More than 435 events are organized there. Around 5,000 students participate in image education programs.
The venue has a long history. Opened in 1911 under the name cinema Mercury, the establishment has been part of Nice’s cultural landscape for over a century. In 2007, a takeover by the Alpes-Maritimes Department prevented its disappearance. In 2021, the cinema was renamed in tribute to Jean-Paul Belmondo.
A budget of 2.5 million euros is allocated by the Alpes-Maritimes department to support the film sector. This funding accompanies creation and distribution. Thanks to the support fund, 46 feature films and 57 television works have been shot in the department. Each year, 1,000 screenings are organized in 36 municipalities of the upper and middle territories. More than 10,000 young people benefit from image education actions.
The entity also positions itself as a partner for several cinema-related events. Among these events are the Cannes Film Festival, Canneseries, and the WAIFF. This involvement reflects a desire to support the industry on various levels.
With this new pricing policy, the Jean-Paul Belmondo cinema embarks on a concrete evolution. The price reduction and creation of new subscription offers are accompanied by an expanded programming. The overall aim is to attract new audiences while maintaining an editorial line focused on auteur cinema in a time when the film industry is facing significant challenges.
