Cinéma Atlantic

Cinéma Atlantic (also known as L'Atlantic) is an arthouse cinema located in La Turballe, a coastal town in the Loire-Atlantique department of western France. It is owned by the municipality of La Turballe and operated by a non-profit association of the same name. The cinema occupies a building that formerly served as the parish theatre Notre-Dame-des-Flots in the Trescalan district, near the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church. Until the second half of the 20th century, this hall hosted religious plays performed by local volunteers. In 1986, the municipal council of La Turballe invited Mr. and Mrs. David, who ran a cinema in nearby Le Croisic, to open a summer cinema in the town. The old theatre was refurbished and made available to them, and the venture was successful from its first season. When the Davids announced their retirement in 1995, about fifty local residents, encouraged by the municipality and especially by Corinne Bériot, deputy mayor for cultural affairs, mobilised to save the venue. A non-profit association was created: its constitutive general assembly was held on 10 January 1997, and its first board was elected on 20 January 1997 under the presidency of Bernard Guyot. In summer 1997, volunteers were recruited for the first time to help with the box office and confectionery sales. The town purchased the building in 1998 and undertook major renovation works. The foundation stone of the new Cinéma Atlantic was laid on 19 February 2000, and the cinema was inaugurated on 2 September 2000. Today, Cinéma Atlantic operates as an art-et-essai cinema, showing a mix of French and international films, often in their original language, along with documentaries and short films. Its programme includes regular events such as the Play It Again festival, the Rêves d'Enfances youth film festival, and special screenings with discussions. The cinema is a member of the network of independent arthouse cinemas in France and serves as a cultural hub for La Turballe and the surrounding Pays de Guérande area.

The building that now houses Cinéma Atlantic was originally the parish theatre Notre-Dame-des-Flots, located in the Trescalan district of La Turballe, near the Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativité church and the presbytery. Until the second half of the 20th century, it hosted plays produced by the priests of Trescalan, retelling biblical stories such as the Prodigal Son. These performances, staged by volunteer actors on Saturdays and Sundays, attracted audiences from the parish and neighbouring villages such as La Madeleine and Saillé. In 1986, the municipality of La Turballe asked Mr. and Mrs. David, who operated a cinema in Le Croisic, to open a cinema in the town for the summer season. The old theatre was made available to them after being brought up to standard. From the first season, the public responded positively. In 1995, Mr. and Mrs. David expressed their wish to retire. About fifty residents of La Turballe, encouraged by the municipality and in particular by Corinne Bériot, deputy mayor for cultural affairs, mobilised to save the venue and maintain this cultural space by creating an association. The constitutive general assembly was held on 10 January 1997; the board of directors was elected, the statutes were approved, and the first bureau was elected on 20 January 1997 under the presidency of Bernard Guyot. During the summer of 1997, volunteers were called upon for the first time to help Mr. David with the box office and selling confectionery. The town bought the building in 1998 and had to carry out major renovation works. On Saturday 19 February 2000 at 11 a.m., the foundation stone of the Cinéma Atlantic was laid. It was cut by Michel Josso and remains visible above the garage door. The inauguration took place on 2 September 2000. Since then, the cinema has operated as an art-et-essai venue, run by the association and owned by the municipality. It continues to show a diverse programme of films and hosts festivals and events, such as the Play It Again festival and Rêves d'Enfances, as well as ciné-échanges and short film screenings.

• 2000

  Foundation stone laid on 19 February; cinema inaugurated on 2 September.

• 1998

  The town purchases the building and undertakes major renovation works.

• 1997

  Constitutive general assembly held on 10 January; first board elected on 20 January under Bernard Guyot.

• 1997

  Volunteers recruited for the first time during summer to help with box office and confectionery.

• 1995

  Mr. and Mrs. David announce their retirement, prompting a local mobilisation to save the cinema.

• 1986

  Municipality of La Turballe asks Mr. and Mrs. David to open a summer cinema in the old parish theatre.

Community-focused arthouse cinema offering independent and international films in a historic venue.

• Film screenings (art-et-essai)

• Documentaries

• Short films

• Film festivals (Play It Again, Rêves d'Enfances)

• Ciné-échange events

1. 1Accueil - L'Atlanticcinemaatlantic.fr
2. 2Cinéma Atlantic - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3L'Atlantic - Wikipédiafr.wikipedia.org