Cinéma Vendôme

Cinéma Vendôme is an independent art-house cinema located on the Waversesteenweg (Chaussée de Wavre) in Ixelles, in the Brussels-Capital Region of Belgium. Founded in 1952 by Henry Fol, who had already operated a cinema at Porte de Namur called l'Avenue, the Vendôme was conceived from the outset as a more intimate, quality-oriented venue. Its opening gala was presided over by Queen Elizabeth during the premiere of the film "Elizabeth II, Queen of England," an event that underlined the cinema's early prestige. The Vendôme has built its identity around the promotion of art-house and European cinema, cultural diversity, and recurring festivals. It is a member of Europa Cinemas, the pan-European network of cinemas and film theatres that devote a large share of their programming to European films, and it is also associated with CICAE (Confédération Internationale des Cinémas d'Art et d'Essai). The cinema describes itself as a convivial place where arts, cultures and emotions coexist, and it maintains an Art Cinematographic Gallery alongside its screening rooms. Programming at the Vendôme combines first-run art-house titles, retrospectives, thematic cycles and a dense calendar of festivals. Its website lists recurring events such as Aflam du Sud, the Millenium Festival, the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF), the Eunic Brussels Film Festival, Contrechamps, Festival Alimenterre, and the Ciné-club Libertés, as well as special initiatives like "Les Samedis du Ciné," "Ecran Large" teacher days, and school screenings. The cinema also participates in the Cineville and "J'peux pas, j'ai cinéma" passes and accepts Cinecheck, reflecting its integration into Belgian and European art-house circuits. Beyond screenings, the Vendôme positions itself as a cultural hub. It offers room rental for private and corporate events, gift tickets, a loyalty card, and partnerships with organisations such as Le Théâtre de Poche, Article 27, Lire et Ecrire, and Parcours d'artistes XL. Its stated commitments include supporting cultural diversity and defending art-house cinema. The venue has been in operation for nearly seventy years, and its own history page frames its story as "1952 > 2021," marking decades of continuous passion for the seventh art. As of the available evidence, the Vendôme remains an active, privately run cinema in Brussels. It does not appear to be part of a large commercial chain; rather, it operates as an independent art-house institution embedded in European cinema networks and local cultural partnerships.

Cinéma Vendôme was founded in 1952 by Henry Fol, a cinema operator who already ran a venue called l'Avenue at Porte de Namur in Brussels. The new cinema was established in the post-war period and was intended from the start to offer a more intimate and quality-focused alternative. Its opening gala was presided over by Queen Elizabeth during the premiere of the film "Elizabeth II, Queen of England," an event that gave the young cinema considerable visibility and prestige. Located on the Waversesteenweg (Chaussée de Wavre) in Ixelles, the Vendôme became a fixture of Brussels film culture. Over the decades it specialised in art-house and European cinema, building a reputation as a venue for audiences seeking films outside mainstream commercial circuits. The cinema's own history page frames its story as spanning "1952 > 2021," describing nearly seventy years of passion for cinema, film screenings, lovers of the seventh art, the promotion of art-house cinema, support for cultural diversity, recurring festivals, an Art Cinematographic Gallery, and a convivial place where arts, cultures and emotions coexist. The Vendôme is a member of Europa Cinemas, the pan-European network of cinemas and film theatres that dedicate a large part of their programming to European films. It is also associated with CICAE, the international confederation of art-house cinemas. These affiliations reflect its commitment to European film distribution and exhibition. Its programming has long included recurring festivals and thematic events. The website lists Aflam du Sud, Ecran Large teacher days, La Fête, Ciné-club Libertés, Festival Alimenterre, the Brussels Short Film Festival (BSFF), Projection Transition, Millenium Festival, Elles s'engagent, Eunic Brussels Film Festival, Contrechamps, and La Minute Premières Lumières, among others. It also runs "Les Samedis du Ciné" and offers school screenings on demand, with an inscription form for the Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (FWB). Beyond screenings, the Vendôme has developed partnerships with cultural and social organisations such as Le Théâtre de Poche, Article 27, Lire et Ecrire, and Parcours d'artistes XL. It offers practical services including room rental, gift tickets, a loyalty card, and participation in the Cineville and "J'peux pas, j'ai cinéma" passes, as well as Cinecheck. These activities position the cinema as a cultural hub rather than a purely commercial exhibitor. As of the available evidence, the Vendôme remains active in Ixelles, Brussels, continuing its mission as an independent art-house cinema. No parent company or chain ownership is indicated in the sources; it appears to operate as a standalone institution embedded in European and local cultural networks.

• 2021

  The cinema's own history page marks the period "1952 > 2021," summarising nearly seventy years of activity.

• 1952

  Cinéma Vendôme is founded by Henry Fol in Ixelles, Brussels; opening gala presided over by Queen Elizabeth for the premiere of "Elizabeth II, Queen of England."

• The cinema joins Europa Cinemas, the pan-European network of cinemas dedicated to European film programming.

• The Vendôme becomes associated with CICAE, the international confederation of art-house cinemas.

Independent art-house cinema promoting European cinema, cultural diversity and convivial cultural exchange in Brussels.

• Art-house film screenings

• European film programming

• Recurring festivals (Aflam du Sud, Millenium Festival, BSFF, Eunic Brussels Film Festival, Contrechamps, Festival Alimenterre)

• Les Samedis du Ciné

• Ciné-club Libertés

• School screenings (séances scolaires)

• Room rental

• Gift tickets

• Loyalty card

• Art Cinematographic Gallery

1. 1Home - Cinéma Vendôme, Cultivez l'Emotion !cinema-vendome.be
2. 2Histoire / Le Vendôme / Home - Cinéma Vendôme, Cultivez l'Emotion !cinema-vendome.be
3. 3Cinéma Vendômewikidata.org
4. 4Vendôme (cinema)nl.wikipedia.org