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French star unveils renovation of key London cinema house

French film star Catherine Deneuve on Friday unveiled the £800,000 (Dh4.47 million) transformation of Cine Lumiere, one of London's top independent cinemas.

  • By Louise Jury, Evening Standard
  • Published: 23:35 January 10, 2009
  • Gulf News

  • French actress Catherine Deneuve signs autographs for fans as she arrives at the Cine Lumiere at the Institut Francais in West London for a preview screening of her latest film ‘A Christmas Tale' on Friday.
  • Image Credit: AP

London: French film star Catherine Deneuve on Friday unveiled the £800,000 (Dh4.47 million) transformation of Cine Lumiere, one of London's top independent cinemas.

The six-month refurbishment, partly funded by the French foreign affairs ministry, includes a new digital projector, more comfortable seating and, for the first time, disabled access to the art deco auditorium at the French Institute in South Kensington.

Deneuve inaugurated the cinema when it first opened in 1998. She returned to show her latest film, A Christmas Tale, co-starring Bond villain Mathieu Amalric, about a family whose son dies aged seven from a genetic disorder.

It kicked off three days of previews from the new programme including The Class, an arthouse film which won the Palme d'Or at Cannes Film festival, and popular French hit Paris 36.

Cine Lumiere holds discussions and events with actors and directors from Sophie Marceau to Bertrand Tavernier.

British distributors preview French films at the cinema, which also shows movies without UK distribution deals.

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