Le Figaro Bordeaux
Utopia is becoming a reality. However, the project is not new. An essential arthouse cinema located on Place Camille Jullian in Bordeaux, the Utopia will soon open three new screening rooms, in the Château Palmer, in the heart of the park of the same name in Cenon (Gironde), on the heights of the right bank of the Garonne, in order to "revive this essential site of the hillsides". Until June 28, a crowdfunding campaign is organized. She has already raised more than 24,000 euros and wants to go even further.
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It's a neighborhood cinema that we want to make, a local cinema," explains Vincent Erlenbach, manager of Utopia Bordeaux and one of the eleven cooperators of the cooperative and participatory society (SCOP) of the same name. "This is the big difference with the cinema projects that are designed in the hope that the neighborhood develops, like the docks afloat. We are rather in the opposite state of mind: we start from the local." Associative cinema par excellence, Utopia knows that it will be able to count on the "pool" of 400 associations present in Cenon to carry out joint projects. "We intend to make room for them in our programming.
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A project under discussion since 2018
This choice of the right bank was made quite naturally, in the wake of the collaborations between the Utopia Bordeaux and the Rocher de Palmer theater, located just a few steps from the castle. Since 2016, the cinema organizes screenings "outside the walls" of the films of its programming at the Rocher de Palmer. "We really liked it, the response from the audience was there so we thought: why not go a little further and open a room?" Discussions to set up a cinema in Cenon began in 2018, but the Covid-19 epidemic slowed down this dynamic. "Covid has not damaged our convictions," says Vincent Erlenbach. "We continued to work in submarines, the idea had a fairly long gestation, which ended up being profitable.
»The emblematic free gazette of Utopia Bordeaux will also include the programming of the new Utopia Palmer cinema. DR / Utopia Bordeaux
The town hall of Cenon has agreed to make Château Palmer available through an emphyteutic lease: a very long-term lease (99 years), and a symbolic rent (2000 euros per year). "It's a fantastic windfall," says Vincent Erlenbach, while recalling that "everything else, it's up to us to carry financially".
The total cost of the works is estimated at 2.5 million euros. For this project, Utopia has also set itself very strong environmental requirements, with a "bioclimatic approach to buildings", greening, the use of natural ventilation or bio-based materials. A major work, which can only begin after funding has been found. In particular, the support of several local authorities is expected. "We are aiming for an opening at the end of 2025," explains the cooperator. "The idea is to complete the financing at the beginning of 2024 to be able to start construction in September of the same year.
»This Saturday, June 3, a poster sale is organized at the Rocher de Palmer, from 11 am to 18 pm, for the benefit of the Utopia Palmer project. On the same day, several events will be organized in the Cenonnaise theater: cultural and craft producers' market, thrift store, plant barter... An abundant local ecosystem, in which Utopia intends to make a place for itself.
