Moviegoers have been waiting for this moment for years: discovering the “new” Omniaflagship art house cinema Rouen (Seine-Maritime), completely redone and brought up to standard after two years of work. The reopening is scheduled for Tuesday, September 6, 2022, with the preview screening of the film Chronicle of a temporary liaisonin the presence of the director Emmanuel Mouret.

The issue of accessibility

“It’s a project that dates back to 2010, recalls Hervé Aguillard, director of Noé Cinémas. The initial issue, when we were named the exploitation of the cinema [la Ville de Rouen étant propriétaire des murs, NDLR], was to make it accessible to people with disabilities. In fact, it was an opportunity to redo everything. »

Between setting up the project, at a cost of 7 million euros (associated City, Region and CNC), the presence of asbestos, the problematic problems of a building dating from the post-war period, it took more a decade before the adventure ended. And for the cinema teams (12 people) like the loyal public, to wait two years in the ephemeral Omnia aux Toiles, at the Canvas Hallall between two confinements and other periods of curfew.

A few days before D-Day, things are still busy on the finishing touches, but as of next week, cinema lovers will discover a brand new place, therefore accessible to disabled people (including the installation of an elevator), and including new features: a new facade, a large room using laser technology, a new hall, a new room — the intimate room 8 with 17 seats —, a cinema-café area with a view of the street, accessible without a ticket, etc. .

Conquest of the public

It now remains to take advantage of upcoming releases and previews (Good bye Paris, Everybody loves Joan, Diet 75, Rodeo…) and programming developed throughout the year by Jean-Marc Delacruz. “On a put the package! “, assures the latter.

And will the public be there, in the era of the proliferation of online platforms? “We recorded our annual frequency record, 260,000 spectators, in 2019, indicates Hervé Aguillard. It is true that practices evolve, and the conquest of the public is still to be done. But I remain confident, there is also always a desire for cinema in theaters. »

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