French Cinematheque To Reopen Cinemas On January 2 Following Five-Week Bed Bug Closure

The Cinémathèque Française, one of France’s most prestigious film institutions, has announced it will reopen its cinemas on January 2, after a five-week closure to deal with a bed bug infestation.  

The cinematheque, situated in Eastern Paris, was forced to close its cinema theaters at the end of November after visitors complained that they had been bitten by bed bugs during a masterclass with Sigourney Weaver.

Bed bugs have been a persistent problem in Paris in recent years, with the blame placed on the city’s popularity as a global tourist destination as well as the blood-sucking parasites’ growing resistance to pesticides.

“The cinemas of the Cinémathèque française will reopen on January 2, 2026, following a month of intensive and rigorous treatment of its spaces, including a thorough treatment of the seats and carpets,” the institution said in a statement.

It said that it had also reinforced protocols for checks on dogs entering the building.

“The effectiveness of these measures now makes it possible to guarantee optimal conditions to receive the public, with the theaters certified free of bed bugs,” it added.

The cinematheque, which houses some 40,000 films as well as an extensive collection of cinema memorabilia, including photos, costumes, props, and cameras, has kept its exhibition and study space open during this time.

The cinematheque’s program for the first part of 2026 includes films by Billy Wilder, Seijun Suzuki, Mario Bava and Víctor Erice; a Scandinavian Noir season; a tribute to David Gordon Green, and a silent film showcase, inspired by late co-founder Henri Langlois’ love of the genre.