Photochemical film meeting

30 september to 3 october 2026

Preserving practices, skills and knowledge

Intangible Cultural Heritage

Since 2024, L’Abominable, in partnership with the Centre National du Cinema (CNC) and the Film Collectors’ Club (CCC), has been working towards the inclusion of the practices, skills and knowledge associated with photochemical cinema at the national inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage. The process, which will culminate in an application to the national inventory in 2027, is supported by the Ministry of Culture and the Seine-Saint-Denis Council.

The project aims, on the one hand, to take stock of current practices and expertise across the entire photochemical process (from shooting to projection, and from laboratories to conservation) and, on the other hand, to propose a set of preservation measures to ensure the long-term survival of the film format in the years to come.

For further information on the initiative, visit www.filmlabs.org

Rencontres du cinéma argentique

As part of this project, representatives and practitioners from across the entire photochemical chain will gather in Seine-Saint-Denis between the 30th of September and the 3rd of October 2026 for the Rencontres du cinéma argentique to present the intangible cultural heritage approach, exchange ideas, share their experiences and work together to develop concrete safeguarding measures for the future of film photography.

From laboratories to screening rooms, from filming to preservation, from repair workshops to classrooms – whether they are professionals or amateurs, craftspeople or industrialists – they all share the same concern: the survival of the techniques, practices, equipment and expertise without which film cinema cannot exist, and whose disappearance would impoverish our relationship with images.

Over four days, this event features public sessions (screenings, discussions, plenary lectures and tours) alongside invitation-only working sessions.

Programme of the Meetings

Wednesday 30 September – Screenings – L’Écran cinema, Saint-Denis

6.30 pm Discussion with the Ministry of Culture and guest filmmakers on photochemical film and intangible cultural heritage
7.15 pm – Screening of Un Chant Aveugle, by Stefano Canapa and Natacha Muslera (16mm on DCP, 63 mins, 2026)
8.30 pm Intermission with drinks
9.00 pm Screening of Hair, Paper, Water, by Nicolas Graux and Truong Minh Quy (16mm on DCP, 71 mins, 2025)

Thursday 1 October – Rencontres Day 1 – MSH Nord in Saint-Denis

9.30 am – 12.15 pm Plenary session: Film on celluloid as intangible cultural heritage (open to the public)
2.00 pm – 3.00 pm City walk: exploring the film production industries of La Plaine Saint-Denis (open to the public; registration required)
2.00 pm – 6.00 pm Workshops on safeguarding measures (by invitation only): ‘Training’; ‘Filmmakers’; ‘Machinery and Equipment’; and ‘Conservation and Restoration’

Friday 2 October – Rencontres Day 2 – MSH Nord in Saint-Denis

9.00 am – 1.30 pm Workshops on preservation measures (by invitation only): ‘Shooting’, ‘Laboratories’, ‘Distribution and projection’ and ‘Amateurs and Collectors’
3.00 pm – 5.00 pm Plenary session: Presentation of preservation measures (open to the public)
5.00 pm Informal discussion over drinks

Saturday 3 October – Visit – Éclair Laboratories in Épinay-sur-Seine