Venues

Ciné Lumière at the Institut Français and the Riverside Studios host the many showings

Ciné Lumière at the Institut Français

17 Queensberry Place
South Kensington
London SW7 2DT
Box Office: 020 7871 3515

www.institut-francais.org.uk

Founded in 1910, the Institut français du Royaume-Uni (French Cultural Institute in the UK) is the official French government centre of language and culture in the UK. The premises in South Kensington, a stylish art deco building comprising theatre, library and reception rooms, was opened in 1939.

The Institut français exists to promote French language and culture, but also to encourage cross-cultural exchange. The programme of talks and films reflects this dual aim, with speakers meeting regularly in discussion, and screenings of films from all corners of the world.

Riverside Studios

Riverside Studios
101 Queen Caroline Street
Hammersmith
London W6 9BN
Box Office: 020 8237 1010

www.riversidestudios.co.uk

Today’s Riverside Studios stand on the former site of a Victorian iron works, which was converted into a film studio in 1933. In 1954, the studio were taken over by BBC Television and became home to many of their most iconic programmes. Following the BBC’s departure in 1974, the building became an arts centre in 1976, launching with a vibrant community festival.

A mixed programme of international theatre, dance, visual art, television, comedy and music was established early on and has succeeded in bringing the world to west London. The variety of their collaborators over the years – including Amy Winehouse, Benjamin Zephaniah, Yoko Ono, Samuel Beckett, Michael Clark, David Hockney, Lenny Henry, Graeae, David Bowie and Black Theatre Cooperative – reflects Riverside’s purpose as an intersection for the arts.

The original Riverside Studios closed for redevelopment in 2014 and the new building opened on the same site in 2019.