Projects
Current state of the Soudan Ciné in Bamako Mali
Pilot project: Soudan Ciné in Bamako
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The re-opening of the Soudan Ciné in Bamako the first project of the ‘Cinema’s for Africa’ Association, is currently in the making and will form the basis of a model which will subsequently be exported to other African countries. In a country where the artistic quality of many directors has already received wide-spread recognition, only a few screens are still in operation. The Soudan Ciné has been closed for 14 years and was formerly a major location for cinema distribution in Western Africa. It is in this legendary cinema that the cinematic ambitions of many renowned Mali film makers began. Property of the Tomota group, the Soudan Ciné is gearing up for a come-back thanks to support by local and international authorities to create a pilot project of a new kind of establishment dedicated to the visual arts and to cinema.
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Current state of the Soudan Ciné
Credits :Maureen Auriol
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The challenge of building works
The architectural project was designed by Jean-Marc Lalo, a specialist in cinema restoration in different countries around the world (Tangiers, Kabul…)
@atelier d'architecture Lalo
Two screening rooms will house film projections as well as live shows. The cinema will also be a social hub with an internet bar and snack restaurant.
Ambitious architecture and challenging project
@atelier d'architecture Lalo
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An innovative project : The current cinema will be transformed into two fully digitally equipped rooms which will be comfortable and multi-use and which will allow International films to come out at the same time as in their original country.
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A cinema for everyone : with an affordable entrance fee making it accessible to all the inhabitants of Bamako. Elitism for all.
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A living space :The Soudain Ciné will be a living space before and after screenings. It will be a cultural site, a place to meet friends or meet new people and a place likely to become associated with some of the great cultural events of Bamako (partnerships with la Biennale photo, Centre Cultural Français, le Cinéma Numérique Ambulant, etc.)
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An architectural project in keeping with the local landscape. . Its outside façade will be conserved and renovated because it is important to the collective memory of the Bamako community. The new roof in the organic rippled style will evoke traditional local roofs. On the inside the walls will be in the colours of the land and decorated with Mali fabrics.
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The renovation will take place in an environmentally friendly way using local materials, and using measures to save energy, water and installing solar panels.
Top of the range equipment
- 2 screening rooms 390 and 170 places.
- in accordance with French CST norms
- acoustics and film equipment to the same standard as in the big European cinemas.
- digital projectors and 35mm projectors (for archived films for example)
- up-to-date equipment to house conferences, company seminars and video conferences in the framework of International co-operations.
A new location of multi discipline artistic programming
@atelier d'architecture Lalo
The Soudan Ciné will be dedicated to cinema (African, European and world cinema), but also to the support and dissemination of artistic endeavors in a larger sense. Thanks to an education program aimed at students, the opening of the Soudan Ciné will increase awareness amongst the young Mali public as to the importance of educating the cinema lovers of tomorrow. Themed seasons of screenings, meetings with directors and actors will complete the broad range of film-based activities on offer. The goal of the project is to make the Soudan Ciné a living space as well as a cinema, a landmark for the cultural landscape of the Bamako community, ensuring the future development of artistic events in the town and district.
A new cultural structure to create local jobs
This new space will be run by a team from the community. Young people will be recruited locally and will benefit from specific training for both the management and development of the centre itself and for the organization of cultural and film events more generally.
