Simone Lancelot, Honorary member of the CICAE, passed away at aged 106 • CICAE

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Simone Lancelot this Wednesday 30 August at the age of 106.

A visionary cinema manager, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in France, and one of the original co-founders of the CICAE in 1955, Simone's profound influence on the arthouse world spanned nine decades beginning in the 1930s in Paris, where she went on to manage several iconic movie theatres in Paris (le Marais, le Scarlette, le Studio de l'Étoile).

A pioneer of arthouse cinema, she was also a founding member of AFCAE, the French association of arthouse cinemas, and has been a passionate defender of cinema diversity throughout her life. In particular, she brought Alain Resnais' "Nuit et Brouillard" to the attention of the general public and supported the early work of Wim Wenders.

A luminous figure and emblematic force in our industry, Simone's unwavering commitment and invaluable contributions played a definitive role in shaping both the CICAE and the global arthouse movement. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and loved ones at this trying time. The CICAE will forever treasure Simone Lancelot's memory and legacy.

Thank you!