The Swiss Cinémathèque (CS) is still looking for a successor to Frédéric Maire. Begun this spring following the announcement of the departure of the former artistic director of the Locarno International Film Festival, the recruitment process is still underway. In the meantime, an interim has been set up.
“A decision should be communicated by the start of this fall,” the president of the CS foundation council, Jean Studer said on Thursday. “The taking of function is scheduled for January 1, 2026, if the designated person is available on this date,” says Christophe Bolli, spokesperson for the institution.
The departure of Frédéric Maire was initially announced for September 30. But the now ex-director had organized a departure evening on June 19 already. Since June 23, an interim has been set up, according to the foundation council.
The three managers in place
“It is ensured by a triumvirate made up of the three directors of cinemathe library centers, that is to say ordinary substitutes,” explains Jean Studer. It is Chicca Bergonzi, director of valuation and which represents the institution, Caroline Fournier, heritage director, and Jean-Baptiste dembrevile, director of resources and projects.
“After the implementation of a new governance intended to support its growth, the institution must now consolidate its achievements in a complex environment, marked by budgetary restrictions. In this context, the arrival of a new director or a new director aims to give new impetus to the institution to face the current challenges, “wrote the Cinémathèque on March 28 in a statement during the announcement of Frédéric Maire.
His words: Frédéric Maire: “In a Cinémathèque, we think in years rather than in months”
A departure “in very beautiful intelligence”
For his part, he mentioned a decision “in very beautiful intelligence”, adding that he was neither sick nor angry. In any case, he would have retired in 2026, he pointed out.
“Faced with the economies that rain any all -round, the financial difficulties looming and the decrease in means, it seems clear to me that it takes someone else to bring the future of the Cinémathèque,” said Frédéric Maire. In this time-hood, he said he was no longer the right person in front of perhaps making “drastic choices”.
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