Photo : Palais de la Porte Dorée
A History of French Cinema. Maghrebi Legacies
Behind every masterpiece of French cinema lies a hidden lineage of pioneers, dreamers, and rule-breakers who redefined what it means to tell stories between two worlds. Wander through this intimate retrospective to uncover how personal histories and cultural heritage have permanently reshaped the landscape of French film culture.
Palais de la Porte Dorée (Paris 12th)
About
The Palais de la Porte Dorée explores the profound influence of Maghrebian heritage on French cinema in a comprehensive exhibition running from October 30, 2026, to March 21, 2027. This display highlights the essential contributions of directors and actors, ranging from pioneer Ali Ghanem to contemporary figures like Lina Soualem and Jamel Debbouze. By examining themes of exile and identity, the exhibit offers a unique perspective on cinema history. Visitors can access the collection with tickets priced between 0 and 12 euros. It is an essential visit for anyone interested in the evolution of French film culture located in the 12th arrondissement.
Directors, from pioneer Ali Ghanem to Mehdi Charef, Rachid Bouchareb, Hafsia Herzi or Lina Soualem, as well as actors like Jamel Debbouze, Rachida Brakni, Roschdy Zem or Sami Bouajila, have contributed to shaping a singular cultural history. Their journeys, between France and the Maghreb, have helped redefine, over the generations, the imaginaries of French cinema. Their films, often pioneering, have paved the way for unprecedented narratives, blending the experience of exile, the quest for identity and the renewal of cinematic forms.
Rather than focusing on figures of immigration as they have been represented on screen, A New History of French Cinema chooses to stand on the side of the artists who, since the 1960s, have written large parts of the history of French cinema without this history ever having been told.
Through film clips, posters, behind-the-scenes photographs, storyboards, iconic cinematic objects such as Césars, and press archives, A New History of French Cinema offers a concrete and sensitive journey through this history. The exhibition puts into dialogue widely recognized works and others more rarely shown, sometimes restored or digitized for the occasion.
The exhibition ends with a sequence looking towards the future: the emergence of genre cinema, the importance of women, formal freedom, the boldness of the narratives, and the emergence of new voices circulating between the two shores.
Our take on this event
This exhibition at the Palais de la Porte Dorée presents an untold history of French cinema, focusing on the artists who have shaped it since the 1960s. Rather than analyzing how immigration was depicted, the showcase centers on the creators—such as Hafsia Herzi, Sami Bouajila, and Rachida Brakni—who redefined French narratives through their personal experiences and artistic innovation.
Visitors will encounter a rich archive including film excerpts, production photographs, original storyboards, iconic objects like César awards, and press records. The exhibition bridges the gap between widely recognized masterpieces and rarely seen works, some of which have been specifically restored or digitized. The final section of the show explores the future, highlighting the rise of new voices, the importance of female directors, and the bold evolution of genre cinema bridging both sides of the Mediterranean.
The venue is located at 293, avenue Daumesnil, 75012 Paris. Opening hours are Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:30, and Saturday to Sunday from 10:00 to 19:00. Admission fees range from 0 to 12 euros.
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