On Friday (28), the French Cinematheque announced its temporary closure due to the spread of bed bugs. These insects, which feed on human blood, have been seen there several times, including during a master class with Hollywood star Sigourney Weaver.
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The Cinémathèque, a world-famous film and film archive, will close its four exhibition halls for a month starting Friday.
The temporary closure aims to ensure a “completely safe and comfortable environment” for viewers, according to the institution’s statement.
In early November, several viewers claimed to have been bitten by bedbugs after a tutoring session with Weaver, known for her roles in films such as “Alien.” One person told the French newspaper Le Parisien that the insects were seen in large numbers “on the seats.”
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At the Cinémathèque, located in eastern Paris, three screening rooms are open to the public, while the fourth is used for educational activities.
“All seats will be disassembled and individually treated with dry steam at a temperature of 180 degrees Celsius several times, before being systematically checked by dogs,” the organization said. Carpets will receive the “same level” of treatment.
Other areas of the building will remain open, including the current exhibition by American actor and director Orson Welles.
The problem has been worrying France since 2023
In 2023, the French government announced that it would launch a coordinated initiative to combat bed bugs, which have appeared widely on public transportation, in cinemas and hospitals, as France prepares to host the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
In 2024, authorities stated that disinformation spread through social media accounts linked to Russia exacerbated panic among the population during the fall of 2023.
Bed bugs, an insect about 7 mm long, can cause skin irritation when they bite, as well as sleep problems, anxiety or depression.