Blog | HPRG Exhibition Vampires, from Dracula to Buffy at the Cinémathèque française, 9th October 2019 – 19th January 2020 – Hotels Paris Rive Gauche Blog

Exhibition Vampires, from Dracula to Buffy at the Cinémathèque française, 9th October 2019 – 19th January 2020

Twilight, Nosferatu, True Blood, Dracula… The new exhibition at the Cinémathèque française explores one of society’s most popular myths – vampires!

With Halloween only a few weeks away, this could be one of the most popular exhibitions of the end of the year…

Exposition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy à la Cinémathèque française du 9 octobre 2019 au 19 janvier 2020
D.R.

Whether frightening and diabolical, or protective and diabolically sexy, vampires have fascinated us since the Middle Ages, but it was only at the end of the 19th century, with the publication of Bram Stoker’s novel, that stories of vampires became really popular.

Cinema was quick to jump ont he bandwagon, creating and adapting the theme in ever-more creative ways. Murnau showed us an ugly, fearful Nosferatu, while many years later Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise proved how attractive a vampire could be, sometimes irresistibly so.

Exposition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy à la Cinémathèque française du 9 octobre 2019 au 19 janvier 2020
D.R.

The exhibition bases its layout on cinema’s multiple approaches to the subject, with sections based on historical, poetic, political, erotic and pop culture vampires.

Neither alive nor veritably dead, moving in the shadow, destined for immortality but with an incessant thirst for blood, you’ll discover that vampires are more like us than we would care to admit.

Illustrated with over a hundred film excerpts and numerous other pieces of art, the exhibition runs in Paris until next January, before leaving for Madrid and Barcelona.

Exposition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy à la Cinémathèque française du 9 octobre 2019 au 19 janvier 2020
D.R.

Linked with the exhibition, you might be interested in:

— a reading of ‘Dans la veine de Bram Stoker’ by actor Jacques Bonnaffé on 13th November (5€), part of the Paris en toutes lettres festival,

— conferences in French, including ‘Vampires, the art of transgender’ on 10th October,

— a huge retrospective of seemingly every vampire film ever made, plus a Buffy marathon on Saturday 14th December from midday to midnight,

— activities for kids: visits with storytelling, a Halloween day with a Tim Burton theme, workshops…

— a special Halloween all-nighter on 31st October starting at 7pm, with a theatricalised visit of the exhibition, a display of professional vampire make-up by a school of professional make-up, une animation maquillage par l’école de maquillage professionnel, a VR experience Gloomy Eyes, a creature battle starting at 10.30pm with vampires, werewolves and zombies (who will win?), a showing of three films, a quiz, a costume contest, free drinks and popcorn, and a surprise film to finish the night off!

Exposition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy à la Cinémathèque française du 9 octobre 2019 au 19 janvier 2020

There’s also a special vampire night on the TCM Cinema channel on 31st October, with two films (also available on demand until 1st December), and the exhibition coincides with the release of some cult vampire films on Blu-ray:

Fright NIght

Spermula, and most importantly,

— a new edition of Murnau’s Nosferatu, available exclusively in the Cinémathèque’s bookshop before full release in stores.

A catalogue of the exhibition, including a filmography of over 300 films released between 1913 and 2020 is also available (256 pages – 160 illustrations, 35€ here at amazon.fr).

Exposition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy à la Cinémathèque française du 9 octobre 2019 au 19 janvier 2020

The exhibition Vampires, de Dracula à Buffy is at the Cinémathèque française (here) from 9th October 2019 – 19th January 2020

Open every day except Tuesday from midday-7pm (11am-8pm weekends, public holidays and during French school holidays). Late-night opening Thursdays until 9pm

Admission: 11€ / 8.50€

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