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Champs-Elysées to be transformed into open air cinema for one night only

The Local France
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Champs-Elysées to be transformed into open air cinema for one night only
AFP

Parisians are about to have the chance to experience an evening of movie magic on the Champs-Elysées as the world's 'most beautiful avenue' gets set to become a giant cinema for just one night. Friday is the last day to vote on what film will be shown.

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It might just be one of the most romantic dates you could go on.
 
On a car-free Champs-Elysées on Sunday July 1st at dusk, a classic French film will be projected for an audience of 1,700 people on a giant 180 m² screen set up in front of the Arc de Triomphe. 
 
This is what you need to know about the event. 
 
 
What film will be screened?
 
At the moment there are three possibilities. 
 
The choice is between French comedy La Folie des grandeurs (Delusions of Grandeur), La Gloire de mon Pere (My Father's Glory) set between 1900 and the First World War in Marseille and French fantasy comedy Les Visiteurs (see trailers below).
 
 
 
 
Parisians have been casting their votes for their film of choice since June 7th and if you'd like a say on which is shown, you can do so until the end of Friday by visiting the Paris City Hall website.
 
"These films have enjoyed great popular success and they embody a part of the history of French cinema," said Édouard Lefebvre, a spokesperson for the Champs-Élysées Committee, one of the organisations behind the event.
 
The chosen film will be revealed on June 22nd.
 
Pedestrians on the Champs-Elysées during a car-free day. Photo: AFP
 
Who will get to go?
 
For security reasons, the number of spectators has been limited to 1,700 people who will be chosen at random from among those who voted for their film of choice. 
 
Who's organising it?
 
The project is the initiative of the Champs-Elysées Committee, created in 1916 which unites 180 of the businesses present on the avenue. 
 
The committee also partnered with the City of Paris, France's National Cinema Center (CNC) as well as brands including American ice cream giant Häagen-Dazs and French film company Gaumont.
 
Why is the event being held?
 
The screening, which is being held on one of the avenue's monthly car-free Sundays, is part of an effort "to promote the Champs-Elysées in an intelligent way", Lefebvre from the Champs-Elysées Committee told the French press.
 
"It's a technical feat especially since it will be assembled and disassembled very quickly," he added.
 
The Champs-Elysées Committee has previously organised events including a drone race and a fashion show on the avenue and Lefebvre promises that there are many more unusual events in the pipeline. 
 
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