cinematheque

American  

[sin-uh-muh-tek] / ˌsɪn ə məˈtɛk /

French cinémathèque

noun

1. a movie theater, often part of a university or private archive, showing experimental or historically important films.

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cinematheque British  

/ ˌsɪnɪməˈtɛk /

noun

1. a small intimate cinema

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Etymology

Origin of cinematheque

First recorded in 1965–70; from French cinémathèque “film archive,” equivalent to cinéma- prefixal use of cinéma “films” + -thèque “things collected,” as in bibliothèque “library,” discothèque “collection of phonograph records”; see cinema, theca

Example Sentences

The institution also operates a separately ticketed cinematheque; more than 500 films were shown in its first year.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2022

He was a vibrant, persistent presence whether in the audience at a screening or at Anthology Film Archives, the cinematheque he co-founded.

From New York Times • Jan. 27, 2019

Our sense is there will be a cinematheque, so films will be shown every day and that will be a part of the function of the building.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 18, 2017

Smith, in the center of the dressing table line, sets up his standard low-rent cinematheque, which features vintage horror films on VHS.

From Washington Post

It sheds plausibility like a snakeskin, even as it accrues a needless cinematheque of references: to The Lord of the Flies, The Sheltering Sky, The Deer Hunter.

From Time Magazine Archive