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Paris Cinémathèque Shuts Cinema Halls for a Month Over Bedbug Reports

The institute will dismantle seats for 180°C dry‑steam treatment followed by canine inspections.

Overview

  • Audience complaints surfaced after a screening of Alien (1979), prompting the closure of the Cinémathèque française’s cinema halls.
  • RTL reported that Sigourney Weaver attended the event where viewers later described bites and posted photos online.
  • Several moviegoers shared images of suspected insects and reported bites, with one attendee telling Le Parisien that bugs were seen on seats and clothing.
  • The Cinémathèque said every seat will be treated multiple times and carpets will undergo the same process before sniffer dogs verify the results.
  • The incident echoes a 2023 surge of bedbug alerts in Paris, when French officials later accused Russian actors of amplifying panic on social media, as Germany also confronts renewed cases linked to travel.