EU funding has helped transform an old industrial area of the French capital into a creative hub of community collaboration.
Where once were smokestacks, now cameras roll. In a former industrial area near Paris a a production company, Studio Kremlin, decided years ago to set up nd help independent filmmakers develop their own productions. Now, their project is evolving with La Kolok (previously know as B-Movie). “Through La Kolok, we aim to establish a network centred around audiovisual professionals,” Eric Ducher, Kremlin Studio co-founder tells us.
Studio Kremlin, a village dedicated to filmmaking founded in 2013 in Ivry-sur Seine, launched La Kolok last June. “Besides providing physical spaces, we organise events to foster networking and help them grow their professional circles. We also offer project incubation programs, including support for series and films,” Ducher says.
Unique creative space
La Kolok became a reality thanks to a total investment of nearly €1,200,000 (1,177,000), almost €450,000 (446,000) of which came from the European Cohesion Policy. The recipients of the incubator support will also benefit from Studio Kremlin’s 5,000 square metres and 4 shooting sets.
Carine Loison, co-founder of Ongaeshi Studio, who moved into an office here in July, says she had been searching for a space like this for a long time. There are plenty of coworking spaces, she insists, but none specialise in filmmaking: **”**We were blown away when we first saw it. The space was so vast, the possibilities endless. We were completely amazed. It was like, ‘Wow, this place actually exists!’ Just outside Paris, you can find a place where anything is possible,” she says.
Eric, Gautier, and Emmanuel, the founders of Studio Kremlin, expect between 80 and 100 new recruits to join La Kolok soon. This is excellent news for Nicolas Romieu, CEO of Yeah Dude and one of Studio Kremlin’s longest-standing tenants: “We’re constantly interacting with more and more people. That’s the best part – our network is growing, leading to new connections and collaborations with other La Kolok members,” he says.
Connecting with the community
Studio Kremlin also aims to connect with the local community in Ivry-sur-Seine through, among other things, a food court currently under construction that will open onto a new pedestrian street. A natural evolution for a district experiencing significant urban and social transformation, says architect Guy Hayon: “The city was keen on creating a space that would bring together the local community, historic industrial buildings, and the new large-scale urban development zone.”
It also has the added benefit of helping the environment by repurposing old structures, implementing energy-efficient lighting and heating systems, and installing solar panels.
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