%20in%20the%20Black%20Lodge_%20%C2%A9Suzanne%20Tenner_Showtime.jpg)
BEYOND THE (MOVIES) STREAM
Project by Théodore Nave, Timepilot and CineFund co-founder
IMG credit: Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) in the Black Lodge. ©Suzanne Tenner/Showtime
I’m Théodore, and together with my co-founder Solal, we’ve been working on Timepilot, an app designed to make discovering movie screenings in France effortless—essentially, to re-popularize the cinema-going experience. The goal wasn’t just to create a tool, but to reshape people’s relationship with cinema, rethinking how films are experienced and consumed.
Growing up in Paris, I had the privilege of easy access to a vast array of films, especially in the Quartier Latin. But over time, I watched as many cinemas closed, and streaming platforms became the dominant mode of consumption. The ritual of going to the movies, of discovering a film on the big screen, is something irreplaceable. I feel a need to promote and preserve this experience. It’s this drive that fuels my passion for cinema and motivates my work—through Timepilot and beyond—especially in an era where technology continuously reshapes how we engage with film.
Théodore Nave
Paris, France
My love for cinema started early. As I grew, I became fascinated by 80s and 90s American alt-cinema—David Lynch’s Twin Peaks and Blue Velvet, alongside cult body-horror and kitsch classics like Evil Dead, The Thing, and They Live. But my cinematic appetite expanded far beyond that. Long chats with friends from film school opened my eyes to British, South Korean, Danish, and Icelandic cinema. I find immense joy in the dark humor of Danish films like Adam’s Apples and am captivated by the unsettling brilliance of the new Korean wave (Hallyu). British cinema, too, has left an imprint—particularly the raw performances of its actors.
IMG credit:Twin Peaks Intro. ©TMDB
I FEEL A NEED TO PROMOTE AND PRESERVE THIS EXPERIENCE. IT’S THIS DRIVE THAT FUELS MY PASSION FOR CINEMA AND MOTIVATES MY WORK THROUGH TIMEPILOT AND BEYOND,
ESPECIALLY IN AN ERA WHERE TECHNOLOGY CONTINUOUSLY RESHAPES HOW
WE ENGAGE WITH FILM.
Despite never formally studying cinema, I’ve immersed myself in its universe through my own means, absorbing every genre, every style, every auteur I could find. One of my favorite feelings remains seeing a film for the first time in a theater. I even waited until 2022 to watch Citizen Kane at the Max Linder, ensuring
I could experience it in the best possible conditions.
Cinema has evolved—sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse. But what remains unchanged is France’s deep love for film. Last year, UGC Châtelet-Les Halles was once again the most visited movie theater in the world, a testament to this enduring passion. And yet, while we can order a meal in two clicks, cinephiles still struggle with a frustratingly complicated process to find screenings of the films they truly care about. With Timepilot’s algorithm, we aim to change that—to simplify and enrich the experience of going to the movies.
IMGs credit: ©TMDB
In today’s digital landscape, streaming has encouraged a more compulsive consumption of films—what I call the Netflixization of content. It works for some genres, but I believe true cinema exists in the theater. It’s about immersion—being enveloped by sound, feeling the energy of an audience, and carrying that experience beyond the screening, into post-film discussions at a bar with friends.
At the same time, film production is evolving in exciting ways. Studios are embracing alternative content, and independent filmmakers are being granted more creative freedom. There’s a resurgence of interest in neo-horror—elevated and arthouse horror—and a growing exploration of genre hybrids, pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling. While the industry remains somewhat of a closed circle, more filmmakers are taking risks and creating films that defy expectations.
I BELIEVE TRUE CINEMA EXISTS IN THE THEATER.
That’s why, beyond distribution, we found the heart of the issue lies in production. Two months ago, we launched CineFund, a platform designed to modernize and streamline financing for production companies. Our goal is simple: to help bring more stories to the big screen and support French filmmakers in realizing their visions. CineFund is at the core of this mission, and we’re excited to continue empowering creators with the tools they need to turn their ideas into reality.
FIN