Far from the records of the photography market, the auction organized for Tanger’s Cinematheque (Film Library) has gathered actual film and photography amateurs.

Improvised in Arles, in the garage of the Grand Hotel Nord Pinus, alongside prestigious godfathers such as Maya Hauffmann, Pierre Bergé and Anne Igou.

A platform, a table and a hammer to auction without fees, the 48 photographs given by their creators or, in some cases, by their owners to develop Tanger’s Cinematheque.

The latter was born in 2005, through the association created to save the cinema Rif created in 1938. Today it owns around 1,000 films from 30 countries, and waiting to develop its cultural potential.

Almost all of the 48 lots have found a buyer, after some Homeric biddings. This was the case for lot 48, last copy on sale. “Iris et Général Germanium” a photograph by Paul Schmidt dated 2009, valued at 200/300 € and finally acquired by Pierre Bergé for 3,900€ after a combat with Maya Hauffmann.

The total of the sales grossed 56,000 €. At the end of the auction, Pierre Bergé announced that he would offer a similar amount. Thus, the total would be 112,000€ transferred to the Film Library for their development.

Among the most important, we can point Nº29, a unique print 250x320mm (2007), by Francis Alys acquired for 20,500 € or the lot Nº30, a color print by Bruno Barbey (1995), “Vent d’Est à Tanger” acquired by Pierre Bergé for 3,800€.

Bernard.Perrine