It was established by Louis Delluc, a French film critic, and a group of friends who wanted to promote and discuss films that were not being shown in commercial cinemas.
While there were other organizations that existed before the Ciné-Club, like the "Club du Film" founded in 1918, the Ciné-Club is considered the first true film society due to its focus on film appreciation and discussion, and its lasting impact on the development of film culture.