Festival Lumière of Lyon

The Festival Lumière is an annual film festival organised by the Institut Lumière and the city of Lyon. Spanning nine days in October, the first edition took place in 2009.

The festival is above all dedicated to cinema classics, including restored old films, retrospectives of famous figures from all eras of cinema, and screenings of silent films accompanied by live music. Hundreds of films (450 in 2021 alone) are shown every year in theatres scattered around Lyon. One of the most iconic venues during the festival is the Halle Tony Garnier, where the festival opens.

The Festival Lumière also welcomes prestigious guests from both French and international cinema. Over the years, the event has welcomed famous people such as John Woo, Sean Penn, Natalie Portman, Francis Ford Coppola or Guillermo del Toro. These guests introduce some of the films shown during the event..

The festival also includes a village, located in the park of the Institut Lumière, where visitors will find a bookshop dedicated to cinema, a large shop selling physical copies of films to complete their collections, and a ticket booth to choose their next film.

The fact that such an event takes place in Lyon should not come as a surprise, as the city has played a major role in the development of cinema.

Near the end of the 19th century, the Lumière brothers invented one of the earliest devices that could record and project animated images in history: the cinématographe, for which they filed a patent in 1895. That same year, one of the earliest films was shot. It was just 46 seconds long and showed workers leaving the Lumière factory. This historic film was simply called “La Sortie de l’usine Lumière à Lyon” (Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory) and was screened to the public in Paris in December of that year, alongside nine other films made by the brothers.

Today, the institute pays tribute to this heritage with its museum, which is located in the former residence of the Lumière brothers in Lyon’s Monplaisir neighbourhood. Organising the festival is one of its major activities. The hangar from which the workers exit has been restored and now serves as a 269-seat cinema, where retrospectives and special screenings are regularly held.

Filmmakers who win the Lumière Award are invited to create a remake of the Lumière brothers’ first film. Directors such as Pedro Almodóvar have already created their own versions.

The programme of the Festival Lumière changes each year according to its guests. From one year to the next, you have the opportunity to attend different events and discover new films and directors. Here are the event’s recurring highlights.

• The opening ceremony is held at the Halle Tony Garnier. This public event welcomes special guests. Naturally, the evening includes a film on a large screen. The closing ceremony also takes place here.
• During the 9 days of the event, films are shown in various locations around the city. You can watch retrospectives dedicated to directors who have made their mark on the history of cinema. In 2025, for example, you could explore the filmography of renowned directors such as Anja Breien, Seijun Suzuki and Michael Mann, the latter of whom was awarded the Lumière Award that year.
• Every year, actors and directors are invited, and the festival organises public meetings where they often introduce their films.
• The mission of the Festival Lumière is also to honour the history of cinema by showing restored versions of old films. You can discover ancient works from multiple countries and immerse yourself in eras long gone. To know more about the programme of the next edition, visit the website of the festival.

Every year, the Festival Lumière presents awards to individuals who have made an impact on cinema, with:

• The Fabienne Vonier award (named after the producer and founder of the Pyramide company), which rewards influential women in the history of cinema,
• The Raymond Chirat award (named after the historian of cinema who founded the Institut Lumière library), awarded to individuals who contribute to preserving the memory of cinema, including writers, historians, researchers, etc.
• The Bernard Chardère award (named after the critic and cinema historian), is awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to the history of cinema through writing, including critics and other writers.

However, the most well-known award is the Lumière Award. This award recognises individuals whose influence on cinema is fundamental, honouring their entire career. Awarded since 2009, it has already been given to some of the biggest names in international cinema, including Clint Eastwood, Ken Loach, Pedro Almodóvar, Tim Burton or Jane Fonda.

Attending the Festival Lumière means delving into cinema history and discovering classic films on the big screen while gaining a new perspective from important figures in the industry.

You don’t speak French? Many screenings in English are included in the entire city. While you go from theatre to theatre, take the time to explore and enjoy Lyon, its neighbourhoods and discover its history. It’s a great opportunity to visit one of France’s most exciting cities while pursuing your passion for the seventh art!

Are you planning to visit Lyon soon to enjoy its numerous festivals? Prepare your stay to discover the city and its charms between two films, from its long history to its most iconic buildings. Visiter Lyon will give you all the information you need to make the most of your time there!