Institut Lumière, Lyon

The Institut Lumière, located in Lyon, is a cultural institution dedicated to the preservation and promotion of French filmmaking. This renowned organization pays tribute to Auguste and Louis Lumière, pioneers in the film industry and inventors of the cinématographe, which revolutionized cinema.

Situated in the heart of Monplaisir district, the Institut Lumière is strategically placed in the very location where the Lumière brothers created their groundbreaking Cinématographe. This location holds historical significance as it was here in 1895 that the Lumière brothers produced and showcased their first film, "Workers Leaving The Lumière Factory in Lyon".

The institute boasts a range of facilities that cater to film enthusiasts and scholars alike. It houses two cinema rooms: the Hangar du Premier-Film, with 269 seats and the more intimate Villa Lumière room, seating 98. Additionally, the institute features a museum spread over two levels, a documentation center, educational rooms, a photo gallery, and three arthouse cinemas located in different areas of the city.

The genesis of the Institut Lumière can be traced back to 1966 when the Lyon municipality envisioned a cinema museum, initially assigned to Dr. Paul Génard, a prominent film and object collector. However, it wasn't until 1982 that the institute was formally established in the remnants of the old Lumière factory, which the city had acquired and partially restored.

Noteworthy is the "filmmakers' wall" in the institute's park, akin to Hollywood's Walk of Fame, adorned with plaques commemorating the visits of numerous cinematic personalities. This feature, established in 1982, underwent restoration in August 2021.

A highlight of the Institut Lumière's calendar is the annual "L'Été en cinémascope" event, offering free open-air screenings of classic cinema on Ambroise-Courtois Square during July and August. These screenings feature foreign films in their original language with subtitles, celebrating the global impact and diversity of cinema.