As a cinephile who has been fortunate enough to attend several prestigious film festivals around the world, I must say that the Lumière Film Festival in Lyon truly stands out. The energy and excitement that pervades this event are unparalleled, especially when it comes to the star-studded opening ceremony.
The 16th edition of the Lumière Film Festival began with much fanfare, featuring a dazzling array of celebrities such as Benicio del Toro, Tim Burton, Monica Bellucci, Vanessa Paradis, along with esteemed directors like Costa-Gavras and Giuseppe Tornatore making an appearance on the red carpet in Lyon.
Bellucci, who came to town for presenting a fresh documentary about the stage play where she depicts Maria Callas, was one of the last ones to walk on the red carpet. After walking a few steps, she playfully gestured as if she had forgotten something and went back through the curtain. There, she pulled out Tim Burton, surprising the crowd of 5,000 people, who greeted him with thunderous applause since his appearance was unexpected.
In 2022, the well-known couple first met and fell in love in Lyon. This was during the festival where Burton received the Lifetime Achievement Lumière Award. Bellucci, an Italian actress, presented him with this honor. Later, she appeared in Burton’s much-anticipated “Beetlejuice” sequel titled “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice”.
Before the stars made their appearance, the festival honored the late Michel Blanc, a French actor cherished by many generations, who passed away in early October. Clips from his 1979 cult comedy “Les Bronzés Font du Ski” (known as ‘French Fried Vacation 2’) were played, with the crowd participating in a karaoke-like fashion to sing along to the film’s theme song, which was famously sung by Blanc himself.
Hundreds of phones were lit up in Lyon’s massive Tony Garnier concert hall, and crowds spontaneously continued singing a cappella after the karaoke session in a poignant eulogy to Blanc. A special homage will be made during the festival to French New Wave icon Alain Delon who died in August.
At the event, festival organizer Thierry Frémaux honored a longstanding custom by playing rejuvenated films from the Lumière Brothers. He pointed out that Lyon is where cinema originated, and he couldn’t help but give a nod to del Toro, remarking with a grin and his best English, “I believe the film enthusiast in you will find these intriguing.
As a devoted cinephile, just like many others, I’ll be gracing the festival with a curated collection of films, following in the time-honored tradition. Moreover, I’ll be leading a masterclass, where my passion for cinema is bound to infect everyone present. This is sure to attract hordes of movie lovers eager to witness film classics or catch a glimpse of my work.
Justine Triet, winner of the French Academy Award (“Anatomy of a Fall”), will kick off one of the festival’s fresh activities. During this event, she will delight the audience in Lyon by discussing and recommending her favorite movies.
I’m excited to share that I’ll have the opportunity to showcase several refreshed editions myself, such as Jacques Audiard’s “Read My Lips” and Nicolas Winding Refn’s iconic 1996 film, “Pusher.” These directors have breathed new life into these classics, and I can’t wait for you all to see them!
Quebec sensation Xavier Dolan returns to Lumière for a masterclass and a unique 10th anniversary screening of his Cannes success “Mommy” at Lyon’s grand 2,000-seat Auditorium.
During the festival, the head of Cannes Film Festival, Frémaux, will present a selection of premieres from Cannes, with the directors themselves in attendance. This lineup includes Coralie Forgeat’s “The Substance,” Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Most Precious of Cargoes” – marking his debut into animation as the director of “The Artist” – and Claude Lelouch’s “Finally.
As a passionate admirer, I had the privilege of witnessing Costa-Gavras being showered with a heartwarming standing ovation at this year’s ceremony. The esteemed Tim Burton bestowed upon him an Honorary Lumière Prize, an honor that filled me with immense joy and respect.
This year, our annual all-night movie marathon is specially devoted to the renowned underground filmmaker, Franco-Chilean artist and director Alejandro Jodorowsky (“El topo,” “The Holy Mountain,” “Santa Sangre”). He will be gracing us with his presence for a masterclass.
Attendees at the festival can look forward to rewatching or discovering films through special showcases, such as the retrospective dedicated to Mexican film pioneer Matilde Landeta, which falls under the festival’s ongoing tribute to Women Filmmakers in History.
Each year, Lumière’s tribute to Hollywood greats will highlight the work of Fred Zinnemann, showcasing a curated collection of about a dozen films such as “From Here to Eternity,” “A Man for All Seasons,” and “The Day of the Jackal.” In addition, the festival will also pay homage to the legendary Japanese actor Toshiro Mifune, who frequently starred in films directed by Akira Kurosawa.
Approximately 158 movies will be exhibited during about 450 screenings that take place in and near Lyon over the course of a nine-day festival.
The spacious Tony Garnier Hall in the city will be filled with activity once more on weekdays, hosting a family event screening of the 1976 film “The Twelve Tasks of Asterix” during the day, followed by an all-night horror special led by renowned French horror director Alexandre Aja (“Mother Land,” “Oxygen”).
This year’s Lumière award recipient is Isabelle Huppert, acclaimed by many as the world’s finest actress. She will receive the honor on October 18th. Previous recipients of this award include filmmakers such as Wim Wenders, Tim Burton, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, Wong Kar-Wai, Jane Campion, Jane Fonda, Clint Eastwood, Quentin Tarantino, Catherine Deneuve, Ken Loach, Miloš Forman, Pedro Almodóvar, and the Dardenne Brothers.
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2024-10-13 12:47