Lumière Film Festival Lyon: Must-See Guide,
Dates & Program (Oct 11-19, 2025)
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The ultimate guide to Lyon’s most important film event after the Fête des Lumières!
Let’s dive right into the next biggest thing in Lyon after the amazing Fête des Lumières (which happens every December 8th): It’s the Lumière Film Festival!
What’s the Deal with the Lumière Festival?
You might not know this, but cinema was actually born right here in Lyon! There’s even a street, Rue du Premier Film (“First Film Street”), to prove it. That’s the exact spot where the first movie ever was filmed by the Lumière Brothers on March 19, 1895. When they were just 17, they officially invented the cinématographe, the world’s first motion-picture camera (and yes, they hold the copyright!).
So, the Festival is an annual event that celebrates this incredible heritage, bringing in guests from all over the world—from indie filmmakers to Hollywood A-listers. If you think you see someone like Natalie Portman grabbing a bite at the table next to you in a classic Lyonnais Bouchon… well, it probably is Natalie Portman! (She’s even giving a public masterclass on October 14th at 11 a.m. and her film Black Swan is on the program!).
I’m also super excited to share that I’ve been officially accredited as press for this year’s festival! A huge thank you to the festival for this opportunity. It means you’ll be seeing me around at screenings and special events, so if you spot me, definitely come and say hi!
Why You Need to Go
The Festival runs from October 11th to 19th, 2025. Tickets for screenings are super affordable, maxing out at €8.50 (with special rates available). Since it’s a very popular event, remember to book every screening in advance!
Here’s a quick look at my top picks:
My Must-See Festival Selection
- Recreate the First Film: On Saturday, October 18th, in the early afternoon, step outside the former Lumière factory and have director Michael Mann film you as you recreate “La sortie des usines Lumière” (Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory). Talk about a history-making photo-op!
- Tarik Saleh’s Complete Trilogy: I stumbled upon his work by chance and instantly fell in love. His political thrillers reveal the hidden face of Egypt and even won the Best Screenplay award at Cannes. The Festival is showing his entire trilogy: The Nile Hilton Incident (Le Caire confidentiel), Boy from Heaven (La Conspiration du Caire — my absolute favorite!), and The Republic’s Eagles (Les Aigles de la République).
- Cine-Concert: The Wind: This is a rare experience. See Victor Sjostrom’s 1928 silent film classic, The Wind, with a live musical score performed by the National Orchestra of Lyon, conducted by Timothy Brock.
- Frankenstein Sneak Peek: Director Guillermo del Toro will be presenting his new film, which stars Jacob Elordi (yes, the one from Euphoria!).
- Inception: A great chance to catch Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece on the big screen, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in his golden era, especially if you missed it in theaters like I did.
- Retro Iceland: Get transported to a distant time and place with Sons of the Soil (Les proscrits), a 1918 work set in rural Iceland.
- Wild at Heart: David Lynch’s Palme d’Or winner from 1990. Enough said.
- Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere: A new film this year featuring Jeremy Allen White, a.k.a. the guy from The Bear.
- The Assassin: A political and historical thriller set in 9th-century China.
- ParaNorman: An animated film I’ve seen and totally adored. Seriously, don’t miss it.
The Absolute Can’t-Miss Event This Year: Japanese Animation Night!
This year’s highlight is the Japanese-themed all-nighter! Get ready to dive into 4 Japanese animation masterpieces in a marathon that starts on Saturday, October 18th at 8:30 p.m. and runs until morning, complete with a free breakfast and a nap area!
The marathon films are: Your Name., Princess Mononoke, Belladonna of Sadness, and Paprika.
Pro Tip: This is happening at the Halle Tony Garnier, which is famous in Lyon for being a tricky place to heat. You won’t freeze, but if you’re like me and always feel cold, dress warmly! I’ll definitely be there—if you spot me, stop by and say hello!
Official Website & Info
You can find all the official details and booking links here:
https://www.festival-lumiere.org/
See you soon for my November monthly events newsletter!
Epi
P.S. Due to high demand, I’ve opened bookings for a Fête des Lumières tour in Italian (Italian only, no English tours planned for now!) on December 6th at 9 a.m. (3-hour tour). Spots are limited to 20, and once they’re gone, there are no new dates for the moment. If you’d like more info or to book, here’s the link: https://shorturl.at/uLQDP
What movie from the list would you be most excited to see on the big screen? Let me know in the comments!
#invitation
