Musée Lumière

The Institut Lumière in Lyon is a cultural institution dedicated to preserving and promoting film heritage. Its site in the Monplaisir district is historically significant, as this is where the Lumière brothers designed their first Cinématographe. The grounds include two cinemas, among them the historic Hangar du Premier-Film with 269 seats, which is equipped with projectors for a variety of formats, as well as the smaller theater in the Villa Lumière. The villa itself houses the museum on two floors, along with a documentation center and seminar rooms. Originally built in 1899 by Antoine Lumière, the inventors' father, the building became part of the institute in 1982, after several changes of ownership and renovations; the institute was founded by Bernard Chardère.

At the Musée Lumière, you can discover the groundbreaking inventions of the Lumière brothers. The exhibition is based on the collection of Dr. Paul Génard and the holdings of the Lumière family. On display are the Cinématographe, which was used for the first film screenings in 1895, the Autochrome process, the famous "Blue Label" photographic plate, and experiments in 3D projection and the mechanical hand. On the upper floor of the villa is a screening room where restored original films by the Lumière brothers are shown, including footage shot at their own factory grounds. The offerings are rounded out by the Raymond Chirat documentation center, housed in the father's former painting studios, which serves researchers and students with a rich library on film history and technology.

In addition to the permanent exhibition, the institute offers a varied program. Films are shown daily on the large screen, while free open-air screenings take place in summer on the Place Ambroise-Courtois. A special attraction is the "Mur des cinéastes," a kind of Walk of Fame where the names of invited directors are immortalized on copper plaques. Every October, the institute organizes the Festival Lumière, where more than 200 films are presented and the Prix Lumière is awarded for lifetime achievement. The institute also runs a photo gallery on the Presqu'île, which regularly hosts changing exhibitions on topics such as film history and photography, and has several other cinemas in the city that specialize in experimental films and arthouse cinema.