The Lumière Festival in Lyon has long been one of the unmissable events for film buffs and personalities of the 7th art. Each year, the winner of the Lumière Prize is assigned a prestigious task: that of reinterpret The Exit from the Lumière factories, considered the very first film in the history of cinema. For this 2024 edition, this honor goes to Isabelle Huppert. The actress, known for her notable roles and her commitment to French cinema, chose to approach this classic from a fashion angle, adding a unique touch to this tradition.
Isabelle Huppert: a memorable meeting with Rachida Dati
Alongside Isabelle Huppert, emblematic figures such as director Claude Lelouch and actress Sandrine Kiberlain participated in the distribution of this remake. But the spotlight was also on political figures such as Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, and Grégory Doucet, mayor of Lyon, who helped make the event even more memorable.
Just before filming her revisited version of The Exit of the Lumière Factories, Isabelle Huppert attended the unveiling of her honorary plaque on the wall of the Lumière Institute. This solemn moment was marked by the presence of numerous officials, including the Minister of Culture Rachida Dati, the mayor of Lyon Grégory Doucet, and Thierry Frémaux, director of the festival and Iréne Jacob. Rachida Dati, who posed alongside the 71-year-old actress, took advantage of her presence at the festival to speak on an important subject for French cinematographic heritage.
During her speech, the minister raised the possibility of creating a national cinema museum In France. This project, supported by several major figures in cinema, including Costa-Gavras and Carole Bouquet, has been the subject of debate for some time. The politician affirmed that the time had come to initiate a real reflection on the feasibility of this museum, emphasizing the importance of French heritage collections, some of which have been stored for almost 30 years.
A festival rich in emotions and celebrities
The highlight of the festival was the presentation of the Lumière Prize to Isabelle Huppert this Friday, October 18. This prize, often described as the “Nobel of cinema” by Thierry Frémaux, was awarded by director Alfonso Cuarón, in front of a packed and enthusiastic audience. Isabelle Huppert thus succeeds personalities such as Wim Wenders, Gérard Depardieu, and Catherine Deneuve, becoming the third Frenchwoman to receive this distinction.
The atmosphere was festive, with many celebrities present to honor the actress. Sandrine Kiberlain, Julie Gayet, Emmanuelle Béart, Camélia Jordana, and Anthony Delon, among many others, walked the red carpet and participated in improvised musical performancespaying tribute to Huppert’s career.
The evening concluded in an electric atmospherewith guests and cultural stars gathered to celebrate not only cinema, but also the memory and legacy of the Lumière brothers.
