Lumière festival 2016
-And we're off!

PostED ON OCTOBER 10, 2016

In a more film-enthusiast atmosphere than ever, the eighth edition of the Lumière festival officially got underway on October 8. Film clips, surprises and infectious energy.

"When magic joins with light" (light = Lumière) - the theme of the 15-minute presentation of the festival, artfully composed of clips from the lineup - was perfectly efficient in whetting the appetite of the audience at the Halle Tony Garnier. Among them, guests looking ever sharp and glamorous: Walter Hill, Monica Bellucci, Lambert Wilson, Jean-Loup Dabadie, Alice Taglioni, Line Renaud, Agnès Varda, Mathilde Seigner, Danièle Thompson, Vincent Perez and Karine Silla, Marina Golbahari and Noor Azizi, and three years after receiving the Lumière Award, Quentin Tarantino.

The festival would be nothing without women, a case made clear in portraits. The incomparable Catherine Deneuve, Lumière Award 2016 recipient, will naturally be honored, along with yesteryear stars like Marlene Dietrich and Katharine Hepburn, whose gorgeous B&W headshots glided across the big screen. Not to mention Agnès Varda, whose magnificent photographs of Fellini or Visconti provided a sneak peek of the exhibition in the Hangar du Premier Film.

© Institut Lumière / Photo Caroline Gardin / Jean-luc Mège Photographies

Humor is likewise essential at the opening ceremony: Thierry Frémaux challenges the audience to comprehend Arletty's rant in Hotel du Nord, according to Bertrand Tavernier, "the almost too-famous Atmospère, atmosphère" (at the expense of other delectable scenes!). It is a near-impossible task indeed, deciphering the charm of French banter.

Diligently, text in hand, the guests take charge of the opening text. Jean-Loup Dabadie's song, On ira tous au paradis closes out the ceremony in a huge, exuberant karaoke.

The opening film, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, is announced. Quentin Tarantino takes the stage and launches into a passionate discourse on his selection of movies from 1970. His comments spark a debate with Bertrand Tavernier. The lights go out, the magic has worked perfectly.

Charlotte Pavard

© Institut Lumière / Photo  Olivier Chassignole

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