As the event marks its 15th edition, did you think it would grow into what it is today?
Our hypothesis and the bet we took on classic cinema has been proven correct.
We have shown it can work and we think theres scope forfestivalslike this everywhere.
Thierry Frémaux (L) with actor Fabrice Luchini at the Lumière Film FestivalGetty Images
DEADLINE:As the festival draws to a close what is the estimated attendance this year?
FREMAUX:Including the photo exhibitions, it will be around 250,000 visitors.
For paying entries, it will be around 130,000.
Wim Wenders arrives for Lumière Prize ceremony
I saw full-price tickets cost 18.
Were there free tickets?
FREMAUX:Its never free.
DEADLINE:The atmosphere atThe Name Of The Rosescreening must have been incredible with 5,000 people in the hall?
The award ceremony for Wim Wenders in front of 3,000 people on Friday was incredible.
Is that a deliberate move on your part?
FREMAUX:Yes, of course.
Youve never been to the opening?
Thats even more spectacular.
I want it to be a party.
Do think Lyon is a more cinephile city than Paris these days?
FREMAUX:Maybe… even were surprised.
Theres a curiosity and when you solicit it, people show their best side.
Whats the thinking behind this prize and who decides the honoree?
Its the fruit of a long reflection and is also tied to things in the air.
The public were saying Wim who?
Last year, we had Tim Burton.
Then, of course, his Netflix series [Wednesday] came out.
Its always a difficult mission.
We see it as sort of Nobel Prize for cinema.
The Lumiere Prize is for a body of work.
Architecture has a prize, the Pritzker, Mathematics too, the Fields Medal.
We want to the Lumiere Prize, to be the prize for cinema.
The one big obvious name that seems to be missing is Steven Spielberg?
DEADLINE: Do you already have ideas for the 2024 Lumiere Prize honoree?
FREMAUX:Its too early.
Why do you think they come?
FREMAUX:For the love of cinema.
There is no competition, prizes or red carpets, apart from the Lumiere Prize ceremony two nights ago.
They come for friendship and because its a festival of admiration.
Cineastes are also admirers.
They admire one another and its fantastic to see directors talking about their work.
DEADLINE:Institut Lumiere co-founder Bernard Chardere died this summer and you lost Bertrand Tavernier in 2021.
How does it feel as you carry on the work of the institute without them.
FREMAUX:There example is precious, as was that of Tom Luddy.
There is a generation that is dying out.
Im part of that intermediary generation, neither young, nor old.
There was nothing, absolutely nothing, here and we built it bit by bit.
