Institut Lumière, Lyon

The Institut Lumière in Lyon, made up of a cinema and a museum, is named after Auguste and Louis Lumière: inventors of the groundbreaking cinematograph that changed the face of the filmmaking industry in the 1890s.

The institute was founded in 1982 by Louis Lumière’s grandson in the former Lumière family home, as a dedication to the lives and work of Auguste and Louis: the fathers of cinema.

The institute’s cinema screens a wide range of films from around the world and also hosts the Festival Lumière every October: a film festival that celebrates the history of both French and international cinema and films from the past. Winners of the prestigious Prix Lumière (Lumière Award) have included Martin Scorsese and Quentin Tarantino. For the festival, films are screened at the Institut Lumière and also at other popular cinema theatres around Lyon.

The museum is in the Lumière’s grand Villa itself (built by their father Antoine in 1899), with all four floors open to the public and filled with objects and information describing their contribution to cinema. The museum wants visitors to become fully acquainted with the lives of the Lumière brothers, their inventions before and after the cinematograph, and their early films. Interactive objects are scattered throughout the exhibitions so you can really immerse yourself in their inventions; such as zoetropes, a large photorama (the Lumière’s invention to create a full 360° panoramic shot), and of course lots of their early film projections, videos and  colour photographs. Look out for a cluster of small screens showing the footage shot in 1896 of different countries around the world, such as Egypt, France, Japan, Turkey and the UK.

Institut Lumière

Rue du Premier Film, 69008 Lyon

Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year
Institut Lumière, Lyon: All year

Opening Hours

Monday:
Closed
Tuesday:
10:00 - 18:30
Wednesday:
10:00 - 18:30
Thursday:
10:00 - 18:30
Friday:
10:00 - 18:30
Saturday:
10:00 - 18:30
Sunday:
10:00 - 18:30
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