The Lumière Summit has announced a series of international initiatives aimed at strengthening the global film and audiovisual industry amid growing disruption from artificial intelligence, streaming and changing audience habits.
The summit, held on September 7, 2026, in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, was opened by French President Emmanuel Macron and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung. Organised by France’s CNC, the event brought together about 200 major figures from the global film industry.
Among the key announcements was the International Resilience Initiative for Independent Screens (IRIS), which will support independent cinemas, distributors and networks in improving the circulation of films worldwide. The initiative has received €1 million in initial funding and is seeking to raise €30 million from international partners.
The summit also launched the Lumière Alliance, a network of 54 national film agencies designed to encourage cooperation, information sharing and joint initiatives on international film policy.
France and South Korea further announced the Lumière Partnership, a €1 billion investment programme for the film and audiovisual sector. France is expected to contribute €500 million through Bpifrance between 2027 and 2031.
Another initiative, Audiovisual Next Gen, will provide an 18-month mentoring programme for 20 creative professionals under 35. The first group, to be announced in January 2027, will consist entirely of women as part of efforts to improve female representation in senior industry positions.
The summit also adopted the Lumière Declaration, which calls for greater protection of intellectual property, support for human creativity, cultural diversity, safer and more inclusive workplaces, sustainable production and stronger measures against piracy.
The declaration further recognised the importance of cinema as a shared cultural experience while urging the industry to embrace emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, without undermining creators’ rights.
