Call for restored films
Lumière Classics
The Lumière film festival, a major event of classic cinema, will be held in Lyon from Saturday the 10th to Sunday the 18th of October 2026.
As with every edition, the festival will feature the finest restorations from the four corners of the globe. Certain films will subsequently be rereleased in theatres or republished on video, while others will be presented as events or unique opportunities to experience the works on a big screen.
The label Lumière Classics highlights the extensive work carried out by archives, film libraries, rights holders and foundations to restore classics from the history of cinema, without forgetting lesser-known films that are equally essential to the worldwide cinematographic landscape. The works bearing the label can be found in various sections of the festival including "New Restorations".
Más allá del olvido by Hugo del Carril (1956) is one of the 32 films awarded
the Lumière Classics label in 2025.Restauration 4K - ayant-droit : Argentina Sono Film
The Lumière Classics label was created to showcase these restorations of 20th-century films and to encourage their (re)discovery by the widest possible audience. Through the programming in general, along with this section in particular, the Institut Lumière reaffirms its commitment and support for the cinema of yesteryear and today, honouring its history by celebrating its diversity and richness, and by bringing together all those who contribute to its preservation and vitality.
Registering films:
Archives, film libraries, producers, distributors, studios: send us your submissions for the opportunity to be part of the selection of the Lumière film festival’s most outstanding restorations of the year and to obtain the Lumière Classics label.
Conditions for participation
1. Proposals must be limited to three titles per organisation and must focus on œuvres completed before 1980. A DVD or link allowing unlimited viewing time must be provided upon registration.
2. The films must be presented in exclusivity at the Lumière film festival. If, however, a release is planned before then, we would appreciate it if you could inform us in advance.
Once the film is selected
1. The submitting organisation is requested to attend the festival with its restoration.
2. The material must be available by Friday, September 25th.
3. The Lumière Classics logo must appear on the posters, the promotional material of the film and on the DCPs.
4. The films will be presented in DCP format and subtitled in French for non-French-language films. All French films must include English subtitles.
How to submit a film ?
Registrations have been closed since Friday June 19.
For any proposal outside the Lumière Classics section, please do not hesitate to contact the Lumière Festival programming team.
Once selected, the films will be screened in the festival venues in Lyon and its Metropolitan area.
