7th edition of the DVD fair!
 

PostED ON 12.10.2025

Jérôme Wibon, film historian, explains why DVDs are alive and well, and indeed, even necessary! 

What does the conference ‘From DVD to 4K: the never-ending story of our video shelves’ involve?
The question that should be raised: Does rebuying films on different media mean being caught in an endless cycle of repurchasing, or are there legitimate editorial reasons for buying them back? We no longer have the same reactions as we did twenty years ago. We are no longer in the mass media era of the 2000s. We are now in the niche media era. Inevitably, the supply and demand are different, whether on the part of the publishers or the buyers.

Why is it vital to preserve heritage films through DVD box sets ?
DVDs have invented a new way of telling the story of cinema, compared to what was done in the past with books, on television or on the radio. There is a specific style of writing for this physical medium. It's interesting to continue to uphold that. DVDs contain testimonials from figures who are no longer with us, and it's a good idea to preserve them from edition to edition, supplementing them with new testimonials. There are also films that we might not have considered twenty years ago, which we are now discovering, for example at Carlotta with Asian cinema, Seijun Suzuki's films, or the re-release of a Pialat box set by Gaumont. With physical media, we keep a record of the works, and consider the surrounding context. We are reaching editorial maturity in terms of film selection and bonus features that complement those of twenty years ago. There is a growing awareness that we are writing a history of cinema.

What is the value of publisher gatherings in Lyon?

Getting together fosters solidarity for physical media to continue because there is a demand for it! There is a very, very diverse spectrum of cinema being explored and a strong resurgence of film buffs, which means there is a desire to discover new films. We’ve never had so many previously unreleased films on DVD, including works by Jean Eustache, Danger: Diabolik! (Mario Bava, 1968), and Tucker: The Man and His Dream (Francis Ford Coppola, 1988). There is a desire among all these publishers to find what seems impossible.

What heritage film would you liked to have seen at Lumière this year?

I’ve been waiting for the re-release of John Woo's films by Metropolitan, which have not been available on video for over fifteen years. With these new 4K restorations, we’re witnessing a real renaissance.  

DVD FAIR CONFERENCE 2025

The media, active relays and influencers of video publishing
Video formats, reissues and rarities

In partnership with REV (Réunion des Editeurs Vidéos)

With:
Nicolas Billon (Com' On Screen)
Carine Bach (Extralucid Films)
Alexis Hyaumet (VDM)
moderator: Jérôme Wybon (Cinema historian)

Free admission with reservation here

MIFC Village conference room