It’s all about the atmosphere!
 

PostED ON 16.10.2025

Pascal Fèvre, Regional Director of BNP Paribas Commercial Bank in France's Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region, shares his commitment to cinema, a field he is well-versed in.

How does the Lumière film festival fit into BNP Paribas's business?

For me, it's obvious. The Lumière film festival must be supported by us. We were already a partner from 2009 and we have just signed up for another three years! BNP Paribas provides the funding for one out of every two French films. Cinema has been part of our DNA for a century.

BNP Paribas, Europe's leading cinema bank, is an integral part of the cinema ecosystem. What new initiatives is the bank undertaking in this area?

This year, we’re going to co-brand a Parisian cinema with Pathé at the Opera; it was important for us to add a physical dimension to our commitment. We will also be transforming the Monplaisir branch in Lyon into a ‘cinema’ branch with a corresponding décor. It will be the only branch in the world dedicated to the 7th art. And all this will take place on Avenue des Frères Lumière!

Your ‘We Love Cinema’ website and the BNP Paribas #Cinéculte screenings promote film appreciation and heritage films. Why is this important?

We want to promote cinema in theatres and great heritage films. This year, we’re inviting 5,000 clients in five cities, including Lyon, to a week of #Cinéculte screenings featuring the films of James Cameron: Alien, The Abyss, Terminator 2, Titanic, Avatar 1 and 2... Watching a film again is a different kind of pleasure; you notice things you didn't see the first time around.

What do the Opening and Lumière Award ceremonies mean to you?

I love them. Five thousand people attend the opening! That's a lot of energy. The Lumière Award presentation ceremonies are quite unique. Film lovers celebrate an incontestable artist. Whether it's Quentin Tarantino, Isabelle Huppert, or this year Michael Mann, they all represent very different types of cinema. It's the history of cinema right before your eyes. And everything takes place without any  competition. In that sense, it's a very inclusive festival.

What are you looking forward to in the 2025 programme?

I'm looking forward to experiencing truly beautiful cinema again, particularly with the Louis Jouvet retrospective. I love the way he expresses himself, always with a sense of mystery in his gaze. He exudes both strength and class, as well as a very interesting masculine sensitivity.

© DR
Hôtel du Nord (1938)