«We are the bank of cinema!»

Pascal Fèvre, Regional Director of BNP Paribas for Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, reveals his wide-ranging vision of cinema and his perspective on the 2026 program!

How would you describe the relationship between the Lumière film festival and the BNP Paribas Group?

One-of-a-kind! We’ve been involved in the festival since its inception in 2009! Being a partner means making a long-term commitment and strengthening our ties year after year. We are the bank of cinema. We finance more than 50% of all films and more than 50% of all movie theaters in France! Additionally, we have partnerships with some 30 festivals around the world. Our commitment dates back to 1917, when we helped produce a silent picture by providing a loan to the Société Générale du Cinématographe! Promoting cinema in theaters is important, and preserving film heritage is the very spirit of the Lumière film festival. And in Lyon, since December of 2025, we’ve had a bank branch dedicated to cinema, with offices named after the Lumière Award honorees!

 

Could you tell us about your We Love Cinema website?

It’s a community that brings together over 1 million film buffs (200,000 subscribers on our website and over 800,000 on our social media channels)! It features exclusive content, free movie tickets and invitations to premiere screenings of a wide range of genres: blockbusters, animated films, début features and arthouse films. At BNP Paribas, we love cinema and we’re keen to share our passion with film fans. We Love Cinema is completely free and open to everyone.

What do you think of the 2026 Lumière Award laureates?

For anyone who’s an avid fan of the Coen brothers’ cinema, it’s unbelievable. They’re among the greatest living American filmmakers.  They’ve created a brand of humor that’s uniquely theirs. On the surface, the stories seem incredibly simple, but things always take unexpected turns! I could watch Fargo countless times. Frances McDormand is simply in a league of her own, playing a policewoman in the middle of nowhere. I could also mention The Big Lebowski, featuring an extraordinary Jeff Bridges, especially alongside his bowling partners! Then there’s No Country for Old Men for the dread and suspense created by Javier Bardem. He single-handedly embodies the intensity of that film. And finally, True Grit, where real courage comes in the form of a 14-year-old girl!

What are you planning to see this year at Lumière?

In the Heat of the Night by Norman Jewison, for the film’s many qualities. We chose it as a premiere screening for our clients. Also Agnès Jaoui! I’m a huge fan of this woman, who embodies an authentic sensitivity, modernity, magnificent writing and humor. As for Abel Ferrara, I’ll go see Bad Lieutenant again. The film is hard-hitting but essential, with a mind-blowing performance by Harvey Keitel. And then there’s Zhang Ziyi in Wo hu cang long/ Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon for her choreographic visuals and her grace.