Thierry Frémaux in Warsaw — 130 Years of Cinema on Screen
Thierry Frémaux visits Warsaw to present “Lumière!” at Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa — a selection of the Lumière brothers’ films marking 130 years of cinema. A moment to rediscover the origins of film with live narration.
In a week, Warsaw will welcome a special guest — Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival and head of the Institut Lumière. A figure whose taste and decisions shape what the world sees in Cannes — the dream stage for filmmakers, actors, and the entire industry.
“Lumière!” is a selection of 114 short films, each lasting around 50 seconds — the exact length of film stock available at the time.
His visit to Poland marks the celebration of the 130th anniversary of cinema, accompanied by a premiere screening of “Lumière!” in Kraków, Warsaw, and Wrocław on 8, 9, and 10 December.
Where cinema was born
Auguste and Louis Lumière — brothers whose father, Antoine Lumière, ran a photographic studio in Lyon — are among the most influential figures in the history of film and photography.
These films show everyday life in its most authentic form — workers leaving a factory, children playing, families gathered at the table, or humorous scenes, such as a boy tricking a gardener into being splashed with water.
In 1895, they built the cinematograph and shot the first films in history, laying the foundations of cinema as we know it. The official “birth of cinema” is dated 28 December 1895, when the brothers held the first public film screening in Paris.
Nearly 130 years later, audiences at Warsaw’s Teatr Wielki – Opera Narodowa will be transported back to that moment — to reflect on how something that began as a scientific curiosity became a daily habit of capturing the world around us.
“Lumière!” — 114 films, 50 seconds each
“Lumière!” is a selection of 114 short films, each lasting around 50 seconds — the exact length of film stock available at the time. Chosen from more than 1,000 works shot between 1895 and 1905, the selection was curated by Thierry Frémaux himself and digitally restored in 4K.
These films show everyday life in its most authentic form — workers leaving a factory, children playing, families gathered at the table, or humorous scenes, such as a boy tricking a gardener into being splashed with water.
Today, these moments feel charming — especially in a world saturated with images. There is something captivating in this quintessence of authentic, timeless fragments of life.
A screening with live narration
Thierry Frémaux will narrate the screening live on stage, offering context. His words will be translated from French into Polish by Philippe Tłokiński, a Polish actor born in France.
The evening promises to become an intimate encounter with cinema history — a bridge between the art’s origins and its present. For film lovers, and not only, it’s a chance to rediscover the original magic of moving images: creativity, curiosity, and the simple desire to observe the world.
Dates & details
- When: Kraków – 8 December 2025, Warsaw – 9 December 2025, Wrocław – 10 December 2025
- Where: Teatr Wielki - Opera Narodowa in Warsaw
- Tickets: 33–143 PLN (learn more here)
