For its second edition, the European film festival Cinéma du Vieux Lyon Festival is pulling out all the stops. While staying true to its roots as an event without glitz or glamour, the festival celebrates the art of cinema in its purest form. An exceptional lineup and a first-rate patron, Olivier Marchal —who will even be hosting an intimate masterclass on Monday, July 20, at the Musée Cinéma et Miniature. The tone is set and the stage is ready. This summer, Old Lyon will take center stage, and you’ll be the stars.
Cinéma du Vieux Lyon Festival: A 5-Star Lineup
The festival will take place from Saturday, July 20, through Wednesday, July 24, with five evenings of screenings:
- Saturday, July 20: *Les Lyonnais*, with Olivier Marchal in attendance
- Sunday, July 21: *Black Cat, White Cat* by Emir Kusturica
- Monday, July 22: *La Plus Précieuse des marchandises* by Michel Hazanavicius (Oscar for Best Director for *The Artist*)
- Tuesday, July 23:*The Other Side of Hope* by Aki Kaurismäki
- Wednesday, July 24: *Good Morning England* by Richard Curtis
The other good news is thata masterclass will be held with Olivier Marchal himself on Monday, July 20—but be warned: only 40 lucky participants will be able to attend. You’ll have to act fast to sign up!
Just like the “Cinéma sous les étoiles” festival, which will take place from July 15 to 18 at Place d’Ainay, the Cinéma du Vieux Lyon Festival offers the same promise: to set up a screen, come together, and be enchanted by the magic of cinema. None of this would be possible without the Argaya association, which works on a volunteer basis to promote the art of cinema beyond the computer screen and helps restore cinema’s role as a cultural medium in its own right.
Old Lyon, the oldest spectator in the history of cinema
Lyon, the city where cinema was born, could not have done better than to offer its oldest buildings—the last remaining witnesses to the cinematograph—to host the festival in its historic district, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This thousand-year-old architecture still seems to have much to tell us…
What could be better, indeed, than unfurling the screen and setting up the projector in Old Lyon? It was here that Bertrand Tavernier shot his first feature film, *L’Horloger de Saint-Paul*, starring Philippe Noiret. It’s also home to the Cinema and Miniature Museum. We’re talking about 10,000 original pieces— the world’s largest collection on display to the general public!
For the festival, there are no on-site reservations—it’s a laid-back, casual atmosphere (we love it!). The venues will open at 7:00 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. A refreshment stand and light snacks will be available to help the audience pass the time until the screenings, scheduled every evening at 9:30 p.m. The films will be screened in their original language with French subtitles. We’re already looking forward to it!
