Emmanuel Macron and Lee Jae-myung will co-chair the Lumière Summit on September 7, 2026 in Saint-Paul-de-Vence. A new presidential visit to the Alpes-Maritimes.
President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron will travel to Saint-Paul-de-Vence, in the Alpes-Maritimes, on Monday, September 7, 2026. The head of state will participate in the Lumière Summit, dedicated to the future of cinema and animated imagery.
This visit will constitute Emmanuel Macron’s third visit to the Alpes-Maritimes since June. The president of the Republic had already visited the department on June 14 for the inauguration of the Bharat Innovates trade show, alongside Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A few days later, the 36th Franco-Italian summit had taken place in Antibes. Emmanuel Macron had met there with the president of the Italian Council Giorgia Meloni.
This new presidential visit will this time have a dimension dedicated to cinema, audiovisual and video games. Emmanuel Macron will co-chair the Lumière Summit with Lee Jae-myung, President of the Republic of Korea.
The event will bring together 150 guests from more than 30 countries and all five continents. Among the participants will be leaders and decision-makers from the cinema, audiovisual and video game sectors, as well as political figures and professionals engaged on the summit’s issues.
Artificial intelligence and film financing at the heart of discussions
Discussions will focus on sector transformations and ways to support its evolution. Artificial intelligence, image education from a young age, and the economic model of cinema will be among the main topics addressed.
The secretary general of the Lumière Summit, Vincent Florant, announced « concrete announcements », notably « economic » ones, concerning « international film productions that have been brought back to France » and « strategic partnerships. »
Creation in a context of technological disruptions will also be on the agenda. Sector financing should make it possible to « accelerate international co-productions. » The « place of the cinema theater » and the situation of the independent sector will also be examined.
The Lumière Summit should enable the various stakeholders gathered in Saint-Paul-de-Vence to work on common actions. The stated objective notably concerns the creation of new alliances around cinema and animated imagery.
Strengthening France’s place in the film industry
The meeting will also serve to highlight France’s cinema, television series, animation and video game sectors. The challenge concerns both their cultural dimension and their industrial weight.
« France is positioning itself in the continuity of its history and its commitment » to cinema, stressed the Elysée, recalling the invention of cinema by the Lumière brothers.
The presidency of the Republic also presents France as the « World’s third largest market » in the sector, behind China and the United States. « It remains and intends to remain one of the world’s cinema champions », emphasized the Elysée.
French cinema represents 40% of market share in France. A proportion described as « unequaled in Europe » by the presidency.
Hosting the Lumière Summit in Saint-Paul-de-Vence will thus give an international dimension to this new visit by Emmanuel Macron to the Alpes-Maritimes.
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