Lumière's International Classic Film Market celebrates its 10th edition with a focus on Spanish cinema, distribution, new territories and education

The Lumière Festival International Classic Film Market (MIFC) in Lyon, France is celebrating this year its 10th year with a wide-ranging program focused on strengthening the distribution of classic films, the prospects of new commercial territories, film education and a focus on the Spanish film sector.

The MIFC, which runs from October 18-21, kicks off with a keynote speech by Gian Luca Farinelli, director of the Italian film archives of the Cineteca di Bologna. Market organizers praise Farinelli for “having made it possible to find, restore, review and, more often than not, bring classic films back to market first through the Il Cinema Ritrovato festival, exhibition activities and of distribution within the foundation, while maintaining close links with film libraries around the world. the world."

Farinelli's work, notes the MIFC, "contributes to the history of cinema being always active, lively and accessible.” Many who work in the classic film business would share this opinion.

The Classic Film Market, launched in 2013 – four years after the first Lumière Festival – will also celebrate with a special anniversary meeting of industrialists, many of whom have remained mainstays of the MIFC over the years, to discuss key issues that have run through previous editions and examine new challenges facing the heritage film sector.

Speakers included Thierry Frémaux, director of the Lumière Festival and Cannes topper; MK2 CEO Nathanael Karmitz; Sandra den Hamer, director of the EYE Filmmuseum in Amsterdam; Frédéric Maire, director of the Cinémathèque Suisse; Davide Pozzi, director of the Italian restaurant company L'Immagine Ritrovata; Gaumont catalog director Jérôme Soulet; Anne-Laure Brénéol, artistic director and theater manager for the Parisian distributor Malavida; and Juliette Rajon, director of the MIFC.

With a focus on Spain this year, the MIFC will review the state of the market for heritage film in the country, including distribution in traditional circuits and on traditional and digital channels, and new avenues for development.

Will participate in the discussions of major players such as Sophie de Mac Mahon, head of sales at Mercury Films and her FlixOlé streaming platform; Pilar Toro, Marketing Director of Spanish streaming service Filmin; Philippe Chevassu, president of Tamasa Distribution, based in Paris; Diana Santamaría of the Atalanta cinema; Joxean Fernández, director of the Basque Cinematheque in San Sebastian; and José Pastor, director of fiction and cinema at the Spanish television channel RTVE.

As part of the Spanish accent, MIFC will screen restored versions of Basilio's 1966 drama Martín Patino "Nueve cartas a Berta" ("Nine letters to Berta"), a totem of the new Spanish progressive Spanish cinema, and the cult film "Arrebato" ("Rapture") by Iván Zulueta in 1979, a high point for many left-wing artists cinema that flourished during Spain's transition to democracy.

This year, the MIFC also offers a case study on Canada with a panel discussion on the main private and public sector organizations dedicated to the preservation, restoration, distribution and exhibition of the country's rich film heritage. As part of the presentation, the market will screen the 1972 crime drama "Dirty Money" by Denys Arcand

In a separate screening for cinema exhibitors, the MIFC is also showing a newly restored version of the Jeanne Moreau's 1976 film-the autobiographical drama "Lumière," which also takes place as part of the Lumière Festival's showcase of the actress-filmmaker's three directorial works, which also includes 1979's "L'Adolescente" and the 1983 documentary "Lillian Gish".

Looking at international markets, a number of discussions aim to share experiences across borders, particularly in the wider distribution of films as well as the challenges of film restoration in countries with limited capacity.

A workshop with the International Confederation of Art Cinemas (CICAE) will explore ways to promote circulation international. ..