French President Emmanuel Macron has urged the global community to adopt a “new multilateralism” for the creative industries, arguing that the world must actively shape rather than passively accept the evolution of its visual culture. In an opinion piece for Variety, the French leader highlighted the urgent need for international cooperation to address the impacts of generative artificial intelligence, changing distribution models, and fragmented audience attention.
Recalling the birth of cinema in Paris in 1895 through the screenings of Auguste and Louis Lumière, Macron described the enduring legacy of France as the cradle of the “Civilization of Images.” He noted that while screens have democratized access to films, ideas, and cultures, they have also introduced challenges such as cognitive overload and the erosion of sustained attention.
The President emphasized that the value of creative works extends beyond economics into cultural preservation and democratic health. He warned that an environment dominated by algorithms optimizing for engagement risks producing shorter, angrier, and more fragmented public discourse. Consequently, he argued for a distinction between endless content streams and ambitious works that require intention, talent, and risk.
To tackle these shared challenges, Macron announced that France and South Korea will convene the Lumière Summit this September. The event aims to bring together governments, creators, studios, platforms, and public institutions to forge a common response. He pointed to diverse creative hubs—including the United States, Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Europe—as essential partners in this dialogue.
Macron asserted that the goal is not to revert to past models but to create conditions where ambitious creation can thrive alongside technological progress. “We built a civilization of images. We should not resign ourselves to watching it deteriorate,” he wrote, calling for moving images to be recognized as one of the most valuable common goods of the modern era.
Does South Korea really have the leverage to enforce anything? Feels like another glossy photo op without teeth.
Finally, someone acknowledges that algorithms are eroding our attention spans. This summit is long overdue.