Delegates from numerous nations, alongside leaders from the film, television, and gaming sectors, as well as festival organizers and cultural institutions, adopted the Lumière Declaration on the Future of Cinema and the Moving Image on Monday. The summit took place in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France, and the declaration was jointly presented by France and the Republic of Korea under the co-chairmanship of their respective presidents.
The document establishes a framework of 15 principles and remains open for additional signatures. Marking the 200th anniversary of the first photograph and the 130th anniversary of the Lumière brothers’ inaugural Cinématographe screening, the declaration describes this moment as the dawn of global governance for moving images. It envisions a multilateralism that will expand through new partnerships, initiatives, and future gatherings.
At its core, the declaration argues that moving images serve a purpose beyond the mere capture of viewer attention. It characterizes these images as a common good, acting as vehicles for emotion, memory, and knowledge, while also facilitating individual emancipation and collective transformation. The text asserts that ambitious and intentional works remain irreplaceable, stating that the future trajectory of the industry will be defined by the stories creators choose to support and produce.
A central tenet of the document draws a sharp contrast with algorithmic platforms, asserting that audience attention is “a trust to be honored, not a resource to be captured.” This principle extends to several other areas, including the importance of diversity among storytellers and the necessity of creative freedom for the vitality of the medium. The declaration also offers solidarity to creators facing political, economic, or social pressures that threaten their ability to work. Furthermore, it states that industries which exclude women or operate in unsafe conditions must exercise exemplary responsibility in shaping representations.
On economic matters, the declaration describes the audiovisual sector as a powerful engine for growth that drives investment, creates jobs, and fosters innovation. It emphasizes that distributors and profit-making entities have a direct interest and responsibility toward the next generation of creation. The text calls for public support to mitigate early-stage risks and advocates for international co-productions to diversify risk and bind ecosystems together, ensuring that diverse global stories reach audiences worldwide.
Three of the principles specifically address technology. The declaration notes that artificial intelligence can enhance creativity and the circulation of works only if it serves as a driver of creation, maintaining that human creativity must remain foundational. It also warns of the emerging risk posed by agentic AI, which could mediate access to works through automated agents, and reiterates that when creation is not rewarded, it cannot be renewed.
The remaining principles focus on physical and cultural infrastructure. The document highlights the symbiotic relationship between cinemas and diverse programming, noting that each needs the other to fulfill its cultural and economic roles. It urges investment in the conservation of physical archives, warning that these elements degrade over time, and calls for image literacy comparable to the universal literacy pursued in previous centuries. The declaration identifies cinema as a rare space where individual screens are turned off in favor of shared viewing experiences. Finally, signatories committed to developing sustainable best practices and flexible standards for production, distribution, and exhibition, with a pledge to review progress collectively.
Great to see a focus on archives and image literacy alongside AI rules. The physical cinema experience truly is irreplaceable.
I love the sentiment, but will platforms actually change their business models? Algorithms drive revenue, not declarations.
Finally, someone says it: attention is a trust, not a resource to be captured. This is a vital shift in how we view audience engagement.