In 1895, Louis and Auguste Lumière built the cinematograph and shot the first films in history: Workers Leaving the Lumière Factory, The Sprinkler Sprinkled, and others. Over time, by refining their camera’s capabilities, perfecting frame composition, introducing multiple takes, and boldly experimenting with special effects, they laid the foundations for the art of cinema as we know it today.
The first public film screening took place on December 28, 1895, in Paris — a date now recognized as the birth of cinema. Nearly 130 years later, on December 8, 2025, in Kraków, December 9 in Warsaw, and December 10 in Wrocław, unique screenings will transport viewers back to the dawn of the “tenth muse.” On screen — masterpieces from the earliest days of film. On stage — Thierry Frémaux, director of the Cannes Film Festival and the Institut Lumière in Lyon, who will personally narrate the event live.
Lumière! is a compilation of 114 short films, carefully selected and digitally restored by Thierry Frémaux from a collection of over 1,400 works shot by Louis Lumière and his cameramen between 1895 and 1905. From the first film comedy to staged scenes, camera movement experiments, and snapshots of daily life at the turn of the 20th century — this is cinema in its purest, truest form. The program includes both iconic masterpieces and previously unknown film discoveries. These films offer a unique window into France — and the wider world — on the cusp of modernity. Restored in 4K, they stand as a celebration of the Lumière brothers’ remarkable legacy.
With Thierry Frémaux — one of the most important figures in contemporary cinema — narrating live, these screenings become truly special. His commentary is a fascinating, passionate lesson in cinema history, revealing the artistic, technological, and cultural contexts that shaped the language of film as we know it today.
This is a rare opportunity to experience the history of cinema in its most authentic form: through a film that reveals the sources of our contemporary visual sensibility, and a charismatic man who can bring this history to life with passion and wit.
Thierry Frémaux has crafted a heartfelt tribute to the pioneers of cinema. His visit to Poland marks a true celebration for film lovers. These screenings, taking place almost exactly 130 years after the invention of cinema, offer not just a symbolic moment — but an emotional one. It is a chance to reconnect with the wonder of the moving image and rediscover the original magic of cinema.
Seats are limited. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind event — a rare celebration of what makes cinema truly magical.
Tickets available from September 10, 2025.
Dates and venues of the screenings:
December 8, 2025 (Monday), 7:00 PM
Cracow, ICE Congress Centre
17 Marii Konopnickiej Street, 30-302 Cracow
December 9, 2025 (Tuesday), 8:00 PM
Warsaw, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera
1 Teatralny Square, 00-950 Warsaw
December 10, 2025 (Wednesday), 7:00 PM
Wroclaw, New Horizons Cinema
19a/21 Kazimierza Wielkiego Street, 50-077 Wroclaw
Production: Timeless Film Foundation