Screen Ireland attends the Lumière Summit 2026 as a Founding Member of the newly formed Lumière Alliance
Posted: 8th September 2026
Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland was delighted to attend the Lumière Summit yesterday: a landmark international screen industry conference co-chaired by President of France Emmanuel Macron and President of the Republic of Korea Lee Jae-myung.
Conceived as a global platform for action, the Summit focused on the profound changes affecting cinema and the wider moving-image sector, including changing audience behaviour, technological transformation, new economic pressures and the rapid development of artificial intelligence. Screen Ireland will be one of the Founding Members of the newly formed Lumière Alliance – the first global network bringing together national film bodies from around the world. Alongside participating countries, Screen Ireland has supported and co-signed on several declarations and commitments, including the “Lumière Declaration” on the Future of Cinema and the Moving Image, related to the future of the global screen sector - such as artificial intelligence, universal image education, and sustainable production.
Désirée Finnegan, Chief Executive, Fís Éireann/Screen Ireland, said:
“As a Founding Member of the newly formed Lumière Alliance global network, Screen Ireland is confirming its support for the declarations and commitments announced yesterday. The Lumière Summit’s emphasis on cooperation and collective responsibility reinforces Screen Ireland’s own commitment to ensuring that cinema can thrive as a shared cultural experience.
This is a time of unprecedented transformation for the global screen industry, reshaping how the artforms are created, financed, distributed, discovered and preserved. The ambition is to reimagine and preserve the value of creative works as an economic imperative, in addition to protecting and sharing cultural identity. It is an extraordinary opportunity for industry leaders, cultural institutions and nations to come together to develop a shared vision for the future of cinema, series and games.”
At the Lumière Summit, the delegation covered sessions such as ‘Window of Value: The Case for Theatrical Exclusivity’, which examines how a renewed commitment to theatrical release can create greater value throughout the chain. For Screen Ireland, it was an opportunity to underline the agency’s commitment to establishing robust theatrical release windows for Irish feature films – ensuring that films are seen by audiences as the filmmaker intended.
Alongside dedicated distribution funding support for Irish feature film, Screen Ireland puts a strong emphasis on making Irish film accessible to audiences in cinemas across Ireland and internationally. Ireland records some of the highest rates of cinema admissions per capita in Western Europe. In 2025, research showed that Ireland has the highest number of cinema screens per capita, with 10.2 cinema screens per 100,000 inhabitants – well above the European average.
This exhibition landscape remains an essential part of Ireland’s cultural infrastructure, bringing independent and arthouse films to communities and audiences nationwide.
In signing the Lumière Summit’s ‘Declaration Towards More Sustainable Screen Industries’, Screen Ireland’s commitment to environmental sustainability and greener production practices remains central to the agency’s vision. To date, Screen Ireland has supported 85 productions through the Sustainability Advisor Initiative and 43 productions through the Sustainability Innovation Fund since 2023. International cooperation and the sharing of practical knowledge will be essential to integrating sustainable production practices across the global screen sector.
The Lumière Summit took place as Ireland holds the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which runs from 1st July to 31st December 2026. The Presidency provides an important opportunity to strengthen European cooperation and showcase Irish culture, creativity and expertise. As an agency, Screen Ireland has partnered on a wide range of European-wide funding initiatives and cultural partnerships, as well as developing strong relationships across international festivals and markets. Screen Ireland is a member of the European Film Agency Directors association, and later this year, Ireland will host the EFAD General Assembly, as part of its European presidency role.
International partnership remains at the heart of Ireland’s screen sector, across Europe and internationally – and participation in the Lumière Summit marked an opportunity to underline Ireland’s commitment to European and international co-production.