Isabelle Huppert, an icon of French and international cinema, was awarded the prestigious 2024 Lumière Award during the 15th edition of the Lumière Festival in Lyon, recognizing an exceptional career spanning over 50 years.
The 2024 Lumière Award ceremony, held on Friday, October 18 at Lyon’s Amphitheater 3000, gathered a host of film industry stars who came to celebrate Isabelle Huppert. Alfonso Cuarón, Claire Denis, Noémie Merlant, and James Franco were among the distinguished guests. The emotion was palpable when singer Julien Clerc took to the stage to perform his song Ma Préférence in honor of the actress.
Isabelle Huppert’s career commands admiration. Considered one of the most famous and recognized French actresses worldwide, she has left an indelible mark on contemporary cinema history. Her impressive filmography reflects fruitful collaborations with major French directors such as Claude Chabrol and Jean-Luc Godard, as well as with renowned international filmmakers like Michael Haneke and Paul Verhoeven.
Visibly moved during the ceremony, Isabelle Huppert stated: "I was told that the Lumière Award was special, but it’s much more than I could have imagined, and yet I have a great imagination." She emphasized the honor of receiving an award so closely tied to the history of cinema, joining a prestigious list of laureates that includes Martin Scorsese, Jane Fonda, and Wong Kar-wai.
Before the ceremony, Isabelle Huppert took part in the rare exercise of a masterclass, despite her reluctance to speak publicly about her work. She notably discussed her method of choosing roles, which is based on intuition and sometimes a single line in a script that particularly resonates with her.
In a press conference the day after the award ceremony, the actress shared her unconventional beginnings: "I had no cinema background." She revealed that she had seen very few films before becoming an actress, comparing her journey to that of the Brontë sisters, who wrote masterpieces without leaving their parsonage. Isabelle Huppert praised the "memory" mission upheld by the Lumière Festival in Lyon, highlighting the public’s interest in discovering or rediscovering films.
Thierry Frémaux, general delegate of the Cannes Film Festival and director of the Institut Lumière, said: "The legitimacy of choosing Isabelle (Huppert) lies in the legitimacy of her predecessors, it was never in doubt. From the moment the announcement was made, we could feel that there was something undeniable about it."
The Lumière Award, created in 2009, annually celebrates a personality in Lyon for their body of work and their connection to the history of cinema. By honoring Isabelle Huppert, the festival pays tribute to a timeless actress who has left her mark on some of the greatest moments in film history with her talent and presence. A richly deserved recognition for someone who, despite lacking an initial cinematic background, has established herself as an essential figure in both French and international cinema.
With AFP
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