The New Zealand Film Commission (NZFC) is delighted to confirm it has accepted an invitation from the French National Centre for Cinema and the Moving Image (CNC) to join the recently launched Lumière Alliance.
Announced on Monday in France as part of the Lumière Summit, opened by French President Emmanuel Macron and Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, the Lumière Alliance aims to unite national organisations across the film and audiovisual sector from around the world.
Lumière Alliance membership is open to “any national agency or public body whose mission is to support, defend or promote cinema or the moving image.” This sentiment aligns directly with NZFC’s kaupapa (purpose) to champion New Zealand’s dynamic screen industry, nurture local filmmakers, back bold stories and attract major international productions to Aotearoa New Zealand.
NZFC CEO, Annie Murray, says that the Lumière Alliance recognises that while screen industries are rooted in local cultures and stories, many of the opportunities and challenges are shared across regions.
“Becoming a member of the Lumière Alliance allows New Zealand to exchange knowledge, share expertise and cooperate with partners from around the world, while contributing our own perspective as a screen nation. For New Zealand, this is a valuable platform to amplify our voice globally, build new relationships and help shape the future of cinema and the moving image alongside our international counterparts.”
Further announcements today confirmed, Dame Jane Campion, along with more than 40 filmmakers, is leading the International Resilience Initiative for Independent Screens, which aims to support independent films, distributors and networks in the circulation of films globally. Other notable New Zealanders attending the summit included Jane Hastings (EVT CEO), Anna Marsh (CANAL+ Deputy CEO, STUDIOCANAL CEO and CANAL+ Chief Content Officer), and Matthew Buchanan (Letterboxd CEO).
The first online meeting of the Lumière Alliance will take place in Autumn 2026, with a working session in May 2027 at Cannes, followed by an inaugural annual congress hosted by a member country later in the year.