Lumexplore — Festival of Scientific and Environmental Exploration Film
International festival of exploration, science, and environment film at the Eden-Théâtre in La Ciotat
2026
About Lumexplore
Lumexplore — edition 2026
The 11th edition of Lumexplore will take place from September 9 to 13, 2026, at the Eden-Théâtre in La Ciotat. The theme focuses on rare animals and flora. Thirteen films are in competition and seven will be screened out of competition, with each screening followed by a discussion. Guests include director Antoine de Maximy, Lionel Suchet, Deputy Director General of CNES, and investigative journalist Olivier Weber.
The 11th edition, from September 9 to 13, 2026
Lumexplore returns to the Eden-Théâtre in La Ciotat, the world's oldest operating cinema, from Wednesday, September 9 to Sunday, September 13, 2026. Thirteen films are in competition, seven others are screened out of competition, and each screening is followed by a meeting with directors, scientists, and explorers.
Rare animals and flora
The theme of this edition focuses on rare animals and flora, featuring French and international speakers. Exploration in all environments remains a core focus: oceanography, geography, glaciology, archaeology, speleology, and astronomy.
Six locations in the city
The festival occupies six sites in La Ciotat. The Eden-Théâtre and its courtyard are the hub, along with the Esplanade du Berceau du Cinéma, Place du 8 Mai 1945, the harbor docks, the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, and the Simone-Veil media library. Seven exhibitions are set up at the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus and in the Eden courtyard, covering oceans, space, meteorites, and underwater exploration. Two expedition boats can be visited at the Bérouard basin: the schooner Expédition 7e Continent and the sailboat Jonathan III.
The Explorers' Tea and the Village
A 2026 novelty, the Explorers' Tea brings together two female explorers every day from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM to share their paths and expeditions. The Lumexplore Village – Environment Observatory brings together twenty associations at the Place du Berceau du Cinéma and Place du 8 Mai 1945, from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13, featuring about fifteen activities, workshops, and virtual reality experiences.
Lumexplore Junior and the awards
The Lumexplore Junior competition, coordinated by Ifremer Méditerranée, screens films made by middle and high school students; two of them will be awarded. The awards ceremony takes place on Saturday, September 12. The Lumexplore Grand Prix includes a €3,000 grant from the IRIS Foundation, and the SEF-IRIS "Exploration and Biodiversity" grant of €100,000 funds an expedition project. Lumexplore "off-site" takes place at the Simone-Veil media library from Tuesday, September 1 to Saturday, September 12.
Highlights Lumexplore 2026
- 11th edition, from September 9 to 13, 2026, at the Eden-Théâtre in La Ciotat
- 2026 Theme: Rare animals and flora
- 13 films in competition and 7 out of competition, with a Q&A after each screening
- Announced guests: Antoine de Maximy, Lionel Suchet (CNES), and Olivier Weber
- New: The Explorers' Tea, daily from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM in the Eden courtyard
- Two expedition boats to visit at the Bérouard basin: Expédition 7e Continent and Jonathan III
- Village with 20 associations, at Place du Berceau du Cinéma and Place du 8 Mai 1945
Programme Lumexplore 2026
The program will be released as the organizers make announcements in mid-August 2026. Tickets and the full schedule will be available at the end of August.
Wednesday, September 9, 2026
Opening day. No screening times are scheduled for this day.
Thursday, September 10, 2026
- 9:00 AM — "Sous la peau du lac", directed by students from the Lycée français international Alexandre-Yersin in Hanoi (Vietnam), 5 min · Lumexplore Junior · Eden-Théâtre Cinema · precedes "L’École à ciel ouvert"
- 9:00 AM — "L’École à ciel ouvert" by Stéphane Cazes, Seventine, 2026, 52 min · in competition · with Philippe Nicolas, teacher and explorer, in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 2:30 PM — "La Foudre, un éclair de génie" by François Tribolet, Capa Presse, France TV and Ushuaia TV, 2026, 90 min · in competition · with astrophysicist Serge Soula in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 4:30 PM — "Équateur. Un campus dans la forêt" by Rafael Gutierrez Pereira and Nicos Argillet, Backstory Media and Arte, 2025, 52 min · in competition · with producer Julien Coquet in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 6:00 PM — The Explorers' Tea: meeting with Jeanne Mascolo de Filippis, "Au Sikkim : hommage à Alexandra David-Néel et Lama Yongden" · Eden Courtyard
Friday, September 11, 2026
- 9:00 AM — "Le Chagrin des animaux" by Jacques Mitsch, O2B Films, Arte and Ushuaïa TV, 2025, 52 min · in competition · with ethologist and cetologist Fabienne Delfour in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 2:00 PM — "Les enjeux de l’eau", directed by class 202 of the Lycée Jean-Moulin in Draguignan, 3 min 48 · Lumexplore Junior · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 4:00 PM — "Oumuamua, l’inconnu venu de l’espace" by Jérôme Ségur, Cocottesminute Productions, Belgica Films, Mélusine Productions, Terranoa, France Télévisions and LN24, 2025, 90 min · in competition · with Alain Tixier in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 4:45 PM — "Aurores boréales, le grand rendez-vous" by Bernadette Gilbertas and Olivier Grunewald, Pop Films and Via Découvertes Films, 2025, 52 min · in competition, screening and discussion · with astrophysicist Jean Lilensten in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
Saturday, September 12, 2026
- 11:15 AM — "Dans les gouffres à fossiles du Quercy" by Guillaume Dreyfus · in competition · discussion with the director · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 2:30 PM — Conference and discussion with investigative journalist Olivier Weber: "Un voyage dans le sanctuaire de Pelagos", about whales, sperm whales, and dolphins in the Mediterranean · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- 5:40 PM — "Histoire de la vie" by Alain Tixier · out of competition · with Michel Viso, astronaut and exobiology specialist at CNES, in attendance · Eden-Théâtre Cinema
- Awards Ceremony
Sunday, September 13, 2026
- 6:30 PM — The Explorers' Tea: meeting with Sophie Bachelier, "Karakash, la rivière de jade noir", about a microlight expedition in Xinjiang · Eden Courtyard
The Explorers' Tea, daily
Every day from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM, two female explorers share their journeys and expeditions in the Eden courtyard.
The Lumexplore Village – Environment Observatory
Twenty associations will host stands at the Place du Berceau du Cinéma and Place du 8 Mai 1945 from Thursday, September 10 to Sunday, September 13. Free admission.
- Environment Observatory · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 — village activity coordination
- Les Compagnons du SAGA · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 — history of the SAGA, the world's largest civilian submarine, in virtual reality: 3 headsets and 3 films (virtual tour of the SAGA, SAGA diving, Marseille underwater), "Draw me your SAGA" drawing workshop, "When I was a child, I dreamed..." portrait exhibition
- Save Soil · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 — soil life: sensory experiments, earthworm observation, collaborative mural
- Turtle Prod · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · 10th to 13th — "Tell us about the Cosquer Cave" exhibition, 35-panel comic strip
- Naturoscope · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 — Mediterranean biodiversity: seabed mural, sensory games, climate workshop
- Expédition MED · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · Thursday 10 to Sunday 13 — "What is plastic pollution?" (primary school special), educational video games, little scientist game booklet, audio stories
- France Nature Environnement · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · Thursday 10 to Saturday 12 — kamishibai theater about the life of hedgehogs and ecological networks
- Dive Explo 360 · Place du 8 Mai 1945 on the 10th and 11th, Place du Berceau du Cinéma on the 12th and 13th — interactive diving videos and identification games for Mediterranean seabed inhabitants
- Planète Sciences Méditerranée · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Thursday 10 and Friday 11 — marine biodiversity and Mediterranean explorer workshops
- Chercheurs en Herbe · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · 10th and 11th — experiments, games, and debates about the marine environment
- LPO – Bird Protection League · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Thursday 10 — natural heritage conservation and cohabitation with wildlife
- Aquacea · Place du 8 Mai 1945 on Thursday 10, Place du Berceau du Cinéma on Sunday 13 — two board games for 4 to 8 players and a "Sharks" goose game
- Atelier Bleu – CPIE Côte Provençale · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · 11th and 12th — sea, coastline, and marine ecosystem protection, Eco Attitude quiz
- Epage HuCA · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Friday 11 and Saturday 12 — flood risk, immersive virtual reality simulation, river tools
- ACCA · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Friday 11 and Saturday 12 — mosquito life cycle and control methods
- VisionR · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 — 5 virtual reality headsets and two immersive films, "Marin des glaces" with Matthieu Tordeur and "Noir de carbone" with Heïdi Sevestre and Matthieu Tordeur
- L’Ort de Marie Plume · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · Saturday 12 — natural creations using aromatic plants and spices, herbal tea tasting
- Miraceti · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Saturday 12 — Mediterranean cetaceans, their anatomy, and the threats they face
- MIA – Swifts from here and elsewhere · Place du 8 Mai 1945 · September 12 — protected species living in buildings and the decline of swifts
- Océan Academy · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Sunday 13 — marine world awareness for young people
- Gaïarta · Place du Berceau du Cinéma · Sunday 13 — biomimicry
Expedition Boats
Two boats are moored at the Bérouard basin in the marina, near the Eden: the schooner Expédition 7e Continent and the sailboat Jonathan III. Activities are organized on board and on the dock.
Exhibitions and off-site events
- Seven exhibitions at the Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus and in the Eden courtyard, dedicated to oceans, space, meteorites, and underwater exploration
- About fifteen activities and workshops, plus immersive virtual reality experiences
- Lumexplore "off-site" at the Simone-Veil media library, from Tuesday, September 1 to Saturday, September 12, 2026
Awards
Thirteen films are in competition and seven are screened out of competition. The awards announced by the organizer:
- Lumexplore Grand Prix, presented by the IRIS Foundation — €3,000 grant
- Best Human Adventure Film, presented by the François-Bel Foundation — €2,500 grant
- Best Science and Environment Expedition Film, presented by the President of the French Explorers Society
- Best Scientific Research Film, presented by CNES
- Best Technical Quality for Image and Sound, Eden Cinema Prize
- Audience Award, presented by the City of La Ciotat
- Jury's Choice Award, if applicable
The SEF-IRIS "Exploration and Biodiversity" grant, worth €100,000, funds an expedition project and is awarded during the festival.
Prices Lumexplore 2026
Day pass: €12
5-day pass: €35
Exhibitions and workshops: free
Tickets available late August 2026, on-site or online via the Eden Cinema (ticketingcine.fr).
Practical information — Lumexplore
Practical Information
Getting There
The festival's main venue is the Eden-Théâtre, located at 25 boulevard Georges Clemenceau, 13600 La Ciotat. Other venues (Esplanade du Berceau du Cinéma, Place du 8 Mai 1945, the harbor quays, Chapelle des Pénitents Bleus, and the Simone-Veil media library) are all within a few minutes' walk.
- By car: Take the A50 motorway, exit at La Ciotat. Parking is available in the city center.
- By train: Take the TER regional train from Marseille Saint-Charles station towards Toulon/Hyères; trains run approximately every 30 minutes. Connections are also available from Toulon.
- By bus: Take line 72 from the Aix-en-Provence bus station.
Schedule
Screenings, lectures, and meet-and-greets take place over five days in September. Exhibitions and workshops are open to the public during the day.
Tickets
- Single screening: 4 €
- Day pass: 12 €
- 5-day pass: 35 €
- Exhibitions and workshops: Free
- Expedition boat tours: Free
Tickets can be purchased on-site or via the Eden-Théâtre website.
Dining
A refreshment bar is set up in the courtyard of the Eden-Théâtre. There are also many restaurants along the Croisette and the harbor.
Contact
Association Les Lumières de l’Exploration — 04 88 42 17 60 — [email protected] — lumexplore.fr
Scientific exploration on the big screen
Lumexplore is a unique festival dedicated entirely to scientific and environmental exploration film. Every year in September, for five days, the Eden-Théâtre in La Ciotat — the world's oldest cinema still in operation — transforms into a hub for discovery and adventure. The festival showcases documentary films focused on recent scientific expeditions and research, covering fields as diverse as oceanography, geography, the environment, archaeology, speleology, space exploration, and the history of our planet.
The Société des Explorateurs Français behind the festival
Lumexplore was created in 2016 by the association Les Lumières de l'Exploration, in partnership with the Société des Explorateurs Français. The festival was born from a desire to introduce the general public to the scientific and technological innovations driven by contemporary expeditions, fostering knowledge sharing and raising awareness of environmental issues. The IRIS Foundation and the City of La Ciotat are among the festival's main partners.
Screenings, conferences, and meetings
Each edition's program includes film screenings in competition and out of competition, conferences led by scientists and explorers, exhibitions, and free workshops. Festival-goers can also visit exploration vessels (by reservation) and meet the crews. The films awarded at the festival are subsequently presented in prestigious venues in Paris, extending the event's reach.
Lumexplore Junior: the explorers of tomorrow
The festival places a special emphasis on youth with the Lumexplore Junior program, a documentary film competition for middle and high school students (grades 6 to 12). Supported by IFREMER, this program encourages young people to engage with science, exploration, and filmmaking, nurturing the explorers and storytellers of the future.
The Eden-Théâtre, a place of memory and discovery
The choice of the Eden-Théâtre as the festival venue is significant. This historic cinema, where the Lumière brothers held their first screenings in 1895, embodies the link between world exploration and image capture. Lumexplore continues this tradition by projecting images of contemporary expeditions on the same screen, creating a bridge between cinema pioneers and today's explorers.
Where does it take place — Lumexplore
Lumexplore in brief
Other festivals near La Ciotat
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