Launched in 2025 as an initiative of long-time FIPRESCI supporter Thierry Frémaux—Director of the Institut Lumière, the Lumière Film Festival, and the Cannes Film Festival—the FIPRESCI Legacy Award is a special distinction that turns the critical gaze toward cinema’s rich past. The award was created to honor restored films, institutions, and individuals whose work has played a decisive role in shaping the art of filmmaking and the study of cinema. While the traditional FIPRESCI Prize highlights contemporary voices and emerging visions, the Legacy Award acknowledges enduring contributions that continue to inform and inspire film culture.
The inaugural FIPRESCI Legacy Award was presented on October 13, 2025, during the 17th edition of the Festival Lumière in Lyon. The first recipient was Alain Resnais’ landmark film L’Amour à mort (Love Unto Death, 1984), recognized for its lasting artistic significance and the importance of its restoration. The award was accepted by Sabine Azéma and Pierre Arditi, long-time collaborators of Resnais and exceptional artists whose performances played a vital role in the director’s body of work.