My name is Orson Welles: the major exhibition on the cinematic genius unveiled at the Cinémathèque

The Cinémathèque française is organizing a major exhibition to pay tribute to Orson Welles, a key actor, director and producer of 20th-century cinema. Discover "My name is Orson Welles" from October 8, 2025 to January 11, 2026.

He was one of the greatest figures of twentieth-century cinema : a respected actor, producer and successful screenwriter... His films became classics. From silent films to talkies, from black and white to color, he lived through the great hours of the 7th art. And let's not forget his historic years in the world of radio, which have left a lasting impression on audiences... Orson Welles is a giant of the film world.

To honor this artist, and to mark the 40th anniversary of his death, the Cinémathèque française is organizing a major retrospective exhibition on Orson Welles, entitled My name is Orson Welles. From October 8, 2025 to January 11, 2026, the Parisian museum will be offering an in-depth look at the career and work of this sacred monster.

Orson Welles made his first feature film at the age of just 25. And what a film it was. Citizen Kane (1941) immediately became a classic and a worldwide reference. The fledgling director broke new ground, renewing techniques and storytelling. Throughout his career, the artist surprised, seeking to impose his vision of cinema, a vision sometimes misunderstood by his colleagues. Both adored and reviled, Orson Welles leaves no one indifferent.

The Cinémathèque offers a chronological tour of Welles' work, featuring archives, photographs, drawings, film posters, installations, video excerpts and more. In all, some 400 works are brought together to create a unique portrait of this complex artist. Among them are some forty drawings and sculptures created by Orson Welles himself, an artist through and through.

Orson Welles was regarded from childhood as a unique creative genius. An eternal rebel, he refused to follow the conventional, well-trodden path and instead followed his own voice. His self-confidence and a touch of madness quickly opened many doors for him, not least those of the theater, where he enjoyed his first successes. It was with the same insolent genius that he entered the world of cinema. With Citizen Kane, Orson Welles broke all codes and set new standards. Unfortunately, his success brought him many enemies, who prevented him from having the brilliant career to which he had been destined.

TheCinémathèque's exhibition evokes Welles' successes and failures, his aborted projects and the important people in his life. We discover a committed man, too far ahead of his time. A visionary in love with his art, who was too often restrained.

This exhibition is an interesting way to rediscover this great filmmaker. However, it is advisable to be already familiar with his work in order to better appreciate this tour, which should especially delight convinced cinephiles.