Showlight – A Unique Event in the Lighting Calendar
Julie Harper • August 16, 2019
Showlight is a unique colloquium held every four years in a different location.
Showlight is a unique colloquium that is held every four years in a different location. Showlight 2021 will take place between 22-25 May 2021 in beautiful Fontainebleau, near Paris, France at the town’s picturesque Théâtre Municipal.
Showlight’s main focus is its eclectic Papers Schedule which aims to be both fun and informative. A strong emphasis is also placed on networking amongst those who love lighting in all its forms. It is one of the few international events organised specifically for lighting professionals by lighting professionals across the performance, television, film, architectural and event worlds. All of the organisers give their time freely and voluntarily to ensure an event that delivers a unique opportunity for lighting people of all disciplines and levels of expertise to mix and exchange ideas and stories.
The general format is that everybody arrives in Fontainebleau on the Saturday evening and gathers for drinks at a welcome evening. The next morning starts bright and early on the Sunday as the conference begins, with speakers presenting 20-minute papers in groups of three, followed by a Q&A session at the end of each session. There is often a Panel Session which takes a closer look at the roles lighting practitioners play within our industry, or discusses pertinent topics in more depth.
Coffee, tea and lunch breaks are scheduled throughout the day, during which time, delegates can explore the exhibition and talk to the manufacturers who have stands there. The exhibition is an invaluable part of Showlight with around 40 exhibitors lending their support to the event and benefiting from unrivalled access to designers, established and fledgling, and a whole raft of other industry professionals, in a relaxed and unpressured environment. All stands are the same size shell scheme so everyone is on an even footing, regardless of the size of the company! And, uniquely, the exhibition closes while the papers are being given, so the exhibitors can also listen to and enjoy the presentations.
Each of the exhibitors sponsors a lighting student for the duration of the show, who helps on the stand and, most importantly, has the opportunity to network with industry professionals. Most exhibitors also host company dinners on the Sunday evening so every Showlight delegate that chooses to partake will be taken to one of Fontainebleau’s many excellent restaurants in good company!
The conference continues on Monday morning, while the afternoon is given over to visits to places of local interest. Delegates can choose which trips to go on (they are allocated on a first come, first served basis!) and a full list of these visits will be announced closer to the date.
The day ends with the legendary Conference Dinner – which is held in a secret location which will not be disclosed until the day!
The final day, Tuesday, sees another full day of papers presentations before everybody departs (or spends a few extra days in Fontainebleau if they choose!) in the evening.
Finally, Showlight is a not-for-profit event organised entirely by volunteers, and we wouldn’t be able to do it without the support of our sponsors. This year’s Headline Sponsor is Robert Juliat, with other sponsors as follows: Platinum Sponsor Ayrton, Gold sponsors Eyetidy and SFL Group, Silver sponsors White Light, and Bronze sponsor PRG, alongside media supporters, LSI.
For more information about Showlight visit the newly launched website www.showlight.org
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Website: www.showlight.org
Facebook: /showlightevent
Twitter: @Showlight2021
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Robert Juliat is very proud to welcome Showlight 2025 to France for the very first time in its history as it opens its doors in Dijon from 19-22 May. This global quadrennial networking event for lighting professionals is itinerant by nature, choosing a new country and a new venue at each outing. France has a rich tradition in the arts and lighting which Robert Juliat is thrilled to showcase on an international stage. “As a company that has been at the heart of the lighting industry for over a century, Robert Juliat is honoured to be the Headline Sponsor of Showlight 2025,” says Robert Juliat’s 3rd generation managing director, François Juliat. “Bringing this prestigious event to France, the home of our heritage, is a moment of immense pride for us. For over 100 years, Robert Juliat has been synonymous with excellence in lighting, and sponsoring Showlight 2025 is a natural extension of our commitment to supporting the next generation of lighting professionals and technologies." Showlight is more than just a conference; it is a unique gathering where ideas, creativity, and passion for lighting come together. Its eclectic programme of presentations, delivered by specialists across multiple lighting disciplines, is augmented by a supporting exhibition, ample networking opportunities and superb dinner locations, all in a convivial and informal atmosphere. It offers unprecedented opportunities for meeting old friends and colleagues, and making new connections. "Showlight is renowned for bringing together the brightest minds in the lighting industry, and we are delighted to contribute to this exchange of knowledge and experience,” continues François Juliat. “As a company, we have always been committed to fostering innovation and collaboration, and we are thrilled to support an event that reflects these values. Hosting Showlight 2025 in Dijon is an opportunity to celebrate the past, present, and future of lighting in a truly inspiring setting, and to ensure the future of lighting continues to shine even brighter." “Robert Juliat has steadfastly maintained its support of Showlight since it originally stepped forward to sponsor Showlight back in 2021,” states Jim Tetlow, Chairman of Showlight 2025. “They have stayed with us faithfully since then, sponsoring our interim Virtual Showlight in May 2023, and now hosting the first in-person event since 2017. We are very grateful to them and to all our generous sponsors which have made Showlight 2025 possible. We are so excited to bring you a splendid line up of speakers, in a beautiful city, which also happens to be a centre of gastronomy. Showlight 2025 is an event you do not want to miss!” Tickets for Showlight are now nearly at capacity with only a few remaining. After the last Full Delegate tickets are sold, there may be a limited number of Papers & Workshops Only available at a discounted rate. These will allow access to the conference but not the Company and Conference dinners or Welcome Reception. View your remaining ticket options on the Showlight website at www.showlight.org or contact us on info@showlight.org We look forward to welcoming you to Showlight 2025!
Showlight 2025 is using Whova to connect all attendees for maximum networking at this year’s event. Whova is an easy-to-use app that enables Showlight 2025 delegates to set their personal profile, discover who is attending, connect with other delegates and begin networking ahead of the event. It also gives access to the full programme of events, information on the speakers and their topics, and the exhibitors and sponsors taking part. You can even keep up to date with developments during Showlight, sign up for workshops or see who you will be dining with at the Company Dinners! You must be signed up to attend Showlight and have the Whova App downloaded to access these benefits. To access the Whova App and your profile within it, please follow these steps: Step 1: Download the Whova app on your phone. A handy link is available on the Showlight website www.showlight.org Step 2: Search for Showlight in ‘Find Event’ and then sign in using your email, as this is your access for the event Step 3: Update your personal profile Step 4: Start using! We recommend doing a ‘Break the Ice’ question to introduce yourself. You can: view the programme, speakers, exhibitors and other delegates; initiate or join in discussion topics; message people and companies; arrange meet ups, all in the run up to the event. The excitement starts now! Access the Showlight Event on Whova today and start connecting with people.
The fantastic line up for Showlight 2025’s speakers is now complete. We are excited to bring you over 30 speakers covering lighting topics from every discipline and every corner of the globe. Here’s the last group of speakers who’ll be coming to the Parc des Expositions in a couple of weeks. There’s something for everyone, so book your ticket now and join us in glorious Dijon! Light & Laser for New Year’s Eve at Burj Khalifa Founder of Concept K, Aldo Fayard has 30 years of global experience working on live tours, large scale events, cinema and permanent installations. He will give us the low-down on his stunning installation for the New Year’s Eve show in Dubai Downtown which encompassed a combination of several permanent technologies mixed with a temporary installation of moving lights and lasers. Rhythm is a Dancer – So is Light! Light artist and multi award-winning lighting designer, Lucy Carter , has worked extensively in theatre, ballet, dance, musical theatre and opera, as well as light installations in galleries, site specific venues and exhibitions. As she takes us through her design processes and developments, Lucy will explain how she sees light as another dancer or performer in the productions she lights. How to reimagine a night-time show at Disneyland Paris Creative director, TONY and double Olivier award-winning lighting designer, Tim Lutkin , and Disneyland show lighting designer, Adrien Mourey , have recently opened Disney Tales of Magic at Disneyland Paris. They will demonstrate how their design breathes new life into the storytelling across the unique setting of Sleeping Beauty’s castle, without making technology omnipresent. 1950s Period Lighting in a TV Series Winner of three Emmy Awards and two ASC Awards for his work on Amazon Prime’s The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel , David Mullen will explore when to use – and when not to use - period-correct lighting for a show set in the 1950s. Illuminating Excellence: Lighting at the 2024 Olympic Games Olympic Broadcasting Services’ lighting lead, Alba Abad Carretero , and senior broadcast lighting head project manager for the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, Anne Serieges , will delve into the intricate planning and execution of broadcast and show lighting for the Olympic Games Paris 2024 that not only met the rigorous demands of high-paced sports broadcasting but also enhanced the architectural beauty of Paris’s historic Grand Palais. The Challenges of Complicated Shots Internationally renowned and multi award-winning French cinematographer, Thierry Arbogast , has worked with top film directors including Luc Besson, Brian De Palma, Jean-Paul Rappeneau and Emir Kusturica. Using examples from internationally known films such as Leon , The Fifth Element and The Horseman on the Roof , Thierry will look at some of the challenges and difficulties involved in bringing stunning images to the big screen. A Life in Cinema with Peter Macdonald Peter Macdonald needs no introduction as his astonishing cinematic pedigree will attest. From his early days as camera operator on films directed by Sir Laurence Olivier, through his 25-year collaboration with cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth, to his progression to second unit director, cinematographer, director and producer, Peter has many stories to tell. He will close Showlight 2025 with memories and anecdotes from his life in cinema spanning over 70 years. Contributions will also come from John Dudley promoting The International Day of Light, Eric Wurtz talking about the synergy between the French Union of Lighting Designers, and the Union of Scenographers, and from lighting designer, cinematographer, senior product manager and author Ben Díaz . Language is no barrier New for Showlight 2025 is our simultaneous translation of the Papers and Q&A sessions across four languages. Delegates can choose to listen – and ask questions - in English, French, Italian and Spanish via the AI translation system, Interprefy. This instantly translates to both voice and text, which can be listened to on your headphones or read on your smartphone or iPad. (Please remember to bring your own earbuds/headsets!) Q&A sessions will also be translated on demand. Ticket holders to Showlight can request additional languages at time of purchase by contacting info@showlight.org . The last remaining tickets for Showlight can be purchased from the Showlight website at www.showlight.org . We look forward to seeing you at Showlight 2025!
