Exhibition - My Name is Orson Welles: A Tribute to a Cinematic Genius

By Sabine, Paris, Cinematheque, 08 october 2025

My Name is Orson Welles: 40 years after his death on October 10, 1984, the french Cinémathèque is offering an impressive retrospective dedicated to one of the most fascinating artists of the 20th century: a filmmaker, actor, theater director, radio host, and illustrator. Orson Welles was the greatest experimental filmmaker, with twelve films and numerous unfinished projects. The exhibition reveals both the man and his work, in all its richness and contradictions. From October 8, 2025, to January 11, 2026, this exhibition at the Cinémathèque française in Paris is the event of the fall. We had the chance to visit this exhibition with the director of the Cinémathèque, Frédéric Bonnaud, as our guide.

The exhibition is spread across five thematic sections that combine chronology, aesthetics, and the director's greatest obsessions. It brings together nearly 400 works, including some forty of Welles's personal drawings and sculptures. In addition, there are photographs, archives, installations, audiovisual excerpts, storyboards, and numerous rare documents. In addition to film, the exhibition pays tribute to Welles' work in theater, but also in the visual arts.

The first part (1915-1939) introduces us to the child prodigy, cartoonist, actor, and poet at only 10 years old. Having become an actor-director, he became a figure in New York theater by staging Shakespeare's plays in an innovative way. In 1936, he staged Macbeth with black actors in Harlem. He caused panic with his radio adaptation of The War of the Worlds, with some listeners believing that Martians were landing in New Jersey.

The masterpiece Citizen Kane (1941) is prominently featured in the exhibition, with storyboards, set photos, and interactive installations highlighting its innovations: depth of field, non-linear editing, and unconventional storytelling. According to François Truffaut, it is the movie that inspired the greatest number of filmmakers.

Between 1942 and 1947, Orson Welles made four more American films: The Magnificent Ambersons, The Criminal, The Lady from Shanghai with Rita Hayworth, and Macbeth. Orson Welles didn't want his films to be entertaining. He wanted them to be an experience for the audience. But the studios didn't understand his films. The Magnificent Ambersons was re-edited by RKO. The troubles began. He went into exile in Europe. In 1957, thanks to Charlton Heston, he made Touch of Evil, in which he denounced the abuse of police power, everyday racism, and rampant fascism. It was Welles's last Hollywood masterpiece. He would never work for a studio again: he was 42 years old.

The exhibition then moves on to his adaptations of Shakespeare, notably Falstaff and Othello. It also features lesser-known or unfinished works: Don Quixote, The Deep, F for Fakes. Often reduced to Citizen Kane, Welles is shown here in his many dimensions. The exhibition allows us to go beyond clichés. The drawings, sculptures, unfinished projects, and alternative versions offer a glimpse into what we don't always see: the failures and unfulfilled dreams that are part of the artist.

My Name is Orson Welles is much more than just another retrospective; it's an invitation to rediscover a genius in all his dimensions, to revisit his successes, his failures, his ideas, his struggles. Whether you're a seasoned film buff or someone curious about art and entertainment, this exhibition offers a rare opportunity to immerse yourself in the rich world of Orson Welles.

You can view our photos on our Flickr page

Practical Information
Location: Cinémathèque Française, 51 rue de Bercy, Paris (12th arrondissement)
Dates: From October 8, 2025 to January 11, 2026.
Hours: Weekdays from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. (closed Tuesdays), weekends and school holidays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Special closing on December 25.
Prices: Full price €14, Reduced price (18-25 years old, etc.) €11
Reservations strongly recommended

Photos : Sabine Chevrier / Mulderville