Who is known as the father of cinema?

The title of "father of cinema" is often attributed to Louis Lumière and Auguste Lumière due to their significant role in the development of early motion picture technology and filmmaking. In 1895, the Lumière brothers invented the Cinématographe, a device that could both project and record film, which presented the first public screenings of films, marking the commercial birth of cinema as we know it today. Their short films, such as "La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon" and "L'Arrivée d'un Train en Gare de La Ciotat," are celebrated for being among the first examples of narrative filmmaking, showcasing a new medium that captivated audiences.

While figures like Thomas Edison were instrumental in developing early film technologies, and George Méliès made significant contributions to storytelling through cinema with his imaginative and innovative films, it was the Lumière brothers who laid the foundational groundwork for the cinema industry. D.W. Griffith is also recognized for his advancements in narrative filmmaking and techniques, particularly concerning film editing and storytelling conventions he popularized. However, it is the Lumière brothers’ invention and first public exhibition that particularly establishes them as pivotal figures in the origins of cinema.