The history of film spans over 100 years from the late 19th century to today. Early films were shown as novelties in the 1890s but became one of the most important forms of communication and entertainment in the 20th century. While several people contributed innovations, Louis Lumiere is often credited with inventing the first motion picture camera, the Cinematographe, in 1895 which could both film and project movies. Silent films without synchronized sound were the standard until the 1920s.