Media contact Lisa Frank, 404-255-8567, lisafrank@frankrelations.com Mais oui! French-speakers invite Atlantans to 13th Francophonie Festival March 17–31 Comedy, Cartoonists, Cinema and Cajun music add levity to the line-up February 16, 2012 – Few Americans realize that French is spoken by 200 million people in 56 countries. Every March, francophones – as French-speakers call themselves – unite around the world to celebrate the diverse cultures worldwide that share the same language. Atlanta’s Francophonie Festival 2012, now in its 13th year, offers free and ticketed cultural events March 17–31 in Midtown, Buckhead and downtown. This year’s highlights include internationally known political cartoonist Plantu, French comedians, films from Belgium, Quebec and Switzerland, a Cajun music concert and a gourmet brunch for families. For details, parking and tickets, visit francophonieatlanta.org Schedule of Events Francophonie Festival 2012 Storytelling with Muriel Bloch of France Saturday, March 17 at 3:00 pm - FREE Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza level in Midtown Muriel Bloch has been telling tales since 1979, often accompanied by musicians. Many of her stories are set in Paris, weaving together memories, vivid sights and sounds of that rich urban setting. Refreshments will be served after the show. Theater and comedy from Théâtre du Rêve Wednesday, March 21 at 8:00 pm - FREE Alliance Theater, Woodruff Arts Center, 1280 Peachtree Street in Midtown The country’s only French-speaking theater company, Théâtre du Rêve of Atlanta performs scenes from the play The Women Above joined by actors from Chicago and Quebec. Led by guest director Olivier Kemeid from Quebec, insights into the artistic process will be shared. French comedians will also perform. A reception to meet the artists follows at Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza Level. Night at the Museum - Two films, wine tasting and viewing of Picasso to Warhol Thursday, March 22 from 4:00 to 10:00 pm - $15 for exhibition, wine tasting and films; $9 for exhibition and films only; FREE for films only High Museum of Art, Hill Auditorium and the galleries, 1280 Peachtree Street in Midtown At 4:00 pm, the evening begins with a viewing of Picasso to Warhol on loan from the Museum of Modern Art. At 5:30 pm, a wine tasting is offered for wine lovers. At 6:00 pm, the film The Mystery of Picasso (1956) brings Picasso’s art to life. A transparent “canvas” gives an unobstructed view of the genius at work as the camera rolls. Starting with a single brush stroke, he progresses to more complex paintings that take shape right before your eyes. At 8:00 pm, a documentary from Belgium Katanga Business is a political economic thriller set in the Republic of Congo. Director Thierry Michel explores billion-dollar deals to mine cobalt, tungsten and copper, fueled by the demand to keep the world’s mobile phones charged. A dynamic cast of characters – Belgian industrialists, Chinese and Canadian investors, the Congolese government and thousands of local “diggers” desperate for work – exemplify the new strategic alliances in Africa today. View trailer here. French Immersion Day for high school students and teachers Saturday, March 24 from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm - $10 Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza level in Midtown Two simultaneous all-day workshops are offered - one for high school French students; the other for French teachers. Students will learn about diverse French speaking countries around the world through role play, games and skits, competing for prizes. French journalist Jean-Michel Djian from the newspaper Le Monde de l'Education will lead discussion of his film Rêver le français about the French language and its future. Theater director Olivier Kemeid from Quebec offers ways to incorporate live theater into French and drama classes. Lunch is provided. Registration is required by emailing education@afatl.com. Free validated parking. Film from Quebec – 1981, a comedy Saturday, March 24 at 7:00 pm – FREE Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza level in Midtown In this coming of age comedy, Canadian director Ricardo Trogi recalls life-changing events when his family moved to a new neighborhood when he was 11 years old. View trailer here. A reception will follow. Free validated parking in Colony Square lot. Francophonie Friendship Brunch Sunday, March 25 from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm - $45 for adults; $21 for children ages 12 to 16; FREE for children 11 and younger St. Regis Hotel, 88 West Paces Ferry Road in Buckhead Atlanta’s francophone community gathers for an elegant gourmet brunch buffet with live jazz and world music by local musicians. Children are welcome and will enjoy the exquisitely animated film Le Voyage Extraordinaire du Samy from Belgium. An optimistic sea turtle, hatched in 1959, spends 50 years traveling the world as it is affected by climate change. View trailer here. Brunch reservations are required and can be pre-paid at francophonieatlanta.org. Cartooning workshop with Plantu and other French-speaking cartoonists Thursday, March 29 at 3:00 pm – FREE Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza level in Midtown In conjunction with Cartooning for Peace, an international gathering of professional cartoonists from around the world launched by former UN secretary general Kofi Annan and Plantu, internationally known cartoonist with Le Monde, several French-speaking cartoonists will lead a workshop including Plantu of France, Ali Dilem of Algeria, Michel Kichka of Israel and Jerry Boursiquot of Haiti. Free validated parking in Colony Square lot. Film from Switzerland – La Petite Chambre Friday, March 30 at 7:00 pm – FREE Alliance Française, 1197 Peachtree Street, Colony Square, Plaza level in Midtown La Petite Chambre is a story that touches the heart. While Edmond’s heart is no longer strong, it still beats with an independence that fights living in a retirement home, while at the same time refusing help from Rose, his caregiver. She ultimately prevails in earning his trust, as she also knows the pain a heart endures when forced to accept the unacceptable. A wine reception follows. Free validated parking in Colony Square lot. Francophonie Festival Finale - Back to the Bayou: New Voices in Cajun music Saturday, March 31 at 8:00 pm – Tickets: $37 to $61 - 15% discount with the code “francophonie” Rialto Center for the Arts, 80 Forsyth Street in downtown Atlanta Deeply rooted in the francophone soil of Louisiana, Grammy nominated Creole sensation Cedric Watson and his band Bijou Creole join forces with a group of up-and-coming young musicians called Feufollet (which translates as crazy fire). They push boldly into unexplored yet utterly natural styles of the Cajun experience. One of the brightest young talents to emerge in Cajun music in years, Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of unlimited potential. His melodies speak in the universal language of sheer joy, raucous exuberance and profound longing. A Francophonie Festival reception follows the performance. To reserve tickets, click here or call the Rialto box office at 404-413-9849. Mention the code “francophonie” for a 15% discount. In Georgia, more than 46,000 students study French, while investments from francophone countries here provide thousands of jobs. Atlanta’s Francophonie Festival is organized by the Atlanta Francophonie Committee, a multi-cultural collaboration between the Consulates of Belgium, Canada, France and Switzerland, the Québec Delegation in Atlanta, the American Association of Teachers of French in Georgia, Alliance Française of Atlanta, the French American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta-Accueil, Ecole du Samedi and Théâtre du Rêve. In the Americas, French is one of Canada’s two official languages and the main language in Québec. It is also spoken in French Guiana, Louisiana and the Caribbean. In Europe, it is spoken in many countries such as France, Belgium and Switzerland, as well as in Africa and the Arab world. # # # For photographs and interviews, please contact Lisa Frank at 404-255-8567 or lisafrank@frankrelations.com