Chicago: Festival de la Francophonie

Our friends at the Alliance Française de Chicago invite you to their Festival de la Francophonie. In the month of March, celebrate the cultural blessing that is francophonie, the worldwide community of French speakers. Four nights will celebrate films and authors of France, Switzerland, Belgium and Canada/Quebec. The best part – admission is gratuit for all events following the Kick-Off Soirée!

Location
Alliance Française de Chicago
54 W. Chicago Ave. Entrance (all events)
(map it)
www.af-chicago.org
(312) 337-1070

Soirée Commune / Kick Off Soirée
Music, food, raffle, dance…
Friday, March 5
6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Adults $15, Children $5
From the site: “Ma patrie, c’est la langue française,” said Albert Camus — “My country is the French language.” The Algerian-born author understood that all French-speakers, whatever their place of birth, are united in what is called la francophonie. (more…)

Soirée FRANCE
With best-selling author Delphine de Vigan! In French.
Monday, March 8
6:30 p.m.
FREE Admission
From the site: On the International Women’s Day, the Cultural Services of the French Consulate in Chicago invite you to come and spend an evening with Delphine de Vigan, short-listed for the 2009 prix Goncourt and best selling author of No et moi, an intense, brilliant novel about home and homelessness. Translated in 20 languages and winner of Le Prix des Libraires, No et moi is currently being made into a movie. (more… plus information and registration)

Soirée SUISSE
Pas de Panique (2006), a film by Denis Rabaglia, in French, German with
English subtitles.
Thursday, March 11
6:30 p.m.
FREE Admission
From the site: To celebrate the Festival de la francophonie, Switzerland presents Pas de panique, or Do Not Panic, a seriocomedy about anxieties and fear of responsibilities and a 2006 film by Swiss director Denis Rabaglia. A small wine and cheese reception will be offered prior to the program. (more… plus information and registration)

Soirée BELGIQUE
Congo River (2006), a documentary by Thierry Michel, in French with English subtitles.
Tuesday, March 18
6:15 p.m.
FREE Admission
From the site: Join us for a celebration of Belgium with a free viewing of the documentary Congo River, Au-delà des ténèbres. A lecture will complement the program. (more… plus information and registration)

Soirée CANADA et QUÉBEC
Maman est chez le coiffeur (2008), a film by Lea Pool, in French with English subtitles.
Wednesday, March 24
6:30 p.m.
FREE Admission
From the site: Come and celebrate the culture of Canada and Quebec with the free viewing of Mommy’s At the Hairdresser’s, a 2008 coming-of-age movie that embraces a genre Quebec directors have made their own, from the art-house Mon Oncle Antoine (1971) by Claude Jutra to the inoubliable Léolo (1992) by Jean-Pierre Lauzon, and the much acclaimed J’ai tué ma mère (2009), by young director Xavier Dolan. (more… plus information and registration)