Alliance Française de Washington

Prepare to be surprised (from April 16th through April 25th)

The Alliance Française has been sharing short-film screenings with our community in the Washington area, but seldom have they brought animated films to those creativity-hungry screens. But the time has finally come, and Festival Imagé promises to be a one-of-a-kind showcase of French comics and animated films.

Whether you are an experienced comic artist or an imaginative soul who is unfamiliar with this genre, Festival Imagé will have something to spark your interest. The opening reception will be held today at 7:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion moderated by José Villarrubia and featuring Nicolas Nemiri, Antoine Dodé, Alain Corbel, and Laurence Arcadias. These prominent illustrators will lead a discussion about how and why French comics and animation are so unique.

Illustration by Nicolas Nemiri

Tonight’s talk only marks the start of Festival Imaginé! A week of animated-film screenings, author-led workshops, eye-opening exhibitions, and mind-revealing lectures will be held at various locations in the metropolitan area of Washington. For a complete schedule of events and the artists’ short bios, visit our AF website.

The Alliance Française de Washington has partnered with The Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) to bring the first U.S. edition of Festival Imagé to us. In this way, MICA’s animation students will also be given the chance to show their own animated films, together with the animated film production of SUPINFOCOM, a renowned design institute in the north of France.

If you are tired of the conventional, go ahead and attend any event at the Festival Imagé of 2010. The only requisite: come prepared to be surprised.

Illustration by Alain Corbel