FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Alliance Française de Washington, MICA's Illustration and Experimental Animation Departments present
From April 16 to 24, 2010
Festival Imagé
French Comics and Animation Festival
Baltimore-Washington DC (USA)
The Alliance Française de Washington and The Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) are inaugurating their partnership with the Festival Imagé, first festival in the USA, which promotes the new generation of French artists working in comics and animated films.
From April 16 to 24, meetings, author-led workshops, and screenings of animated films will stress the similarities and differences which exist in "bande dessinée" and animated film between both sides of the Atlantic.
Five comics artists, four comic book publishers from both France and the US, as well as various comics connoisseurs and a series of events prepared by DC-based comics artists and students of MICA – America's oldest art school– will help animate this exceptional 10-day festival dedicated to sequential art.
The festival will engage a wide audience of amateurs, children, art students, Francophiles, and comic's aficionados of the "9ème Art" through the creativity and vitality of this made-in-France artistic format where more than 5000 titles are published each year.
Having been involved in the Festival Imagé since its inception, MICA's animation students will also have the chance to introduce their view of French culture through their own animated shorts, to be shown at two successive screenings.
During these two consecutive days, animated films from both MICA students and students from one of the most famous French schools, SUPINFOCOM, will be showcased in Baltimore and Washington.
A French author will also be visiting one of DC's underprivileged elementary schools through the Alliance Française's Outreach Program to share his passion with children.
On their side, students from MICA and local illustrators will meet French and US publishers and present their work through exhibitions during the professional forum.
This forum will offer a chance to create artistic ties and professional opportunities to be published in the USA but also in France.
Last but not least, French and American illustrators will launch a creative dialogue during the entire Festival Imagé with an interactive and collective production to be revealed during the festival's closing party.
Prepare to be overwhelmed by a new generation of talented and productive artists who interpret the daily complexities of modern society through an incredible variety of styles and artistic universes.
"Strike your imagination!"
Festival Imagé Program
-Friday April 16 at MICA:
7:30 pm: Opening reception
8 pm: Panel discussion with Nicolas Nemiri, Antoine Dodé, Alain Corbel, and Laurence Arcadias. Moderated by José Villarrubia.
Beginning of the contest
At MICA/ Free
-Saturday April 17 at AFDC, 2 pm
Workshop with Antoine Dodé
At the Alliance Française/ Free
-Monday April 19 at MICA, 8 pm
Lecture by José Villarrubia: "Colors in Comics"
At MICA/ Free
-Tuesday April 20 at AFDC, 6:30 pm
Opening reception of the exhibition Les Trois Ombres by Cyril Pedrosa
Workshop with Domitille Collardey
http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html
At the Alliance Française/ Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
-Wednesday April 21st at MICA, 7 pm
Presentation: Laurence Arcadias
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At MICA/ Free
-Thursday April 22nd at Letelier Theater, 7 pm
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC
Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
-Friday April 23rd at AFDC, 6:30 pm
Lecture by Pascal Fioretto: "Humor in comics"
At the Alliance Française/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission: $8
-Saturday April 24th at MICA:
2:00 Alain Corbel presents his students work:
Exhibition "Gargantua"
2:30 pm: Workshop with Cyril Pedrosa http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html
4 pm: Professional Forum with publishers from France and the US
Contest Results
6:30 pm: Closing Party
At MICA/ Free
Artists and speakers
Antoine Dodé was born in Amiens and lived there until he moved to Belgium to study illustration at the Saint Luc School of Art. He is best known in the French and Belgian market for his character Armelle, who has been featured in two graphic novels published under Carabas Revolution (Semic): "Armelle and the Bird" and "Armelle and My Uncle."
José Villarrubia was born in Madrid, Spain, but is a long time Baltimore resident. A professor of the Illustration Department at MICA, José is best known for his coloring work in comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies and for his collaborations with author Alan Moore.
Domitille Collardey (born 1981) is best known for founding the Chicou-Chicou comics collective with Aude Picault. She currently lives in Paris and Brooklyn, NY. Domitille graduated from les Arts Decoratifs de Paris in 2004.
She is currently working on an adaptation of Jean Teulé's novel "The Suicide Shop" for French publisher Delcourt, with Olivier Ka.
She also works for various press publications, such as Technikart, Beaux Arts Magazine, and Double.
http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html
Pascal Fioretto Although he was a math whiz early on, having majored in chemistry at the Ecole normale supérieure of Chemistry, he also displayed a strong interest in literature and writing, which he finally gave in to. Catching the attention of cartoonist Marcel Gotlib, Fioretto then lent his wit to Fluide Glacial, a French monthly publication appealing to any and all lovers of truly tasteless jokes and irreverent humor.
Cyril Pedrosa began his career in animation, working on the Disney films "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules." He has since become a rising star in a new kind of graphic storytelling, combining the influences of animation and the literary traditions of Borges, Garcia Marquez, and Tolkien to create a unique visual signature.
http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html
Nicolas Nemiri is a French comics author and illustrator who has always been very much inspired by Japanese manga. His artistic style is unique in that it blends manga with French esthetics. Nicolas is actually working on the 3rd album of his series "Je suis morte" created with writer Jean-David Morvan, a sci-fi story where teenagers are dealing with life, death and eternity.
Alain Corbel. With comic creator Eric Lambe, he produced Mokka and Pelure Amere, two modern comic strip magazines that influenced many authors and publishers in France and Belgium like Amok, Freon and La Cinquieme Couche. He works as an illustrator, comic strip artist, and storywriter. He is also teacher at MICA, Illustration Department. He did many books published in France and Portugal. He has a passion for Africa where he organizes regularly with the Portuguese NGO ACEP illustration/writing workshops. http://www.alaincorbel.in-netz.com/ http://obaraleixo.blogspot.com/
Laurence Arcadias teaches animation at MICA and is the Co- chair of the Animation department.
She started her career in Paris as an illustrator and animator. She directed a TV show: "Alex", best animated TV series in Annecy festival and spent 3 years as Animator in Residence at Apple. She also worked for several companies such as hotwired, Kodak, Leapfrog…Her films have been screened internationally.
Located in the north of France, SUPINFOCOM is a unique school, made of passionate people for passionate students, armed with an educational experience and managed by a united team, a demanding school, which innovates, supports the students towards their professional future by developing their artistic sensitivity, and opens unclear ways. After 20 years of existence and 1246 graduates, SUPINFOCOM is still filled with the enthusiasm of pioneers and enriched with collective experience. http://www.supinfocom.org/
With the support of the Maryland Institute College of Art's Office of Academic Services, the office of Research and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty.
Please include Festival Imagé, from April 16 to 24 in your cultural events listing. Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you want to attend or cover this event.
WHAT: Festival Imagé French Comics and Animation Festival
WHEN: From April 16 to 24, 2010
WHERE: At the Alliance Française 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
MICA 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21217
And Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW Upper Courtyard Washington DC 20007
COST: All of the events are free for MICA students and Alliance Française members
Events at the Alliance Française and Letelier Theater: free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
Information/reservation: Alliance Française 202-234-7911 - MICA 410-225-2300
The Alliance Française is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. Founded in 1949, the Alliance Française de Washington offers French classes for all levels, numerous cultural events throughout the year, and a multi-media library open to all members. For more information visit www.francedc.org
You can download our press kit here: http://www.francedc.org/en/Article.aspx?id=460
L'Alliance Française de Washington is on Facebook! Join our group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756
We are also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/FranceDC
Sonia Lahcene
Cultural Assistant
_______________________________________
Alliance Française de Washington
2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 234-7911 ext 16
fax: (202) 234-0125
www.francedc.org
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