Celebrating the best of France in Sri Lanka

By Cassandra Mascarenhas

Encapsulating the best of Sri Lankan and French culture, the French Spring Festival in Sri Lanka will kick off this week, promising a host of activities and events rich in content and diverse in presentation, spanning over a month across the island. Organised by the Embassy of France, the Alliance Francaise de Kotte in Colombo and the General Delegation of Alliance Francaise in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, together with the Sri Lankan Ministry of Culture and Arts, the festival aims to revive the cultural exchanges between the two countries.

It has been held annually over the past 20 years throughout Asia, strengthening cultural co-operation between local and French artists sharing the same stage and working on common cultural projects. This year, the festival will feature 12 events in various artistic fields including music, dance, cinema, photography, street art and fashion as well as science, urban development and communication.

“I am delighted that the French Spring Festival in Sri Lanka is being held for the second time. We organised it initially last year to satisfy a wish expressed by many Sri Lankans from different parts of the country to see France promoting cultural activities in the country. Culture is part of the peace dividend that Sri Lanka deserves and we responded to this wish with great enthusiasm,” stated the Ambassador of France in Sri Lanka Christine Robichon at a press conference held earlier this week.  

She added: “Arts can create and strengthen links and friendships between people from different countries and cultures. Keeping with the spirit of Alliance Francaise, all events will be free of charge and open to the public.”

French festivals of this nature already exist in the capital cities of South Asian countries such as Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Phnom Penh and Manila. Held for the first time in June 2012, this year’s festival will include events that will be held in Kandy, Matara, Jaffna, Galle and Male in the Maldives.

The festival will kick off with a French-German singing competition which will be held at the University of Kelaniya, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the friendship treaty between Germany and France. On the following day, ‘Fete de la Musique’, an open stage concert featuring Paranoid Earthling, Stigmata, The Caravan Quartet (French gypsy jazz), EFIC, AFCO and many more artistes will take place at the BMICH.

The festival’s iconic logo has been designed by French street artist Da Cruz and as part of the festival, the artist will perform for an entire week from Monday, 24 June to Saturday, 29 June at the BMICH from 6 p.m. onwards creating murals in his colourful style, using simple shapes which show strong Latin American and African influences. During his final performance on Saturday, Sri Lankan fashion designer and artist Deneth will join him with a fashion show complementing his own art.

“I have taken his street art and converted it to textile inspired by hip hop and French culture to create a collection which will be showcased at the French Spring Festival,” she explained. Deneth has studied art and fashion in Paris and was therefore an obvious choice to be a part of the program – her quirky, colourful collection will definitely be worth checking out.

Hopping on the bandwagon, the Cinnamon Lakeside will also showcase a buffet featuring French cuisine from 1 to14 July. Executive Chef Martin Becquart revealed that the hotel has brought down a chef from Marseilles who will prepare a variety of delicious dishes that are popular in the south of France.

The Sri Lanka France Business Council of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Economic Service of the French Embassy in Colombo will host a symposium on ‘French Expertise in Urban Development’ on 4 July at the BMICH as part of the festival. “The Sri Lankan Government has placed priority on urban development throughout the country. The economic development of the country is growing which will attract rural people to cities and urban areas are already under pressure – urban development is a vital need,” noted Sri Lanka France Business Council President Dilipan Tyagarajah.

The symposium will feature a panel of French experts in the field who will explain what can be done in terms of transport, water, construction, urban planning and corporate finance.

On the final day of the festival, Kumar de Silva will launch his book ‘The Bonsoir Diaries’, a collection of revelations and anecdotes about the popular Sri Lankan television show. Also as part of the festival, despite the fact that it will be held on 22 and 23 August in Matara and Colombo respectively, is the book launch of ‘Ethnicity, Politics and Cinema in Sri Lanka’ by Vilasnee Tampoe Hautin, which will be followed by a conference on the same topic.

Pix by Sameera Wijesinghe