French Spring Festival from 4 June to 14 July

Niroshini Gunasekara

The much-anticipated multi-disciplinary French Spring Festival is back for the fourth consecutive time to celebrate aesthetic movements both local and French. 

Organised by the Embassy of France, the Alliance Française network in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, in partnership with the State Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Sri Lanka this year the festival will be held from Friday 4 June to Tuesday 14 July. A variety of key events promoting cultural exchange will also take place in Kandy, Matara, Galle, Jaffna and Malé in the Maldives. Most events of the festival will be free of charge and open to all.

Speaking at a recent press conference, French Ambassador to Sri Lanka and The Maldives, Jean-Marin Schuh stated that he was convinced that cultural, artistic or scientific exchanges create links and open platforms for reflection. 

“They create solidarity between nations, between people of all ages and between all communities. Activities of the festival are intended to bring together French, Sri Lankan and Maldivian artists and social actors in several cities in which the Alliance Française network is present: Colombo (AF Kotte, the only Alliance Française of the capital), Kandy, Galle, Matara, Jana and Male,” he further noted.

Climate Focus II

nPhoto Exhibition: 5 June-5 July at the National Art Gallery (entrance free)

nForum on climate focus: 10 June at The Galle Face Hotel (by invitation only)

Exceptionally this year, in the lead up to the 21st Conference of the Parties on Climate Change (COP21), to be held in Paris from 30 November to 11 December 2015, the organisational committee of the French Spring Festival is glad to contribute to the worldwide debate on climate change. A diversity of solutions that allow responding to the challenges of climate change will be presented through a forum, debates.

A photo exhibition showcasing selected aerial photographs by the world-renowned photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand titled ‘60 Solutions against Climate Change’ focusing on the themes of inventing new development models, living together, feeding the world, energy efficiency and sustainable development will be on display for a month at the National Art Gallery.

Favouring a greener economy and sustainable urban development a half-day forum will be held on Wednesday 10 June at the Galle Face Hotel by invitation only. The forum is organised by the Embassy of France in partnership with the Economic section and the French Development Agency. Which will witness the participation of French and international experts as well as French and Sri Lankan companies on the themes of sustainable urban planning, renewable energy, mitigation adaptation to the impacts of climate change, technology transfer and development, green finance and sustainable architecture.

Fête de la musique 

20 June at Mihilaka Medura, BMICH from 3pm onwards (entrance free)

The International Music Day has become an event that is anticipated each year. Every year, one day in June, amateur and professional musicians come together to perform all over the world. This year for its 34th edition, Music Day’s theme “Feeling together the music” perfectly reflects the founding values of this great celebration around universal sharing, creation and communication.

Featured French band Sonith will meet at the crossroads between French song, reggae and afro music. 100% stage performers, Sonith Band members express themselves on colourful and festive rhythms. As always Sri Lankan musicians and bands will be adding their flavour to the festival, namely: Students from Alliance Française de Kotte, Students from Music Matters, Julius, Dafy Master, Omar, Kei Watanabe, Ecole Française Int. de Colombo, Drill Team, Preterits Chorale, Ravibandhu & Group, Wagon Park, Mix Master Blong JC, Naadro and Paranoid Earthling.

Book launch

24 June 6:30 p.m. onwards at Alliance Française de Kotte (entrance free)

Prof. Niroshini Gunasekara of the University of Kelaniya will launch her Sinhala translation of L’Adversaire by Emmanuel Carrere. This will be the eighth French novel that Prof. Gunasekara has translated to Sinhala. In 2004 she won the Prashastha Award at the State Literary Awards for her translation of Un Barrage contre le Pacifique. 

Couture exhibition

25 June-12 July at Lanka Institute of Fashion Technology (entrance free)

Creative silhouettes, unique luxury elegance, haute couture and exclusive creations inspired by designers such as Coco Chanel, Valentino, Alexander McQueen and many more will be presented by the students of LIFT. The exhibition will also feature a selection of portfolios and photographs giving visitors a behind-the-scenes experience into the making of a couture dress, from initial design to final production. 

Street Art and workshops

29 June-5 July in Colombo, Matara and Kandy (entrance free)

Noé Two is an emblematic figure of the French Graffiti scene and one of the most popular artists of his generation. From 1986, he started to perform on the walls and roofs of Paris and developed a figurative style. His mastery of the aerosol allows him to push the boundaries of realism and create works around a set of shapes, curves and bright colors. The research of emotion is central in his artistic approach. By often representing animals, he tries to track reflections of our own inner conflicts. 

Ballet workshop for advance students

28 June from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at Deanna School of Dancing (entrance free)

The workshop conducted by Seneka Abeyratne will be intensive and technique oriented. Therefore it is recommended for dancers to be of a minimum age of 15 with at least three years of regular classic ballet training. The mani objective is to introduce participants to jumps, beats and allegros and grand allegros. The core of the workshop will comprise a series of brisk across-the-floor combinations.

Nostalgie 5: The Streets of Paris

10-12 July from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Lionel Wendt Main Gallery

Kumar de Silva, well-known media personality, is back again this summer with the fifth edition of his annual series of black and white photographic exhibi-tions ‘Nostalgie05’, which brings the streets of Paris to life in a trillion shades of grey. “The streets of Paris constitute a gigantic and living open-air art gallery with its little microcosms of performance art. There are its conscious performers whom people watch, look at, applaud and recompense, or even totally ignore and walk away.”

Film festival

9-12 July at Matara, Kandy and Colombo

Matara 

Thursday 9 July 

3:00 pm Aya de Youpogon 

Venue: University of Ruhuna, Tangalle Road, Matara

Kandy 

Friday 10 July 

5:00 pm Aya de Youpogon

7:45 pm Approved for Adoption (Couleur de peau : miel)

Venue: Alliance Française de Kandy

640/2 Peradeniya Road, Kandy

Colombo 

Saturday 11 July

11:00 am The Rabbi’s Cat (Le Chat du Rabbin)

3:00 pm Approved for Adoption (Couleur de peau: miel)

5:45 pm Aya de Youpogon

Venue: National Film Corporation Cinema Hall

303, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07

Sunday 12 July 

10:30 a.m. Workshop with Marguerite Abouet on Animated Film Making

Venue: Digital Film Academy, Sri Lanka Foundation, Colombo 07

3:00 pm Me, Myself & Mum (Guillaume et les garçons à table)

5:00 pm The Butterfly Symphony (La Symphonie du Papillon)

Venue: National Film Corporation Cinema Hall

303, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 07