March is the month when French speakers and Francophiles from around the world unite to celebrate the French language and the diversity of francophone cultures. It is a time when they come together to celebrate their shared heritage. It is the Francophonie Festival.
On this occasion, the Atlanta Francophonie Committee* invites Atlantans to take part in the celebration March 19-25.
From a Francophone Film Festival at the High Museum of Art and the Midtown Arts Cinema,including a film for children, to a Friendship Sunday brunch at Carlyle House (Norcross, GA), a workshop for French Language educators at Alliance Française and a business breakfast on Doing Business with Francophone Countries at Emory University, there'll be something for everyone.
All proceeds from the programs of Francophonie 2010 will be donated to Care and Haïtian Alliance for Haiti earthquake relief.
Les bénéfices issus des manifestations organisées dans le cadre de la semaine de la Francophonie seront versés à Care et àHaitian Alliance en soutien à Haïti.*
Join us once again for a gathering of Friends and Families of Atlanta's Francophone communities. $35 for adults $15 for children under 12, and free for children under 4.
MENU:
French Onion Soup
Caesar Salad
French Cannelloni
Greek Salad
Eggs Benedicts
Assorted Bread with Gruyère Cheese Fondue
Welcome (France), 2009directed by Phillippe Lioret.
Friday March 19th, 7 p.m.
This movie is centred on the friendship between a swimming instructor and a 17-year-old Iraqi Kurd bent on swimming the channel to be reunited with his girlfriend in London.
Ce film a pour thème l'amitié entre un maître nageur et un jeune garçon iraqien kurde de 17 ans. Le garçon a décidé de traverser la manche a la nage afin de retrouver sa petite-amie a Londres.
J'ai tué ma mère (Québec) 2009
Friday March 19th, 9 p.m.
Written and directed by Xavier Dolan, it is an exposé on the complexity of the mother-and-son bond.
Ce film, écrit et réalisé par Xavier Dolan, décrit la complexité du rapport mère-fils.
It's a catastrophe! A flood has hit our planet and an unusual group of people are all that remains. Led by Ferdinand, a modern day Noah, this little group have managed to defy the furiously raging elements. People and animals alike are dragged through this incredible whirlpool of an adventure.
C'est une catastrophe! Notre planète est touchée par une innondation et seul un groupe d'invidus atypiques semble avoir survécu. Mené par Ferdinand, un Noé contemporain, ce petit groupe va devoir defier des élèments naturels déchainés. Etres humains, aussi bien qu'animaux vont être entrainés dans cette décoiffante et folle aventure.
(This film for young people was generously sponsored by our friends at L'Ecole du Samedi )
Formidable (Belgique)2007, directed by Dominique Standaert
Sunday March 21st, 7 p.m.
This movie tells the tale of the sinking of two slightly pathetic, yet sweet derelicts whose meeting will help each other to resurface.
Ce film raconte le naufrage de deux tendres paumés un peu pathétiques, que leur rencontre va aider à faire surface.
Le goût des jeunes filles (Haiti/Quebec-Canada)2004 directed by JohnL'Ecuyer.
Monday March 22nd, 7 p.m.
Haiti, 1971Against the backdrop of poverty, fear and the brutal dictatorship, 15-year-old Fanfan just wants to experience life for himself with his streetwise friend Gégé. Having lived a somewhat sheltered life with his protective mother, Fanfan experiences a bizarrely terrifying incident involving a Tonton-Macoute. As a result, he decides to hide out at his beautiful neighbor's house for the weekend. There, he is trapped between his fear of being caught and the fulfilling of his deepest fantasy. Based on the Book Le Gout des Jeunes Filles by famous Haitian novelist Dany Laferrière.
Haiti, 1971. Surprotégé par sa mère, Fanfan, un jeune garçon de quinze and, aimerait bien pouvoir profiter un peu de la vie. À l'insu de celle-ci, il décide de sortir de chez lui pour aller se promener en ville avec son ami Gégé, un petit délinquant. À la suite d'un incident impliquant un Tonton-Macoute, Fanfan se réfugie chez sa belle voisine, Miki, une prostituée. Pendant tout un week-end, Fanfan est déchiré entre la peur de se faire arrêter, le désir de traverser la rue pour aller réconforter sa mère et le bonheur d'enfin découvrir l'univers de Miki et de ses belles amies. Avec comme toile de fond la pauvreté et la peur infligées par un régime de dictature impitoyable, Fanfan nous raconte son histoire.
Retour à Gorée (Switzerland)2008, directed by Pierre-Yves Borgeaud.
Tuesday March 23rd, 7 p.m.
This movie tells us the journey of the Senegalese singer Youssou N’Dour following the steps of the African slaves and the music they invented: Jazz.
Ce film raconte le périple du chanteur Senegalais Youssou N'Dour sur les traces des esclaves noirs et de la musique qu'ils ont inventée : le jazz.
Mon frère se marie (Switzerland)2006directed by Jean-Stéphane Bron.
Wednesday March 24th, 7 p.m.
Vinh ,who was adopted twenty years before by a swiss family, is going to get married. His biological mother, who lives in Vietnam, decides to come and meet the family who raised her son.
Vinh, adopté 20 ans plus tôt par une famille suisse, va se marier. Sa mère naturelle, restée au Vietnam, decide de faire le voyage et rencontrer la famille qui a élevé son fils.
Presented by EDI, SCEEN, The Kingdom of Belgium, EEDI, and African Studies:
Doing Business with
Francophone Countries
Discussing global business practices with a purpose
With the presence of Mayor Kasim Reed and City Council President Ceasar Mitchell, Representatives of France, Switzerland, Canada, Quebec and Belgium, Santa Ono, Senior Vice-Provost, President and CEO of the French-American Chamber of Commerce, W. Cliff Oxford, CEO of Luxury Economics, Jeffrey Rosensweig Ph.D., Marilee Fiebig and Alston Bird.
GBS W525
Goizueta Business School
1300 Clifton Road
Atlanta, GA 30322
Parking available at Fishburne
For more information, please contact Geet at gbhatt@emory.edu
(Breakfast will be provided by the Belgian consulate)
Friday March 26th, from 6 pm to 9 p.m.
Exposition: Atlanta Reflections From the Chattahoochee to Peachtree
"Théâtre du Rêve will perform a staged reading of texts gathered from all over the French-speaking world, exploring the interplay between language and identity. Music and drumming will round out the evening of works from Haiti, Martinique, Africa, Viet Nam, Quebec, Louisiana and other points on the globe. This will be a truly international experience! Texts will be read by actors and members of Atlanta's Francophone communities!
The mission of Théâtre du Rêve, Atlanta's unique French-language theatre company, is to bring the language and cultures of the French-speaking world to life on the American stage. We strive to create a true dialogue between American and French-speaking artists."
Monday, March 29th, 7 p.m.
Clarkston Community Center, text, drumming and dance
3701 College Avenue
Clarkston, GA 30021
Phone: 404-508-1050
Tickets are $30 and include heavy tapas, 1 adult beverage and the performance. If you stay for dinner your ticket price will be applied to your dinner bill.
Drinks and food at 6:30 performance starts at 7:30..food continues
***The Atlanta Francophonie Committee is represented by the Consulates of Belgium, Canada, France and Switzerland, the Québec Delegation in Atlanta,the American Association of Teachers of French, the Alliance Française of Atlanta, the French American Chamber of Commerce, Atlanta-Accueil and Ecole du Samedi.***
*In light of the tragic earthquake that devastated Haiti on January 12, 2010, the Francophonie Festival will carry an especially important meaning this year. It will not only be about sharing cultural experiences,business opportunities and language skills, it will be about sharing hope.
Indeed, all proceeds from the Atlanta Francophonie Festival will be donated to Haiti relief aid. Also, the French-speaking country of Haiti, known for its rich culture and language will be honored throughout the festival. This includes a Québec film based on a novel by Haïtian writer Dany Laferrière,Le Goût des Jeunes filles (On the Verge of a Fever), which will be shown at
the Midtown Arts Cinema on Monday March 22, at 7pm.
French language unites 200 million people present in more than 55 countries around the world. In the Americas, it is spoken in Quebec, French Guiana,Louisiana and the Caribbean. It is also a tremendously important vehicular language in most of Africa and in the Arab World. Here in Georgia,investments from French speaking countries are responsible for the creation
of thousands of jobs. France alone, with about 80 affiliates, creates over 11,000 jobs. The French language and the Francophone cultures are also very present in the Peach State with more than 46,000 students studying French in the State and famous exhibits and cultural performances, such as The Swiss Wind Quintet, Louvre-Atlanta, Cavalia and many others.
Formidable 
Mon frère se marie 
