The opening ceremony of the 50th Angoulême comic book festival set the tone.
Explosive.
For this anniversary edition, the festival played the effervescence card.
A thrilling opening ceremony
For this opening, resolutely turned towards the future and youth, the festival has opted for a hip-hop dance "battle" as a prelude to the festivities.
Led by the legendary Sydney, who imposed hip-hop in France in the 1980s, the frenzied choreographies of a dozen dancers thrilled the public, with fervent applause and cries of encouragement.
The arrival of Franck Bondoux, general delegate of the festival, then marked a more serious time.
He himself is amused:
“The sequence is going to be very tough, there is a slight change of pace, I am going to ask you for your full indulgence.
But you have also seen what awaits us, innovation is on the agenda.
This show shows you that the Angoulême festival has a future.
»
Read also50th Angoulême BD Festival: our 10 essential award-winning albums
The General Delegate launched into a touching speech, evoking the historical journey of a festival, like many others
"born from the passion and commitment of a few"
who have largely contributed to the ennoblement of comics.
After recalling the turpitudes "of all kinds" which almost overcame the demonstration, Franck Bondoux is delighted to speak of a bygone era.
“By its size and influence
,” he says, “
the festival can pride itself on having permanently removed the threats of its disappearance.
»
Far from being perfect,
“the cultural field of comics is in essence a space for debate, innovation and rupture, which produces its own manifestos.
These dimensions are consubstantial with the Angoulême festival.
We have to accept them all the more because it questions it and questions comics as well as our society.
And Franck Bondoux to add:
“I hope that the festival will always retain its vocation of being a space for exchanges, a time when it is possible to talk to each other, not to confront each other, but to confront each other. .. Not to berate each other, but to talk to each other.
Angoulême aims for some not to divide but to federate.
»
We can't help but think of the Bastien Vivès affair which taints this edition.
Bondoux's remarks, no doubt uttered with too much emotion, will provoke sudden tears from the man who has been carrying the festival with force for fifteen years.
An Acclaimed Grand Prix
The party was once again in full swing, however, with the announcement of the Grand Prix awarded to Riad Sattouf.
Without departing from his humor, the author of
The Arab of the Future,
acclaimed
,
delivered a speech paying tribute to his grandmother, his first fan, for whom he designed his autobiography with worldwide success, before expressing his amazement in front of so many honours.
With advice for future generations: "
Be passionate, read the works of the oldest, express yourself as you wish, beware of all ideologies, be indignant at all forms of intimidation and censorship and refuse -them.
Take advantage of the freedom of expression, which is unique in France, be free, make books and more books!
“Which act.
Corto Maltese ignites
After this emotional sequence, the festival-goers were able to enjoy a luminous spectacle, which completed the festive atmosphere of this beginning of the event.
On the forecourt of Les Chais opposite the Cité internationale de la BD et de l'image, the contemporary artist Muma Soler has indeed lit, with the help of a crowd of volunteers, more than 35,000 candles to celebrate the 50th edition of the International Comic Strip Festival.
This ephemeral show recreated the first festival poster created in 1974 by Hugo Pratt.
The public was thus able to discover, thanks to a basket, a flamboyant tribute to Corto Maltese, the romantic sailor, leaning with his back to a palm tree, looking into the distance with his characteristic nonchalant elegance.
Opposite the Cité internationale de la BD et de l'image, contemporary artist Muma Soler, with the help of a crowd of volunteers, lit more than 35,000 candles to celebrate the 50th edition of the International Strip Festival. drawn.
DR
angry walls
A performance which closed in style a professional day made for the journalists of many wanderings between different major exhibitions.
Strolling through the streets of Angoulême this year has its share of surprises.
In addition to the giant frescoes on the walls of the city in the colors of the authors, less artistic slogans have arisen this year.
Slogans of angry young people pasted on the walls: "Child pornography: complicit publishers, guilty broadcasters, MetooBD".
In addition to the giant frescoes on the walls of Angoulême in the colors of the authors, less artistic slogans have arisen this year.
Le Figaro
Exhilarating exhibits
Words which however do not spoil the pleasure of seeing the exhibition of amazing original boards.
The delirious work of the master of horror in manga Junji Itô, intertwining beauty and monstrosity, delirious visions, supernatural creature of unknown origins, mind-blowing body transformations relayed by virtuoso graphics contrasts with the colorful and jubilant universe of Marguerite Abouet, screenwriter earthy series
Aya de Yopougon, Akissi,
Commissaire Kouamé
or
Bienvenue,
sketched by the no less talented delicate lines of their designers
.
Junji Itô, mixes beauty and monstrosity, delirious visions, supernatural creature of unknown origins, mind-blowing body transformations.
Olivier Delcroix
Two neat scenographies for two radically opposed universes that show all the facets of the abundant creativity in comics.
An inventiveness widely expressed in the eclectic exhibition 5
0 years, 50 looks,
proposing the vision of fifty artists of the festival.
The solar work of Marguerite Abouet honored in the city of Angoumois.
Olivier Delcroix
Celebrating half a century of comics is not insignificant.
The visit of the Ministers of Culture, Rima Abdul Malak and National Education Pap Ndiaye, this Thursday, attests to this.
Young high school and college students were able to show them their comic books, talk about the Culture Pass and award a 2023 college prize, this year awarded to the comic strip
Simone
by David Evrad and Jean-David Morvan, telling the true story of the Resistance fighter. Simone Lagrange (published by Glénat).
“For me, it is an essential trip that we are making together with the Minister of Education Pap Ndiaye, to show the importance of drawing, of comics, in artistic education, the education of children,
Figaro.
And to outbid:
“The comic strip participates in the critical spirit.
It allows you to sharpen your view of history, of yourself, of the world around you.
And above all, it promotes openness to others, which is not so common these days!
»
