Francophonie Weeks program revealed

By Azernews

By Amina Nazarli

Francophonie Weeks, featuring cultural creativity and diversity of francophone countries, started in Baku on March 30.

Between April 1 and 22, the Embassies of Belgium, France, Egypt, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Romania and Switzerland will jointly celebrate French language and Francophonie holiday.

The program of the Francophonie Weeks is as following:

SATURDAY APRIL 1 at Mugham Center

19:00 CONCERT OF AZERI-FRENCH-GREEK MUSIC

With the participation of Gochag ASKAROV (Azerbaijan), Eleni and Souzana VOUGIOUKLI (Greece) and Pierre DE TREGOMAIN (France)

MONDAY APRIL 3-9 at Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan

18:00 Opening of the PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION CONSTANTIN BRÂNCU?I

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the death of the Romanian sculptor Constantin Brâncu?i, this photo exhibition looks back on the life and work of the artist.

WEDNESDAY APRIL 5 at Institut Français d’Azerbaidjan

19:00 PRESENTATION OF THE NEWSPAPER LE CARREFOUR at the Institut Francais d’Azerbaïdjan

Created in 2007, Le Carrefour remains to this day the only newspaper written in French language in Azerbaijan.

THURSDAY APRIL 6 at Institut Français d’Azerbaijan

19:00 Lecture on “MEXICO, FRANCE AND THE FRANCOPHONIE” with Mr Rodrigo LABARDINI, Ambassador of the Mexican Embassy in Azerbaijan

A brief analysis of the influence of French culture following the independence of Mexico; its positioning against Spanish and British influence in the middle of the nineteenth century and how it increased during the first decade of the twentieth century.

Lecture held in French

FRIDAY APRIL 7 at Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports

14:00 PARKOUR SWISS MASTER CLASS

Kevin Crupi and Yoann Roig, from the Swiss sport association « X-Trem Move » of Lausanne (Switzerland) will give a Swiss Master Class of parkour & freerun at the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Culture and Sports. Students will learn basic techniques for jumping on and acrobatically traversing through obstacles in an athletic and elegant way.

Closed event only for students

In the framework of the Francophonie Film Festival

19:00 Projection of the Romanian film TWO LOTTERY TICKETS, by Paul Negoescu (2016)

Genre : Fiction                                    Running time : 86mn

Film in Romanian with French subtitles

Dinel, Sile and Pompiliu are three men from a provincial town in urgent need of money. They decide to buy a lottery ticket and win, but soon after their ticket is stolen. Watch their journey as they try to find it.

Landmark Cinema

19:00 QUIZ EVENING, with the association Bakou Francophone

Alone or with friends, join us in a joyous and relaxed atmosphere to test your knowledge on the French language and countries of the Francophonie through various rounds. The winning team will take home Fireland wine !

Reservation before April 3, 25 manat ($14), buffet included.
Contact : Myrto – [email protected]

Paris Bistro

SATURDAY APRIL 8

10:00 – 18:00 BELGIUM DAY at the Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan

All day long, animation on Belgian literature, music or cinema will be presented at the Institut Français.

Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan

15:00 PARKOUR & FREERUN OPEN AIR SHOW, offered by the Swiss embassy

Yoann & Kevin will perform a spectacular parkour open air show together with two members of the Gilavar Extreme Sports Club, Mr. Mammadzada Hasan and Mr. Gurbanov Ayaz. Watch as they perform  in this amazing scenic location,  the UNESCO protected historical site of Icheri Sheher (Old City), just in front of the Maiden Tower.

Free entrance
Icheri Sheher, in front of the Maiden Tower.

In the framework of the Francophonie Film Festival

19:00 Projection of the Moroccan film Journey to Mecca: In the Footsteps of Ibn Battuta, by Bruce Neibaur (2009)

Genre: Documentary                          Running Time : 40mn

Film in English with English subtitles

This film tells the story of the 14th Century Moroccan explorer Ibn Battuta's pilgrimage from Tanger to Mecca.

The screening will be followed by a discussion, lead by Pr. Imamverdu Y. Hamidov, Head of the Department of the ancient Azerbaijanis literature, at the National Academy of Sciences (Nizami Institute of Literature)

Landmark Cinema

SUNDAY APRIL 9-15

11:00 OPENING OF THE 15TH INTERNATIONAL CHESS TOURNAMENT FOR YOUTH, organized by Ganclik club. 42 young chess players from Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, France, Russia, Ukraine and Israel will come face to face. The winner will receive a trip to France to participate in the Youth chess tournament in Metz.

Landmark – Conference Room

Starting from 18:30 Four hands diner “REUNION OF CHEFS”

Four European Chefs gather in one kitchen to offer to guests a unique gourmet experience. With the participation of Thibault BERA, from Paris Bistro (France), Franco QUIQUE from El Portalon (Spain), Giovanni TAVOLARO, from Tosca (Italy) and Dani ALAM, from Movida (Lebanon).

Dinner (Cocktail + meal composed of 5 courses): 95 manat ($55)

Details and booking: +994 12 310 33 10

Intourist Hotel Baku

In the framework of the Francophonie Film Festival

19:00 Projection of the Hungarian film FERENC PUSKAS, by Tamás Almási (2009)

Genre: Documentary             Running time: 115mn

Film in Hungarian with French subtitles

Documentary film on the life of one of the most important Hungarian football players, Ferenc Puskas.

Landmark Cinema

MONDAY APRIL 10-13

19:00 Opening of the exhibition “Hungarians Exploring the Orient”

Many periods of Hungarian history have been shaped by coexistence and interchange with eastern peoples. Many Hungarian explorers travelled through Orient. This exhibition shows the most famous of them, their lives and works.

Exhibition in English

Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan

In the framework of the Francophonie Film Festival

19:00 Projection of the Lithuanian film THE BALCONY, by Giedre Beinori?t? (2008)

Genre : Fiction                      Running time : 48mn

Film in Lithuanian, with French subtitles

Falling out of a balcony and scratching a chin or swallowing a fishbone – doesn’t hurt, but it hurts to love.

Landmark Cinema

TUESDAY 11TH APRIL

In the framework of the Francophonie Film Festival

19:00 Projection of the French film PARIS, by Cédric Klapisch (2008)

Genre: Drama             Running time: 123mn

Film in French, with English subtitles

Pierre, a young Parisian dancer, is ill, and is wondering if he is going to die. His condition gives him a new look at the people he meets in Paris: market gardeners, a baker, a social worker, an architect, a homeless, a professor, a model, a clandestine Cameroonian ...

Yarat! Contempory Art Space

WEDNESDAY 12TH APRIL

19:00 Show “SOLO THEATER : THE MISER, BY MOLIÈRE”, BY FELIX LIBRIS

Alone on stage and with his voice as the only ally, Felix Libris presents The Miser in one hour. There is neither decoration nor accessories, nevertheless, everything seems to be there: intensity of the emotions, virtuosity of the characters, elegance and the humor of the verb. The characters - Harpagon, La Flèche, Mariane, Valere, Elise, Cléante, Frosine, Master Jacques, etc. – are brought to life in turns in this rhythmic and passionate show. The result is stunning.

On Invitation
Salo Italian Restaurant - Landmark

THURSDAY 13TH APRIL

19:00 Show “SOLO THEATER : The Miser, by Molière”, by Felix Libris

Alone on stage and with his voice as the only ally, Felix Libris presents The Miser in one hour. There is neither decors nor accessories; nevertheless, everything seems to be there: intensity of the emotions, virtuosity of the characters, elegance and the humor of the verb.

On Invitation
Salo Italian Restaurant - Landmark

FRIDAY 14TH APRIL

17:00 SHOW “SOLO THEATER: THE MISER, BY MOLIÈRE”, BY FELIX LIBRIS

Alone on stage and with his voice as the only ally, Felix Libris presents The Miser in one hour. There is neither decors nor accessories; nevertheless, everything seems to be there: intensity of the emotions, virtuosity of the characters, elegance and the humor of the verb.

Free entrance
French Lycée

SATURDAY 15TH APRIL

14:30 WORKSHOP SOLO THEATRE, LEADED BY FELIX LIBRIS
Felix Libris will explain the tricks of the Solo show. Training for professional actors.

Information and registration: [email protected]
Yarat! Contempory Art Space

SUNDAY 16TH APRIL

Starting from 18:30 Four Hands diner “REUNION OF CHEFS”

Four European Chefs gather in one kitchen to offer to guests a unique gourmet experience. With the participation of Thibault BERA, from Paris Bistro (France), Franco QUIQUE from El Portalon (Spain), Giovanni TAVOLARO, from Tosca (Italy) and Dani ALAM, from Movida (Lebanon).

Diner (Cocktail + meal composed of 5 courses): 95AZN
Details and booking: +994 12 310 33 10

Intourist Hotel Baku

TUESDAY 18TH APRIL

18:00 OPENING OF THE PHOTO EXHIBITION “ARCHI-REALITIES – EGYPT”, by the Lithuanian artist Giedrius Jokubauskis

„Archi.realities – Egypt” is a look towards different layers of Egyptian realities through architecture as well as visual representations of personal experience of daily life  in this country.

18-23 April

Art Tower Gallery

WEDNESDAY 19TH APRIL

19:00 MUSICAL EVENING at Paris Bistro

During one evening, a small stage is open to singers, singing in French language at Paris Bistro. Registration to the Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan : [email protected]
The evening will continue with a karaoke night, proposed by the association Bakou Francophone

Paris Bistro

THURSDAY 20TH APRIL

19:00 Opening of the exhibition “Egypt in the Eyes of Children of Azerbaijan"

Exhibition of pictures created by Azerbaijani children aged 6 to 16 about Egypt, its civilization and its culture.

Institut Français d’Azerbaïdjan

SATURDAY 22ND APRIL

From 14:00 to 18:30 – CLOSING CEREMONY OF THE WEEKS OF FRANCOPHONIE AND THE FRENCH LANGUAGE

With the participation of the Ambassadors of the ten participating countries (Belgium, Egypt, France, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Morocco, Mexico, Romania and Switzerland).

Francophone buffet provided by the Embassies. Each Embassy will have a stand, presenting culinary and cultural specialties from their countries, offering guests an opportunity to taste the cultural wealth of the francophone world.

Landmark – 20th floor

In parallel to the official program, the Weeks of Francophonie also take place in universities:

- 3-4 April, Mr Mohamed Ketata, Director of the Central and Eastern Europe Office of the Academic Agency of Francophonie, will visit the Azerbaijani Universities.

- Thursday 6th April, students of French language at the University of Languages in Azerbaijan will present a show of The Miser, by Molière. 

- Thursday 20th April, 14:00: Francophonie Show presented by students at the University of Languages in Azerbaijan. 

- Throughout the month of April, UFAZ students will present theatrical, poetic, or musical performances around La Francophonie within their University.