Thursday. March 1, 7:00 p.m.

JEROME GAME
Associate Professor of Philosophy and Cinema Studies, American University of Paris; author of Poetic Becomings; Sous influence. Ce que l’art contemporain fait à la littérature 

La Poésie hors de soi, ou de quelques pratiques littéraires contemporaines

Après plus d’un siècle de désarticulation de ses normes thématiques ou formelles, la poésie française semble aujourd’hui engagée dans un rapport de croisement à ses différents ‘Autres’ (arts visuels, sonores, scéniques notamment), précipitant une porosité entre pratiques d’écriture et pratiques plastiques autour d’opérations et de dispositifs communs. Zoomant sur ces effets de translation, de correspondance ou de contagion, on s’interrogera sur les effets d’un tel import/export esthétique sur l’écriture poétique aujourd’hui.

In French.

Rendez-Vous with French Cinema 2012

Selected screenings presented in cooperation with Unifrance, The Film Society of Lincoln Center, and the IFC Center.

Location: IFC Center 323 Avenue of the Americas (at West 3rd St.)
Tickets: $14. General Public $10. with NYU i.d. (these screenings only)
Contact: 212-924-7771; www.ifccenter.com

Saturday, March 3, 7:00 p.m.

Farewell, My Queen (Les Adieux à la reine)
2012, 97 minutes. In French with English subtitles.

The new film from director Benoît Jacquot captures the passions, debauchery, occasional glimpses of nobility, and the chaos that engulfed the court of Marie-Antoinette before the full-scale outbreak of the Revolution. Based on the novel by Chantal Thomas.

Followed by Q & A with director BENOIT JACQUOT

Tuesday, March 6, 7:45 p.m.

The Snows of Kilimanjaro (Les Neiges du Kilimandjaro)
2011, 107 Minutes. In French with English subtitles.

When a newly retired union rep is robbed, thwarting a dream vacation to Kenya, he reflects on the many compromises and lost ideals of his career. Directed by Robert Guédiguian.

Followed by Q & A with actor JEAN-PIERRE DARROUSSIN

Wednesday, March 7, 9:30 p.m.

Smugglers’ Songs (Les Chants de Mandrin)
2011, 97 Minutes. In French with English subtitles.

The folk hero and bandit Louis Mandrin is the inspiration for this period tale, tracing the efforts of Mandrin’s followers to distribute his songs and stories in the build-up to the French Revolution.

Followed by Q & A with director  RABAH AMEUR-ZAIMECHE

Rendez-Vous with French Cinema runs from March 1 to 11, presenting the New York premieres of new French films. Screenings take place at The Film Society of Lincoln Center, BAM, and the IFC Center.

Complete schedule available at: www.rendezvouswithfrenchcinema.com

Monday, March 5, 7:00 p.m.
Florence Gould Event

French Literature in the Making

DANIEL PENNAC
Writer; author of La Petite Marchande de prose (Prix du Livre Inter); Monsieur Malaussène; Comme un roman; Merci; Chagrin d’ecole (Prix Renaudot); Ecrire; Journal d’un corps

in conversation with

OLIVIER BARROT
Writer; journalist, Un Livre un jour (France 3)

In French.

Daniel Pennac is one of the most prolific and the most diversified writers in France. He has written many novels for children, a number of novels for adults including one about children, graphic novels, illustrated books, an autobiographical essay about school that explores brilliantly how kids learn, Chagrin d’école (School Blues) that earned him the Prix Renaudot in 2007, as well as an earlier essay on reading literature, Comme un roman, that examines the rights of the reader. The novels series depicting the saga of the Malaussène family brought Pennac worldwide fame (most are translated into English). Pennac, who lives in and writes about the Belleville section of Paris taught school for a number of years and still serves as a consultant and frequent visitor in lycées or grade school classes.

Presented with the additional support of Sofitel, Open Skies, CulturesFrance, and the Cultural Services of the French Embassy

Wednesday, March 7, 7:00 p.m.
Institute of French Studies Colloquium

BAPTISTE COULMONT
Associate Professor of Sociology, Université de Paris 8; author of Sex-shops, une histoire française; Sociologie des prénoms

Une Sociologie des prénoms en France

Les prénoms sont des indices sociologiques. En France, aujourd’hui, ils indiquent assez bien l’âge, le sexe et, pour certains, l’origine sociale: c’est en partie parce que les parents donnent à leurs enfants des prénoms qui leur plaisent, et que le goût varie suivant l’âge, la génération et le milieu social. En va-t-il de même quand les Français donnent des prénoms à leurs animaux domestiques? Ou quand, dans une entreprise de création identitaire, ils se donnent, une fois adulte, un nouveau prénom?

In French.

Thursday, March 8, 7:00 p.m.

L’Esprit de Genève: From Albert Gallatin to Michel Butor

Location: Gallatin School of Individualized Study, NYU 1 Washington Place (at Broadway)
Reservations : nyc.events@eda.admin.ch

The NYU Presidential Medal Ceremony
Honoring MICHEL BUTOR
Avant-garde novelist, poet, essayist; Former Dean of the Faculty of Letters, University of Geneva

followed by a conversation between Michel Butor and Lois Oppenheim, Department Chair and Professor of Modern Languages and Literatures, Montclair State University

This event is part of Think Swiss: Genève Meets New York, A Festival of Global Ideas Born in Geneva (March 6 to 12 in various NYC locations).

Complete schedule available at: www.thinkswiss.org