On Friday, October 4th, the 26th edition of the Mouans-Sartoux Book Festival will be launched. It’s an opportunity for publishers, authors, booksellers, and readers to meet again in Mouans-Sartoux and its various exhibition spaces to exchange, share, and experience life centered around books.
This year, the Book Festival’s theme is “Not even afraid,” a childish expression used to muster courage, serving as a chance to say no to fear and open up to others. As emphasized by Marie-Louise Gourdon, Commissioner of the Book Festival, in the current context, “fear is overcoming solidarity. […] The human capacities for reactivity, innovation, courage, and audacity are immense. Activating them is no child’s play, certainly. But isn’t it essential to overcome this general crisis that is not only economic?”
Around this vast theme, encompassing the international economic situation, violence against women, the development of poor countries, ecological issues, or racism, all the festival’s participants will gather. Several debates, like the one on shale gas following the screening of *Promised Land* (October 6th – 10 AM), and meetings, such as Women: “not even afraid” (with Nahal TAJADOD, Maïssa BEY, Sihem HABCHI, Pinar SELEK, Bénédicte MANIER, Janine GDALIA) will take place over these three days.
Many literary or political personalities will be present, including Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt (president), Tonino Benacquista, Yasmina Khadra, Isabelle Autissier, and Christiane Taubira, participating in book signings and discussions. Also to be found in the aisles of the Festival are two new exhibitors representing independent bookstores: Comic Strip Café in Antibes, specializing in comics with no fewer than 18,000 titles; and Librairie Expression in Châteauneuf de Grasse, a true space for freedom and conviviality amidst the bookshelves (presentation October 5th, 4 PM).
As always, the weekend’s program is packed; here is a small preview:
– Thursday, October 3rd, 7 PM, Strada 1, premiere of *La Vie d’Adèle* by Abdellatif Kechiche
– Friday, October 4th, 10 AM, professional meetings around children’s literature
– Friday, October 4th, 6 PM, award ceremony for the readers’ prize, Emma Locatelli 2013 laureate with her novel *Les Haines pures* (Albin Michel) followed by a debate: Should we be afraid of literary awards? with René Frégni and Franck Pavolff
– Saturday, October 5th, 4 PM, Literary Cafes with, among others, Françoise Laborde, Karine Giebel, Eric Naulleau, Martin Hirsch…
– Saturday, October 5th, 8:30 PM, *L’Attentat* by Ziad Doueiri, adapted from Yasmina Khadra’s best-seller and in the presence of the author
– Sunday, October 6th, 10:30 AM, *Nos seins, nos armes* by Nadia El Fani and Caroline Fourest, followed by a debate with the director
– Sunday, October 6th, 4 PM, discussion on the theme “To what extent are new technologies transforming us?” with Jean-Michel Besnier, Axel Kahn, Anne Dalsuet, Jean-François Mattei
For the complete program, all the guests, and the list of exhibitors, there’s only one address: [www.lefestivaldulivre.fr](https://www.lefestivaldulivre.fr)
