Over Friday, June 17, Saturday, June 18, and Sunday, June 19, the Book Festival will open its doors for a sixteenth edition combining quality and originality in the enchanting setting of the Albert 1st Garden. This year’s Co-presidents of the event will be comedian and journalist Philippe Bouvard, and philosopher anthropologist Malek Chebel.
In the past, the Nice Book Festival might have seemed more like a fair where goodwill was the main feature, but it must be acknowledged that this edition presents all the characteristics of a great vintage. The program is so packed and varied that one might find it somewhat challenging to fully grasp and appreciate it in its entirety.
This upcoming weekend will truly celebrate literature in all its facets with a special educational thrust that deserves full appreciation.
2011 Theme: The French Language
Since its inception, the Nice Book Festival has been a defender of French literature. This year, the choice of theme was self-evident: the French language.
It will be celebrated with readings from great French authors, debates, meetings between writers, and more.
Meetings at the CUM
Mediterranean University Center
65, Promenade des Anglais (free entry)
*Friday, June 17*
3:30 PM: Meeting with Philippe Bouvard, hosted by Franz-Olivier Giesbert, discussing his latest book, “Ma vie d’avant, ma vie d’après” (Flammarion) and his perspective as a cultured man and keen observer of French political life, who still directs one of the flagship programs of French radio today.
*Saturday, June 18*
2:30 PM: Meeting with Christian Estrosi, Deputy, Mayor of Nice, President of Nice Côte d’Azur, and Franz-Olivier Giesbert, hosted by Elisabeth Lévy, discussing the book “M. Le Président – Scènes de la vie politique 2005-2011” (Flammarion).
*Sunday, June 19*
2:45 PM: Meeting with Michel Onfray, hosted by Franz-Olivier Giesbert, about his latest book, “Manifeste hédoniste” (Autrement).
It is a two-part digest of his philosophy, addressing various aspects such as psychology, ethics, aesthetics, or even erotism, and on the other hand, Michel Onfray engages in a dialogue with many intellectuals and artists from diverse backgrounds.
4:15 PM: Meeting with Claude Allègre, hosted by Franz-Olivier Giesbert, discussing his latest book, “Faut-il avoir peur du nucléaire?” (Plon).
Round Tables and Conferences
*Friday, June 17*
4 PM – Festival Conference Room
Conference led by Victor VARJAC on the question “Can (or should) the poet, in the 21st century, play a role in a society constantly changing faces?” with Dominique CRESPO, scientific presenter at Nice´s Astrorama, Aurore MOULON, documental studies teacher at Auguste Renoir High School in Cagnes S/Mer, Joseph GIORDANI, former deputy director of the IUFM (University Institute for Teacher Training) and Doctor of Letters (specializing in Germanic studies), and Maurice LETHURGEZ, poet, writer, and lecturer.
5 PM – Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
Conference by René Guitton, writer and publisher, on his latest book, “En quête de vérité : le martyre des moines de Tibhirine” (Calmann-Lévy). René Guitton received the Prix Montyon, Philosophy and Literature Prize from the French Academy, and the Human Rights Literary Prize. He has been working for many years towards a philosophical, cultural, and religious dialogue between the East and the West.
*Saturday, June 18*
11 AM – Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
“The Collections” Conference by Emmanuel Pierrat, writer, publisher, and lawyer, author of “La collectionnite” (Le Passage).
2 PM – Grand Hotel Aston
“Happiness: Achieving a Successful Life or Giving Life Meaning”
Round table moderated by Fernande Lucas and sponsored by the League of Education of Alpes-Maritimes and the “Lire et faire Lire” association, with Mémona Hintermann, journalist and writer, Lutz Krusche, journalist and writer, and Françoise Laborde.
2:30 PM – Conference Room Albert 1st Garden
“French Language, Language of Letters”
Round table led by Laurent Seksik with Michel Déon, of the French Academy, writer Alexandre Najjar, Lebanese writer, lawyer, Grand Prix de la Francophonie of the French Academy (2009), and Sami Tchak, Togolese writer, Grand Prix Littéraire d’Afrique Noire (2004).
3 PM – Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
Meeting with Robert Solé, writer, journalist, former director of Monde des Livres, hosted by Françoise Michelizza, director of the BMVR, discussing the theme “Egypt from Yesterday to Today.”
4 PM – Conference Room Albert 1st Garden
“The Arab Spring”
Round table with Martine Gozlan, writer, journalist at Marianne, Ahmed Youssef, writer, correspondent at Al Ahram, and Gilbert Sinoué, writer.
4:30 PM – Bibliothèque Louis Nucéra
Conference by Isabelle Saporta, journalist and commentator, about her latest book, “Le livre noir de l’agriculture” (Fayard).
5 PM – Grand Hotel Aston
Conference by Claude Mossé, writer and historian, about his latest book “Les Borgia – Les fauves T1” (HC).
5:30 PM – Conference Room Albert 1st Garden
Meeting with Malek Chebel, hosted by Franz-Olivier Giesbert, discussing his latest book, “Les grandes figures de l’islam” (Plon).
*Sunday, June 19*
10 AM – Albert 1st Garden – Conference area
Meeting with Franck Lalou, hosted by Léo Guez, about his latest book “L’évangile de Thomas, une lecture juive” (Desclée de Brouwer).
10:30 AM – Albert 1st Garden – Conference area
Meeting with Gilles Morali, hosted by Léo Guez, about the theme “Science, Medicine, and Judaism.”
11 AM – Albert 1st Garden – Conference area
Meeting with Victor Malka, hosted by Léo Guez, about his latest book “Les veilleurs de l’aube” (Nouveaux Loisirs).
11:30 AM – Albert 1st Garden – Conference area
Meeting with Shmuel Trigano, hosted by Léo Guez, about his latest book “Le judaïsme et l’esprit du monde” (Grasset).
11 AM – Grand Hotel Aston
“Creole Literature: Challenges and Opportunities”
Round table moderated by Edmond Jouve with Daniel Maximin, Commissioner of the year of the Overseas Territories, Guadeloupean poet and essayist, James Noël, Haitian poet, Marie-Reine de Jaham, Martinican novelist, and Joseph Jos, Martinican writer.
2:30 PM – Conference Room Albert 1st Garden
Meeting with Camille de Peretti, novelist, hosted by Laurent Seksik, discussing her latest book, “La Casati” (Stock).
2:30 PM – Grand Hotel Aston
“Gotha Noir”
Conference by Doctor Elie Nkamgueu, founding president of the “Gotha Noir” association, on the occasion of the release of the eponymous book.
3 PM – Conference Room Albert 1st Garden
Meeting with Raphaël Enthoven, philosopher, writer, radio and television host, hosted by Laurent Seksik, about his latest book, “Le philosophe de service et autres textes” (Gallimard).
4 PM – Grand Hotel Aston
“The Names of Abolition”
Conference by Emmanuel Gordien, founding director of the Memorial The Names of Abolition and author of “Non an nou” (CMC Jasor).
Reading for All… in the Albert 1st Gardens – City of Nice Stand
As part of “Lectures for All”, initiated by Raoul Mille, this year a short story contest was organized in Cm2 classes and colleges.
It was a first experience that met with great success. We received more than 60 “new” stories. Most of them were of quality.
These stories will be gathered in a collection signed by all the winners.
This collection will be presented at the City of Nice stand on Saturday, June 18, at 11 AM, in the presence of students who will sign their work.
At the same time, the work of the “Dames de Lenval” association will present a writing award on Sunday, June 19, at 3 PM at the City of Nice stand, to children from Lenval and Archet 2 hospitals.
The award jury is presided over by Didier van Cauwelaert.
Festival Guest of Honor: L’Ecole des Loisirs: A Publisher of Youth Books
Under the large area dedicated to children’s literature, a significant part will be devoted to a youth publisher. The City of Nice has wanted to emphasize children’s literature and one of its major representatives in France: L’Ecole des Loisirs.
“My entire publishing policy is based on the author. I wish to publish strong, singular, and persevering authors. Hence my tendency to favor illustrator-authors. Most of the great classics of picture books are the work of a single author. And almost always it’s a man (or woman) of the image. It’s first and foremost an illustrator who, in a few pen strokes, sets the scene with their characters” (Arthur Hubschmid, editor of L’Ecole des Loisirs).
Major authors from this publisher will be present: Stéphanie Blake, Vincent Bourgeau, Delphine Bournay, Susie Morgenstern, Mario Ramos, Kimiko, Alan Mets, Cédric Ramadier, and Grégoire Solotareff.
Readings in the City: A Festival of Texts and Voices
*Thursday, June 16*
Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez – Scène Matisse
7 PM Opening night of the Nice Book Festival 2011.
7:15 PM Classical music concert tribute to the great writers of the French language by students from the Nice Conservatory of Music.
8 PM Reading of excerpts from works by Romain Gary and Guillaume Apollinaire by Richard Berry, actor, filmmaker, and screenwriter.
*Friday, June 17*
5 PM – Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image Charles Nègre
Reading by Claire Castillon, writer, of excerpts from her latest collection “Les bulles” (Fayard).
6:30 PM – Place Garibaldi
Concert-reading by Lola Lafon, singer, writer, around her book, “Nous sommes les oiseaux de la tempête qui s’annonce” (Flammarion) and her new album “Une vie de voleuse”.
8 PM – Place Garibaldi
Concert by Elodie Frégé “La fille de l’Après midi”.
“The other day you asked the boss what he knew about her.
He said she’s waiting, as if it were obvious.
– Waiting for whom?
He shrugged:
– Maybe you?
You weren’t any wiser. You wanted to at least know her name. To put a face to a voice.
– What do I know? murmured the boss. Here, we call her the girl of the afternoon…”
*Saturday, June 18*
4:15 PM – Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image Charles Nègre
Reading of excerpts from “Le rouge et le noir” by Stendhal by Astrid Veillon, author of “Pourras-tu me pardonner?” (Plon) and director of the play “La salle de bain,” returns with her latest work “Neuf mois dans la vie d’une femme” (éd. Calmann-Lévy).
5:15 PM – Théâtre de la Photographie et de l’Image Charles Nègre
Reading by Macha Méril, actress and novelist, of passages from the works of George Sand and Colette. A tribute to women who have left their mark on literature by perfectly using the French language.
6:30 PM – Jardin des Arènes de Cimiez – Scène Matisse
Meeting-reading around the book “Les derniers jours de Stefan Sweig” by Laurent Seksik, Prix Baie des Anges 2010 (Flammarion). Discussion with the author and reading of passages by Marina Vlady, actress.
*Sunday, June 19*
Closing of the Nice Book Festival 2011
6 PM – Mediterranean University Center
Meeting-reading around texts by Didier Van Cauwelaert with Didier Van Cauwelaert, writer, and Mélanie Doutey, actress.
The Prix Baie des Anges
Who will succeed Eric Fottorino, René Fregni, Daniel Cordier, Laurent Seksik, and the dozen other laureates of the “Baie des Anges” Prize, awarded each year on the occasion of the Book Festival?
For the first time, the reading and literature-loving azuréen public will be associated with the designation of this award’s winner, in collaboration with the professional jury comprised of writers and novelists.
In its new version, the “Baie des Anges” prize is open to readers of the nice-matin daily.
Awarded and officially presented on Friday, June 17, at the Nice Book Festival, the Prix Baie des Anges crowns a novel in its purest tradition, released in the twelve months preceding the Festival.
This prize has been sponsored by the City of Nice since 1998.
The winner will receive a sum of 7,600 euros offered by the City of Nice.
The two finalists are:
– Philippe Sollers, for his novel “Trésor d’amour” published by Gallimard.
– Aurélie Hustin de Gubernatis for “2012 Les gardiens du temps,” published by Plon.
