Festival International des Auteurs Francophones© (International Festival of Francophone Authors)

Alliance Française de Philadelphie, Philadelphia’s premier French language school for all levels, will host the Festival International des Auteurs Francophones© (International Festival of Francophone Authors) for the first time ever in Philadelphia. The global festival, happening Sunday, April 12th to Monday, April 13th, will commemorate America’s 250th anniversary at the birthplace of the nation by internationally launching the collaborative book, Nos histoires d’Amérique, a dedication to the semiquincentennial.

The Festival International des Auteurs Francophones will offer Philadelphia’s French-speaking community the opportunity to participate in a myriad of cultural events including author meet and greets, book signings, lectures and workshops for writing and reading. Lovers of the French language will be transported to France through readings from 15+ notable authors while connecting with fellow Francophones at this first-of-its-kind festival in Philadelphia.

“We are thrilled to bring the Festival International des Auteurs Francophones to Philadelphia for the first time. The city is full of Francophiles, and we look forward to sharing the richness of French-language literature,” said Philippe Poirier, Executive Director of Alliance Française de Philadelphie. “The festival reflects our core mission of promoting education and passing culture to future generations by connecting communities through the power of the written word.”

The Festival International des Auteurs Francophones two-day schedule of events include the following activations:

· Authors Meet & Greet and Book Signings on Sunday, April 12th at 2 p.m. (hosted at FRIEDA Community, 320 Walnut St.)

· Apéro-Lectures (drinks and light bites included) on Sunday, April 12th at 5:30 p.m. (hosted at FRIEDA Community)

· Writing Workshops and Readings on Monday, April 13th at 10 a.m. (hosted at Alliance Française de Philadelphie, 1420 Walnut St, Suite 700)

Those interested are encouraged to register for the individual events in advance here.

The Festival will spotlight major literary moments, including the international launch of the collaborative anthology Nos histoires d’Amérique. Published by Éditions Rencontre des Auteurs Francophones, the collection of previously unpublished short stories by Francophone writers celebrates the United States’ 250th anniversary through diverse perspectives on the country’s landscapes, cultures and myths.

Attendees will also hear from local guest authors including Elaine Sciolino, a longtime Paris-based journalist and former New York Times Paris bureau chief known for bestselling books such as The Only Street in Paris: Life on the Rue des Martyrs and The Seine: The River That Made Paris, and Judith W. Umlas, author of Grateful Leadership: Using the Power of Acknowledgement to Engage All Your People and Achieve Superior Results and the memoir Soulmates & Strangers, whose work explores leadership, connection and cross-cultural relationships.