From the desk of the Consul General - Special edition, May 2022

Dear French and American friends,

I have the pleasure of announcing that the Consulate General of France in Atlanta joins in the launch of two new cultural events that promise to be exciting for Atlanta and the U.S. Southeast.

The first event, the European Film Festival of Atlanta, will be held May 6-8 at Plaza Atlanta. It unites 11 Consulates and Honorary Consuls as well as the Alliance Française and the Goethe-Zentrum. Initiated in the context of the French Presidency of the European Union and on the occasion of Europe Day (May 9), this new festival intends to celebrate the creativity of contemporary European cinema, serving as a testament to the reality and richness of European cooperation in the U.S. Southeast.

While war is raging in Ukraine, this first edition of the European Film Festival of Atlanta also demonstrates the unity of the European Union and its solidarity with Ukraine. Therefore, we wished, during Opening Night on May 6 at 7pm, to screen the award-winning Ukrainian documentary, The Earth is Blue as an Orange by director Iryna Tsilyk. This film, which celebrates the strength of cinema in the face of war, is a wonderful tribute to the current resistance of the Ukrainian people.

The second event, the Night of Ideas, will be held on May 14 from 6pm to midnight at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta. Designed by Institut Français and Villa Albertine, this major global event brings together thousands of participants each year. It will take place in May in 19 cities across the United States, and for the first time, in person, in Atlanta, with the theme: Where are we going?

Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens will open this Night of Ideas by talking to 6 students from several colleges and universities across the city. The event will be attended by many intellectuals, artists and entrepreneurs from Atlanta and France who will reflect with us on the future of cities, society, the economy and culture, while presenting a rich cultural and artistic program for the audience throughout the evening.

By designing this first edition in partnership with the City of Atlanta Mayor’s Office of Cultural Affairs and the Woodruff Arts Center, we hope that the Night of Ideas will become a major cultural event in the city that will benefit audiences in Atlanta and beyond.

On May 14, 2022, come celebrate Night of Ideas with us!

Sincerely,
Vincent Hommeril
Consul General of France