Festival America is usually a bi-annual celebration of the literature of the Americas in Vincennes (94). After two years of COVID cancellations, the festival is finally having its 10th edition celebrating 20 years from 22 to 25 September. The festival attracts large numbers of authors: 61 this year, mainly from the U.S. but also from Canada, Jamaica, Haiti, Cuba and Mexico.
As well as many discussion panels with authors on themes such as history, society, writing and family, there are ten exhibitions of photos, paintings and street art. Several bestselling authors will share their artistic vision of America in individual events: Armistead Maupin, Jonathan Franzen, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Russell Banks, Joyce Maynard, Louise Erdrich, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Richard Ford. Ford and Maynard will also give masterclasses.
Especially useful if you are using any of our Shine Bright files on African American or Native American issues, on Friday at 9 p.m. in Amérique, un passé qui ne passe pas, Louise Erdrich, Ta-Nehisi Coates and Viet Thanh Nguyen will discuss American history form a Native American, African American and Vietnamese-American point of view. On Saturday at 5 p.m. Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, Jason Mott et Leila Mottley will discuss the aftermath of Black Lives Matter.
That’s just a taster, check out all the events on the festival site!
First People
A major theme of the festival this year is the native peoples of the Americas. Over thirty representatives of different First Nations have been invited, including authors, artists, filmmakers and activists. And more than twenty events will allow you to discover everything from the history of the continents before the arrival of Columbus to being Indian in Joe Biden’s America, native actions in favour of ecology or specific Native peoples such as the Sioux, the Blackfeet and the Inuits.
Schools and the Festival
Friday 23 September will be the day the Festival welcomes school groups to meet with one of 34 authors selected by the schools team. More information soon on the festival site.
Festival America
Vincennes (94)
22 to 25 September 2022
One-day pass: 15 euros, Two-day pass 20 euros. Under 25s reduced rates. Under 18s free entry.
Tag(s) : "America" "Black Lives Matter" "Canada" "Canadian literature" "festival" "indigenous people" "literature" "Native Americans" "politics" "school groups" "Shine bright" "U.S. culture" "U.S. literature"