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Frankfurt / Paris, 13.02.2017 – On Monday, the 13th of February, the Berlinale is characterized by the French culture on the occasion of the Soirée française du cinéma. Like every year the French Ambassador in Berlin, Philippe Etienne, invites to the festive awarding of the Order of Arts and Letters (Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres). This year, in the presence of French Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve the order will be given to: Daniel Brühl, Max Riemelt and Birgit Kohler.

The French literature also presents itself in the course of this festive gala because France is the Guest of Honour at this year’s Frankfurter Buchmesse. The chairman of France’s appearance as Guest of Honour, Paul de Sinety, attends the Soirée française du cinéma together with the director of the Frankfurter Buchmesse Juergen Boos. This occasion provides an opportunity to learn more about the project "Francfort en français / Frankfurt in French" and to get in touch with Paul de Sinety and Juergen Boos.

The first names of belletristic authors who are going to be present at the Frankfurter Buchmesse are now confirmed. The authors are: Emmanuelle Bayamack-Tam, Patrick Boucheron, Emmanuel Carrère, Patrick Chamoiseau, Philippe Claudel, Marie Darrieussecq, Julia Deck, Jean-Baptiste Del Amo, Virginie Despentes, Négar Djavadi, Philippe Djian, Mathias Enard, Gaël Faye, Jérôme Ferrari, Tristan Garcia, Hédi Kaddour, Dany Laferrière, Alain Mabanckou, Mathias Malzieu, Achille Mbembe, Wajdi Mouawad, Amélie Nothomb, Sylvain Prudhomme, Atiq Rahimi, Noëlle Revaz, Olivia Rosenthal, Jean-Christophe Rufin, Leïla Slimani, Jean-Philippe Toussaint and Tanguy Viel.

Paul de Sinety says: "These first names are a symbol for the French-speaking literary diversity, which are also relevant to the German publishing industry. Combined with the wish to introduce these new author generations to the German audience."

Juergen Boos says: "This year’s Guest of Honour centres language as an identity-defining means of expression. The literary dimension is being extended to an individual and political position. This October, we are going to welcome French-speaking authors in Frankfurt – as diverse as they can possibly be. Through their works and the dialogue with them we are able to experience current living environments from very different perspectives. Personally I’m very excited about that."

These writer names are a first part of the list that will consist of 75 authors who will be attending the Frankfurter Buchmesse. Additional author names in the field of children’s and juveniles literature will be announced simultaneously at the Leipzig Book Fair and the Salon du live Paris in March. The last names will be announced on the 20th of June at the press conference held by the Frankfurter Buchmesse and the presentation of the Guest of Honours’ Pavilion.
Another highlight of the Pavilion will be presented at the Soirée française du cinéma: the cabine L.I.R (en.: digital reading cabinet), an installation developed by Joris Mathieu and Nicolas Boudier in cooperation with Haut et Court.

France’s appearance as Guest of Honour at the Frankfurter Buchmesse (11th to 15th October 2017), is going to be the highlight of the French cultural year all over Germany, with a rich and interdisciplinary program of cultural events organized by the Institut français Germany. In 2017 indeed, more than 450 events will be labelled "Francfort en français / Frankfurt in French", associating theatre, contemporary music, fine arts, cinema, literary meetings and 250 French speaking artists and 75 authors will travel all over the country. This cultural year will be marked by great moments before the Frankfurter Buchmesse 2017: especially, the cooperation between the Quai du Polar of Lyon and the Leipzig Book Fair, as well as the Authors’ Tour of Germany, starting with the Tour de France in Düsseldorf.

For more information:
http://www.francfort2017.com/francfort-en-francais.html
http://www.institutfrancais.com/fr
https://www.buchmesse.de
http://www.buchcontact.de

About the Frankfurter Buchmesse
The Frankfurter Buchmesse is the international publishing industry’s biggest trade fair – with 7,100 exhibitors from more than 100 countries, around 278,000 visitors, over 4,000 events and approximately 10,000 accredited journalists and bloggers - in attendance. It also gathers key players from other media, including the film and games industries. Since 1976, the Frankfurter Buchmesse has featured an annual Guest of Honour country, which showcases its book market, literature and culture to attendees in a variety of ways. The Frankfurter Buchmesse organises the participation of German publishers at around 20 international book fairs and hosts trade events throughout the year in major international markets. With its Business Club, the Frankfurter Buchmesse offers essential services and an ideal setting for the activities of publishers, entrepreneurs, pioneers, experts and visionaries. The Frankfurter Buchmesse is a subsidiary company of the German Publishers & Booksellers Association.

Media contacts:
Germany & international:
Press team „Francfort en français / Frankfurt auf Französisch"
Murielle Rousseau, Charlot Uhrig
BUCH CONTACT Rosastraße 21, 79098 Freiburg
& BUCH CONTACT Karl-Heinrich-Ulrichs-Str. 20c, 10785 Berlin
Tel.: 0049 (0) 761 29 60 4-0, E-Mail: buchcontact@buchcontact.de
www.buchcontact.de

France:
Institut français
Anne-France Laugel
Communications Manager „Francfort en français / Frankfurt auf Französisch"
annefrance.laugel@institutfrancais.com

Frankfurter Buchmesse :
Katja Böhne, Vice President Marketing & Communications
Tel.: +49 (0) 69 2102-138, press@book-fair.com
Jördis Hille, PR Manager
Tel.: +49 (0) 69 2102-271, hille@book-fair.com
> Press information online >www.buchmesse.de/en/press/press-releases
> Photos in print quality >www.buchmesse.de/en/press/press-material