The French Spring festival, which kicks off in Ukraine for the 15th year in a row on March 31, aims to update the perception of France in Ukraine and deepen Ukrainians’ understanding of contemporary French art. This year, the festival events are being held in nine Ukrainian cities. Apart from much-loved French movies, the festival will feature theatrical performances, music concerts, national cuisine, and photo exhibitions.
Musical performance ‘Povitria’ (Air)
This year’s French Spring festival will open with a French-Ukrainian music performance entitled “Povitria.” The plot centers on freedom, equality, and fraternity – key principles important to both France and Ukraine. The music, written by French composer Pierre Thilloy, will be performed by a Ukrainian band Dakh Daughters, which is famous for its theatrical folk musical performances. The atmosphere at the opening ceremony will be complemented by artists from the contemporary musical-theatrical group Nova Opera.
Sofiyivska Square (22 Volodymyrska St.) March 31. 8:30 p.m. Free
Cinema show Riznoshersti Pesyky (Patchy Dogs)
The cinema show Riznoshersti Pesyky comprises animated movies by British, Polish, and Soviet directors from 1970s, and live pop-rock from French musician Joseph d’Anvers. The performance will last for 40 min.
Scene 6 (Dovzhenko Center, 1 Vasylkivska St.) April 2. 7:30 p.m. Hr 100-200, buy tickets at kiev.karabas.com/en/kinokoncert-riznoshersti-pesiky
Jazz Concert. Domergue-Litvinyuk Project
A collaboration of French, Polish and Ukrainian artists resulted in the founding of a new band, called the Domergue-Litvinyuk Project. The musicians play double bass, piano, and drums, and provide vocal accompaniment themselves.
32 Jazz Club (32 Vozdvyzhenska St.) April 3. 8 p.m. Hr 800, buy tickets at kiev.karabas.com/en/domergue-litvinyuk-project-fr-ua
Unified White exhibition
Unified White is an art exhibition created by French-Ukrainian artist Samuel Ackerman and Ukrainian poet Oleh Lysheha. Ackerman was born in western Ukraine, later emigrated to Israel, and after that settled in Paris. Inspired by Lysheha’s poetry, the artist created some of the art pieces that will be exhibited. As part of the art project, a discussion about a role of Paris in Ackerman’s creativity will be held (date to be announced).
Art 14 Gallery (14 Mykhailivskyi Ln). April 5 – May 13. 12-7 p.m. Free
Street Collages by Ukrainian Kostenko twin brothers
Twins Vasyl and Ivan Kostenko are the designers famous for creating stickers for the Mitsubishi I-Miev series of electric cars, as well as various logos for companies and a collection of postcards, on which old black and white portraits of Ukrainian women are combined with colorful ornaments. This new exhibition will be devoted to their street collages.
French Institute (84 Olesia Honchara St.) April 12-30. 7 p.m. Free
Culinary meeting with Michelin star holder
There can’t be a French festival without French cuisine. French chef and holder of Michelin stars Patrick Raingeard will host a workshop in Kyiv to share his culinary secrets.
It’s not the Louvre gallery bar (4 Vyacheslava Lypynskoho St.) April 15. 12 p.m.
International culinary festival
Several master classes will be held within this international culinary festival. Such specialists as Christophe Michalak, Angelo Musa, Anabelle Lucantonio will give lectures.
International Culinary School DGF (86 Kazymyra Malevycha St.) April 17-20. Hr 300
Photo project ‘Zone (2009-2011)’
The photo project “Zone (2009-2011)” was created by Guillaume Herbaut in Chornobyl, the city 90 kilometers northeast of Kyiv, where in 1986 the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded. The project is not the first time the photographer worked on this topic – another one, called Chernobyltsi, won the Kodak Critics Prize in 2001.
Taras Shevchenko National Museum (12 Tarasa Shevchenko Blvd.) April 18 – May 6. 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (closed on Mondays), Free
Pre-Premier Movie showings
“Jealous,” “Montparnasse Bienvenue,” “The Guardians,” “The House by the Sea,” and “Back to Burgundy” are five French-made movies that will be screened at the festival before their official Ukrainian distribution. All of the movies will be screened in French, with Ukrainian subtitles.
Kyiv Cinema (19 Velyka Vasylkivska). April 19-25. Hr 100-120, buy a ticket at www.kievkino.com.ua/uk/1359/index.html
France in Ukraine employment fair
The France in Ukraine fair perfectly suits those looking for a job with an international company. Organized by the France-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce, the fair will feature such companies as L’Oreal, Danone, Credit Agricole, Schneider Electric, Leroy Merlin and others.
Congress Center Ukrainian House (2 Khreschatyk St.) April 26. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. Free, register at www.ccifu.com.ua/ua/jarmarok-vakansii/rejestracija
For further details, updated dates, prices and locations check the French Institute in Ukraine Facebook page.
