The 12th edition of the Pont-Saint-Esprit and Rhone Gard book festival takes place from November 16 to 22. Many meetings are on the program, notably the weekend of November 16 and 17 at the Cazerne de Pont-Saint-Esprit.
The Pont-Saint-Esprit and Rhone Gard book festival is an invitation to stroll through the eclectic worlds of the invited writers, but not only that. Beyond author meetings – thirteen are there for the 12the edition which takes place from November 16 to 22 -, the cultural event is divided into numerous meetings, in different places, organized thanks to the local partners of the association which runs the festival.
The highlights take place on the weekend of November 16 and 17 at the Cazerne de Pont-Saint-Esprit. On the program are author meetings (afternoon), a library book fair (Saturday morning), various workshops (including a writing workshop on Saturday at 9 a.m., for adults and teenagers aged 13 and over) , a large dictation (Sunday at 1:45 p.m.), the screening of “Chercheur d’âmes”, the portrait of a passionate explorer of the Amazon, at Ciné 102 (Sunday at 10 h 30)… Without forgetting the unveiling of the winner of the traditional short story competition (Saturday at 11 a.m.). “We selected 14 news out of the 159 we received from different countries” underlines Pascale Dondey, member of the association. “We are publishing a digital collection of these 14 short stories, accessible to everyone.”
“Every year we choose a different theme, this time it's the Wild” underlines the volunteer. Wild in all its meanings, told by the authors, of the works that the Le Chant de la terre bookstore will present on Sunday. Among them, Jacques Durant, scientific advisor to the director Jacques Perrin and director of the Mondes collection wild at Actes Sud (Saturday at 5:30 p.m.).
Exhibitions on wolves, the Amazon…
Wild again in the exhibitions presented as part of the festival: “In the footsteps of the wolf” at the Pont library (from November 16 to 30), “Amazonia, 20 years of travel” at the village hall (from November 16 to 30). November 17 and November 22 for the closing evening). Even the residents of the Pont-Saint-Esprit hospital nursing home took up the theme to create their own exhibition (from November 14 to 24 at the nursing home).
On this theme again, the author Jean-Baptiste Panafieu will offer a conference “Born animal, being human” Monday November 18 at 6:30 p.m., at Ciné 102. The actress and storyteller Maëlle Mietton and the music conservatory also delve into this universe to enchant the courtyard of the Museum of Sacred Art (Tuesday November 19 at 6:30 p.m.). In “Le bal des loups”, Patric Rocheby, accompanied on the violin, will lead the public (from 11 years old) on the trail of this mythical animal through tales (Wednesday November 20, 6 p.m., Bagnols media library).
It is to a completely different savagery, a thriller version, that the play “Who killed Jack Johnson?”, by the Captain's company, invites the public to the Chapelle Stage (Thursday November 21 at 8:30 p.m.).
Also wild are the characters in the first novel by director and actor Lucas Belvaux, “Les Tormentés” – whose film adaptation by himself will be released in 2025 –, which will close the festival on Friday November 22 (at 6 p.m. at La Cazerne).
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