Dominique Wolton is director of research at CNRS and is director of the laboratory, ‘Information, Communication and Scientific Issues’ since 2000. His research concerns, through numerous publications, analysis of the relationship between culture, communication, society and politics. Having written extensively on media, political communication, Europe and Internet, he explores the political and cultural consequences of the globalization of information and communication, major political issues of the twenty-first century.

For this first festival of “Carnet de Voyage” (Travel Diary) in India, the association ‘Il faut aller voir’ - host of the now famous biennial of Clermont-Ferrand - is a partner of the Embassy of France in India. Explorers, artists, writers, travelers have penned down their travels. Boards naturalists, ethnologist diaries, scientific surveys or simply impressions of travel, all these logs mark a historic and artistic journey of a particular literary style. Be it autobiographical pieces or memoirs of voyage, the book takes a particular view on the world at a given moment of time.

The second “Rendez-vous with French cinema”, showcasing the best of contemporary cinema, never seen before in India, will be presented by Unifrance, the agency promoting French cinema abroad. Celebrity actors, directors and producers will interact with India’s film industry.

The festival will also showcase legendary films including major masterpieces from the “New Wave” cinema in association with the Cinémathèque Française”.
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Set mainly in Paris, this is the story of Sadhavi, a married woman, who finds herself intensely attracted to Kanav, whom she meets in Paris. An intelligent woman with a traditional upbringing, she finds herself somewhat alone and emotionally vulnerable.

Priti Aisola was a student of English Literature at the Central University of Hyderabad. She is the wife of an Indian diplomat who, as a result, has traveled extensively. She has lived in France, the Ivory Coast, Syria and Hungary.
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Eminent French and Indian Architects and city planners will discuss issues of sustainable architectural practises concerning both countries.

A literary feast: Readings and interactions with eminent French language authors and their Indian counterparts. This festival will enlighten and entertain audiences across several Indian cities. The “DSC Jaipur Literature Festival”, acclaimed as one of the foremost literary festivals in the world, will present a special focus on French writing.

Titi Robin built his personal musical universe by borrowing instinctively from various sources, including India and North Africa. His career spans 27 years, with over 200,000 records sold and more than1200 live performances throughout the world.

An MTV host, singer, author, songwriter and producer, China is the quintessential eclectic artist who embodies the American idea of an entertainer. This trait was inherited from her mother, the award winning American soul singer Dee Dee Bridgewater.

“Meetings” brings together European ballet, Bharatanatyam, Kathak as well as North and South Indian classical music and European classical music. This dialogue establishes itself, respecting the identities, histories and aesthetics of each style.”

“French photographer Olivier Culmann, clicks people watching TV. He captures that instant when consciousness drifts, drugged by the phosphorescence of the cathode tubes. Nothing is more banal and unsettling. This is how, in this quasi-immobile passivity, with a numbed brain that television viewers receive the world in its entirety.” – Cécile Cazenave, Journalist

In the wake of the graffiti movement, urban artists make use of paint as well as posters, stencils and installations, to create their own personal pictorial style.“Active Surfaces… art in urban space” unites the main players of Street Art in France – and brings them to India.

In this exhibition created by Le Pavillon de l’Arsenal, 30 international architects, including Thom Mayne, Jean Nouvel, Dominique Perrault, SANAA, explore sustainable architectural practises. Eminent French and Indian architects and city planners will discuss these issues too.

This program will bring together 30 leading French scientists from public and private research institutions. They will deliver more than 120 scientific talks in major Indian cities in a wide spectrum of fields, such as Laser & Plasma Physics, Aerospace and Aeronautics, Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Environment, Biotechnology and will encourage genuine bilateral dialogues on subjects of global importance.For more information, consult the French Science and Technology Service web site at: http://www.frenchsciencetoday.org/