SelfMadeHero talks adaptations at the Institut Francais

A panel from SelfMadeHero's The Man Who Laughs - art by Mark Stafford

The world of adaption is the focus of a SelfMadeHero panel discussion at this year’s BD & Comics Passion event at the Institut Français, London on 2nd June. 

What are the difficulties involved with turning a classic book into a graphic novel? Three top writers and artists reveal magical process they adopt towards a trio of very different stories.

Artist Mark Stafford tackles Victor Hugo’s The Man Who Laughs, a satirical tale of 18th century Britain that also inspired the creation of The Joker; INJ Culbard takes on the challenge of H.P Lovecraft’s gothic tales including his latest volume, The Shadow Out of Time, and writer David Zane Mairowitz explores the Kaftaesque world with adaptations of The Trial and soon-to-be-released The Castle. The event is chaired by Resonance FM’s graphic novel expert, Alex Fitch.

SelfMadeHero has championed many graphic novel creators in the French language. These include David B (Black Paths, Best of Enemies), Margaux Motin (But I Really Wanted To be An Anthropologist), Jérémie Dres (We Won’t See Auschwitz) and Frederik Peeters (Pachyderme, Sandcastle and the recently acquired Aâma series). Full details can be found at: www.selfmadehero.com

• From Classic to Graphic panel discussion - Sunday 2nd June   Time: 3.30-4.30pm. The BD & Comics Passion runs 30 May – 2 June at Institut Français, London.  Full details:  www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk

New Venue and More TIckets for Jaime Hernandez Comica Conversation

We knew Jaime Hernandez was popular, the celebrated co-creator of Love & Rockets and author of some of the greatest graphic novels ever, but the response to his exclusive speaking engagement in London at the end of this month has been phenomenal.

Due to massive demand for tickets which have almost sold out already on WeGotTickets, Comica have moved Jaime Hernandez's Comica Conversation with Woodrow Phoenix to a bigger venue, the fantastic Ciné Lumière Cinema at the Institut Francais.

This lets the team offer a further batch of tickets through their own Box Office - here is the booking link - or ring the box office on 020 7871 3515 -  these will also be snapped up fast!

New venue address: Institut Français, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DTNearest tube station: South Kensington on the Piccadilly, Circle & District lines
New Earlier Start Time: 6.00pm to start 6.30pm SHARP on Thursday May 30th! Runs till 8pm, followed by signing.

"We're thrilled that this extra-special Comica Conversation is being hosted by the third BD & Comics Passion Festival," says Paul Gravett.

• Full details on the Comica Festival website: www.comicafestival.com

BD & Comics Passion Festival programme announced

The Institut français, London has announced the line up for its 2013 BD & Comics Passion Festival (30 May - 2 June 2013), which includes appearances by Patrick Sobral, Laurent Verron, Paul Gravett, Posy Simmonds, Etienne Davodeau, Glen Baxter, Ian Culbard, David Zane Mairowitz and Mark Stafford.

The rise of the comic book in the past few years has been staggering, and even to the casual observer, unavoidable. With the likes of Nemo and Habibi topping the charts, and comic book artists such as Chris Ware, Bryan Talbot and Neil Gaiman becoming household names, the genre, after being looked down on for so many years, is finally being recognised as a creative powerhouse, and given the consideration it truly deserves.

Appearing under different guises – hardback, softback, tall, short, thick, paper, digital – and under different names – comic books, graphic novels, comix, bandes dessinées – comic books are taking over our bookshops, our films, our clothes, our museums... To celebrate this momentum and to explore the many influences of comic books, the Institut français launched a new festival in 2011, the BD & Comics Passion, bringing together legendary creators for innovative events and thrilling discoveries.

Previous editions boasted illustrious comic book artists such as Dave Gibbons, Guy Delisle, Bryan Talbot, Bastien Vivès, Kevin O’Neill, Rosinski and Pat Mills. This year's edition will feature extraordinary creators including Posy Simmonds, Edika, Glen Baxter, Etienne Davodeau, Marc-Antoine Mathieu, Régis Loisel, Hunt Emerson, Pénélope Bagieu and more.

Once again, the programme will prove “as imaginative as the work itself” (Metro) with groundbreaking events such as Drink & Draw, a one of a kind event mingling live drawing and wine tasting led by renowned British Master of Wine Tim Atkin. Due to popular demand, this edition will feature not one but two Drawing Jams, with French stars La Grande Sophie and GiédRé providing an entrancing soundtrack to the guest illustrators' drawn improvisations.

In addition to talks and workshops, the festival will host its trademark event, the Drawing Duo, which encourages a French artist and a British artist to collaborate on a series of drawings before the eyes of the audience – an emblem of the festival in a sense. This year, the Drawing Duo is back with two Franco-British collaborations: Posy Simmonds with Etienne Davodeau, and Hunt Emerson with François Boucq.

This festival is also an opportunity to explore the links with literature, and show that the genre of comic books is not cut off or quarantined. In previous editions, well-known literary figures such as China Miéville and Audrey Niffenegger talked about their favourite comic books, and this year, Glen Baxter will unveil his literary influences – from Apollinaire to Jarry – while I. N. J. Culbard, David Zane Mairowitz, Mark Stafford discuss the challenges, and ultimately the magic, of turning a literary classic into a graphic novel. Another highlight of this year's edition is a talk with French underground literature legend Virginie Despentes, who will reveal her “graphic greats”.

Children will be able to attend workshops to create their own comic book on paper or iPad, masterclasses with celebrated authors to draw their favourite characters, and films for the whole family.

All the French guests have had English translations of their works, with four of them coming out during the festival: 3” (Marc-Antoine Mathieu, Jonathan Cape), Apocalypse Baby (Virginie Despentes, Serpent's Tail), Peter (Régis Loisel, Soaring Penguin Press) and The Initiates (Etienne Davodeau, NBM).

Programme

Thursday 30 May
9.30am-10.50am

Film: Zarafa
2012 | dir.s. R. Bezançon & J.-C. Lie | animation | in French with English subtitles | ages 6+ | Preview screening | free

11.15am-12.35pm

Film: Boule & Bill (Billy & Buddy)
2013 | dir. A. Charlot & F. Magnier | with Franck Dubosc, Marina Foïs, Charles Crombez | in French with English subtitles | ages 6+ | Preview screening | free

1pm-2.45pm

Film: The Smurfs
2011 | col | dir. R. Gosnell | in English | ages 4+ | free

6.30pm-7.30pm

Talk: Virginie Despentes - My Graphic Greats
in English | £8, conc. & members £6

Friday 31 May
9.30am-10.30am

Talk & Live Drawing – All about the Smurfs
ages 6-9 | in French | £5

11am-12pm

Talk: Patrick Sobral - How to Make a Comic Book
ages 8-12 | in French | £5

1pm-2pm

Talk & Live Drawing: Laurent Verron - Drawing Boule & Bill
ages 7-10 | in French | £5

5pm-5.20pm

Prize Ceremony with Paul Gravett, Patrick Sobral, Alex Spiro, and Raymond Blanc
in English | free

8pm-8.45pm

Drawing Jam with La Grande Sophie
£12 | See both concerts for only £15!

9.30pm-10.15pm

Drawing Jam with GiédRé
ages 18+ | £7 | See both concerts for only £15!

Saturday 1 June

10am-11am
Workshop with Pascal Garray
in English & in French | ages 8-11 | £7 | max. 25 children | no grown-ups!

11am-1pm

Workshop: Create Digital Comics on your iPad
in English & in French | ages 12-16 | £15 | max. 10 children | no grown-ups!

11am-12.20pm

Film: Zarafa
£8, conc. £6

11am-12pm

Talk: Marc-Antoine Mathieu - 3’’, The Making-Of
in English | £7, conc. £5

11.30am-12pm

Talk: Antoine Maurel - The Smurfs Unveiled
in English | ages 9+ | free

1.30pm-2.30pm

Talk: Edika - Am Aïe Djoking?
in English | £7, conc. £5

2.30pm-3.15pm

Drawing Duo: Posy Simmonds & Etienne Davodeau
in English | £7, conc. £5

2.30pm-3.30pm

Workshop with Laurent Verron
in English & in French | ages 8-11 | £7 | max. 25 children | no grown-ups!

4pm-5pm

Workshop with Patrick Sobral
in English & in French | ages 8-11 | £7 | max. 25 children | no grown-ups!

4pm-4.45pm

Drawing Duo: François Boucq & Hunt Emerson
in English | £7, conc. £5

7pm-8pm

Special event - Drink & Draw
ages 18 + | £15

Sunday 2 June
11am-12pm

Talk: Pénélope Bagieu - I Love London
in English & in French | £7, conc. £5

11am-1pm

Masterclass with François Boucq
in English & in French | ages 16+ | £15 | 15 people max

12pm-1pm

Talk: Régis Loisel - My Peter Pan
in English | £7, conc. £5

2pm-3pm

Talk: Glen Baxter - My Literary Influences
in English | £7, conc. £5

2pm-3.20pm

Film: Boule & Bill
£8, conc. £6

2.30pm-4.30pm

Workshop: Get drawing on your Ipad!
in English & in French | ages 8-11 | £15 | max. 10 children | no grown-ups!

3.30pm-4.30pm

Talk: I. N. J. Culbard, David Zane Mairowitz & Mark Stafford - From classic to graphic
in English | £7, conc. £5

4pm-5.40pm

Film: The Smurfs
£5

The INSTITUT FRANÇAIS is at Royaume-Uni, 17 Queensberry Place, London SW7 2DT. Web: www.institut-francais.org.uk

Full programme online at: www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk 

Booking: www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk  Tel: 020 7871 3515

BD&Comics Passion Festival launches comics competition for young artists

Calling all comics devotees:  the BD & Comics Passion Festival is back at London's Institut Français 30th May 30th to 2nd June, with workshops, live drawing, concerts and movies galore are on the agenda, with some of the greatest writers and illustrators, including Patrick Sobral (Les Légendaires), Etienne Davodeau (Les Ignorants), François Boucq (Bouncer, Jérôme Moucherot) and many more…

And since you love comics, why not make one yourself? If you’re aged 7 to 17 and live in the UK, you can participate in the Festival's nationwide contest and stand a chance to win amazing prizes - whether you make it on your own, as a class project, or with friends.

All you need to do is design a comic book full of creativity where the food you love - or hate - most is the centrepiece. Anything can happen: a crazy scientist invents a new smell for Brussels sprouts? We love it! The adventures of Super Cucumber? Go for it! The discovery of a chocolate planet? We’ve been dreaming about it! But careful now, the title and cover of your comic are important, as much as the story and drawing …

A panel of experts will choose the three most inventive and achieved applications. The winners will get amazing prizes, all presented during an astonishing prize ceremony at the Institut Français in London, during the Festival.

Rules

· You must be aged 7 to 17 and you live in the UK to enter
· You can enter the competition either individually or as a group (as part of a school project or with friends)
· Make a comic book: there must be a cover, a back cover, a title, and a story of two pages minimum
· Write your story in French or English or both · Your comic book cannot be considered without the application form, available here in French and in English
· We must receive your entry before Thursday 9th May 2013 at midnight

• For more information, contact 020 7073 1345 or bdl@institutfrancais.org.uk

• Follow BD & Comics Passion on Facebook: facebook.com/BDandComicsPassion 

• Official web site: www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk

London's BD & Comics Passion Festival a huge success

Jonathan Ross at BD and Comics Passion 2012
Photo: BD and Comics Passion

The weekend has passed, the temperatures soared and London's BD & Comics Passion's second festival came and went with an enormous bang.

The extended weekend of celebrations saw some of the biggest names in European Comics pass through L'Institut francais to offer the public some exceptional events. The Friday night's drawing duo between Tom Gauld and Guy Delisle was truly heart warming. With a play list created by the two illustrators, attendees found themselves following pages of funny narrative and free hand sketches that led us into their strange but wonderful minds. What a way to kick start the festival!

And what a festival it was. Grzegorz Rosinski let people into the very personal world of Thorgal, Pat Mills and Kevin O’Neill talked about London’s architecture and the back drop of the city in comics, Jonathan Ross was both “refreshing and self deprecating” as he spoke about the medium, Alessandro Barbucci and Luke Pearson fought monsters to the sound of orchestral crescendo’s, the Trolls animated corridors as they amble about L’Institut, Christophe Arleston lit the way for young writers on their quest to comics stardom, David B. gave insightful commentary on his works The Best of Enemies and Karrie Fransman excited a lot of up and coming illustrators though her ideas and input on their work.

Paul Gravett and Dominique Poncet enjoy a glass of wine at the Festival.
Looks it's a French festival - of course there was wine!
Photo: BD and Comics Passion

And that’s not even the half of it. There were more talks, workshops, signings, the concert (which we will no doubt have to do again) the party, screenings, Q & A’s and generally a lot of fun and laughter.

Guy DeLisle on stage.
Photo: BD and Comics Passion

"We are so thrilled to have been able to create and host something of this scale and cannot thank enough all the brilliant authors, journalists, publishers, bloggers, students, teachers and fans who made this festival absolutely spectacular," Joséphine Seblon told DownTheTubes. "So, after a very long weekend, we are getting ready to re-build, re-vamp and start anew for the next!"

• Have a look at the Festival's Facebook page for all the pictures, sketches, comments and updates on the weekend just been: https://www.facebook.com/BDandComicsPassion

Win tickets to see to see Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill!

The BD and Comics Passion Festival is back in London later this month - and we're delighted to announce DownTheTubes has two pairs of tickets to give away for their Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill event, titled "London and Other Realities"

This is the second festival organised by London's L'Institut Francais in association with Comica Festival, it's intended for fans of comic books, graphic novels and bandes dessinées.

Taking place between between 24th and 27th May, the festival features a terrific line-up of extraordinary creators (Christophe Arleston and Jean-Louis Mourier, David B., Guy Delisle, Karrie Fransman, Tom Gauld, Pat Mills, Kevin O’Neill, Luke Pearson, Grzegorz Rosinski, Jonathan Ross), music (Mesparrow), performances (Freeeks Factory), films and the best booksellers (Gosh!, La Page, Cinebook).

Pat Mills is the creator of 2000AD, developing its main character Judge Dredd and many popular stories such as Sláine and ABC Warriors. He worked alongside Joe Colquhoun (Charley’s War) and Kevin O’Neill (Nemesis the Warlock and Marshal Law). He is currently working on a screenplay for Subotica Films and writing his eleventh volume for best selling graphic novel series Requiem with Olivier Ledroit.

Kevin O’Neill is one of Britain’s greatest comic book illustrators. Although his art got him in trouble with his publisher IPC in the past for being “too violent and disturbing,” his distinct style has gained him great popularity. He has produced art for The ABC Warriors, Tharg the Mighty, 2000AD, co-created Marshal Law and Nemesis the Warlock with Pat Mills as well as The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen with Alan Moore.

To win tickets to see Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill's talk, simply answer the question below and send your answer, together with your contact details, including phone number, johnfreeman6-bdl@yahoo.co.uk.

What is the theme of Pat Mills and Kevin O'Neill discussion at the BD & Comics Passion festival on Saturday 26th May 2012?

Entries must be received by 7.00pm GMT Monday 21st May 2012

With nearly 30 events including live drawing, talks, exhibitions, workshops, a drawing jam with Mesparrow and a dress-up party, the team behind it say this innovative festival will have something for everyone.

In addition to the official web site (www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk )  there’s also a Facebook page for the Festival.

• Check out the event's special new passes! (The Fan: 5 events for only £15, The Addict: 10 events for only £25)

• Download the full programme in pdf

BD and Comics Passion Festival returns to London in May

I don't know, you don't have a comics gathering to go to and then three come along at once. In addition to the long-announced Bristol International Comic Expo (12th-13th May) and Kapow (19th-20th) in London next month, we've just had word that the BD and Comics Passion Festival is back between 24th - 27th May.

This is the second festival organised by London's L’Insitiut Francais in association with Comica Festival, it's intended for fans of comic books, graphic novels and bandes dessinées.

The festival features a terrific line-up of extraordinary creators (Christophe Arleston and Jean-Louis Mourier, David B., Guy Delisle, Karrie Fransman, Tom Gauld, Pat Mills, Kevin O’Neill, Luke Pearson, Grzegorz Rosinski, Jonathan Ross), music (Mesparrow), performances (Freeeks Factory), films and the best booksellers (Gosh!, La Page, Cinebook).

With nearly thirty events including live drawing, talks, exhibitions, workshops, a drawing jam with Mesparrow and a dress-up party, the team behind it say this innovative festival will have something for everyone.

"We've been working really hard over the last few months to give Londoners L’Insitiut Francais’ second comics book festival and have managed to get our hands on some real treats," Angela Sangma Francis told downthtubes.

"We’re also still trying to spread the word to all that may want to join in, from the comic curious to die hard fans, so if you think it's something to write home about... then please do!"

In addition to the official web site (www.bdandcomicspassion.co.uk)  there’s also a Facebook page for the Festival.


• Check out the event's special new passes! (The Fan: 5 events for only £15, The Addict: 10 events for only £25)

• Download the full programme in pdf