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The Institut français' Mosaïques Festival of World Culture began in 1999 with a special season of films, concerts, exhibitions, and talks focusing on North Africa. The festival is now in it's 13th year and has since expanded to embrace, celebrate and promote cultural diversity from around the world. Mosaïques is hosted by the Institut français with an extensive programme of films taking place at Ciné lumière. However the festival has also been hosted at various other London venues including the Ritzy Cinema, Greenwich Picturehouse, Peckham Multiplex, the V&A and the British Museum. Highlights of previous festivals include welcoming directors Mahamat Saleh Haroun, Mehdi Charef, Yasmina Benguigui, Férid Boughédir, Abderrahmane Sissako, Dai Sijie, Faouzi Bensaïdi, César Paes, Khalil Joreige, Xiaolu Guo, Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire. The Mosaïques Party, which takes place every year has become a renowned alternative night of world music and dance. This year director Abdellatif Kechiche is the Mosaïques festival patron and will be present to talk about his career and discuss his latest film Black Venus (Vénus noire, 2010).

 

Mosaïques Festival Patron
Abdellatif Kechiche

Born in Tunisia and raised in France, Abdellatif Kechiche began his career as an actor. Kechiche's filmmaking career took off with La Faute à Voltaire (2000) for which he was recognised as a young talent at the Venice Film Festival. His work rapidly moved from strength to strength with Games of Love and Chance (L'Esquive, 2004), which received a standing ovation at the Césars after winning four awards. He continued to attract international attention with his highly successful film Couscous (La Graine et le mulet, 2007), which was awarded the Special Jury Prize at Venice Film Festival, the prestigious Prix Louis Delluc and four Césars (Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay and Best Female Newcomer). Kechiche has devoted much of his work carefully detailing the daily life of the richly diverse communities made up by French Arabs, from teenagers in the Parisian suburbs' gritty appartment blocks to multigenerational families in the country's picturesque South.

 

Mosaïques and Ciné lumière in the press:

 

'World cinema festivals might be more common these days, but this one shows you the parts of the globe British festivals don't reach.' (Steve Rose, The Guardian, 29/05/10)

 

'With its emphasis on French, European and world cinema, the Ciné lumière at the Institut français is a cultural hot spot for cinefiles.' (Patrick McDonnell, Cinema Business, 01/03/09)

 

This years Mosaïques festival at South Kensington's Ciné lumière is all about the rhythms and rituals of community life in Africa, Europe and the Middle East...Add to this a programme of music, parties and children's workshops, and you've got one of the most vibrant festivals on London's cultural calendar.' (David Jenkins, Time Out, 11/06/09)

 

'(Mosaïques 2009 London) 'Former US president Jimmy Carter once said, "We have become not a melting pot but a beautiful mosaic." and this festival of world culture, now in its 11th year, illustrates his point perfectly...' (Andrea Hubert, The Guardian Guide, 06/06/09)

 

'This year should find Ciné lumière all guissied up after the renovation of its swanky art deco interior. No longer exclusively screening films from France, the Lumière has become something of a standard-bearer for outstanding world cinema in the capital.' (Time Out Student Guide 09)