Founded in 2012, this festival has become a unique cultural event in the UK, taking over an entire town and shining a spotlight on comic art in all its forms. Over one long weekend, visitors will enjoy talks, exhibitions, performances, book launches, workshops, a dedicated children’s programme and, for the second year running, an International Comics Rights Market.
Firmly rooted in its local community while looking outwards to the world, LICAF now counts more than thirty international partners and has established itself as a leading platform for cultural exchange through comics and graphic novels. This year, the official festival bookseller will be La Belle Adventure, an independent Edinburgh-based bookshop specialising in francophone comics.
The Institut français du Royaume-Uni is delighted to support the French presence at LICAF 2025.
On Saturday 27 September, renowned illustrator, designer and animator Serge Bloch will take the stage for A Tour de Force. Known worldwide for his children’s series SamSam and Max and Lili, Bloch’s work reaches far beyond the page, from large-scale interactive installations at the Shanghai Botanical Gardens and the Musée Chagall, to playful animations for Nickelodeon. In conversation with his long-time collaborator Mathieu Diez, he will combine live drawing with a discussion of his creative journey and sources of inspiration.
The Institut français du Royaume-Uni also supports the participation of Sarah Lapalu (Éditions ça et là) and Karine Leclerc (Éditions La Doux) in the International Comics Rights Market, which will once again provide a professional platform for exchange between UK creators and international publishers and agents. Alongside it, the Comics Marketplace will showcase publishers, authors and collectives to the general public, bridging the gap between commercial, professional and cultural dimensions of the comics world.
By supporting these initiatives, the French Institute reaffirms its commitment to strengthening cultural dialogue between France and the UK, and to celebrating comics as a universal art form.
