Cérémonie d’ouverture de la Francophonie 2026

The Inaugural Conference is a highlight of the Francophonie Festival, devoted this year to a  "world to come" (le monde à venir / le monde avenir), using words that start from the present to think about the future, including science fiction.

The respective French-speaking Consuls General will give a speech, reminding the importance of French in each country.

The guest of honour, Guy Delisle, will introduce his work, including his recent comic book about the life of Eadweard Muybridge, the pioneer of moving images.

Clarence Tsui, a Hong Kong-based film critic, film studies lecturer and festival curator, will discuss with him about Muybridge, who paved the way for future cinema technologies (e.g.: bullet scene in The Matrix). Together they will question the future of images in the graphic novel and cinema world, providing insights into anticipating how visual arts could look like in the coming years.

The session will be moderated by French television journalist Anne-Claire Poignard.