The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) in Partnership With S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices and The Maysles Institute Presents World Nomads: Haiti

The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF) in Partnership With S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices and The Maysles Institute Presents World Nomads: Haiti

An Annual Series Exploring Transculturalism

MUSIC - TALKS - CINEMA - ART

May 2009 at FIAF

NEW YORK, April 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The French Institute Alliance Francaise (FIAF), New York's premiere French cultural center, announced today the launch this May of the second edition of the World Nomads series celebrating transculturalism. Following the highly successful inaugural season, World Nomads will focus on Haiti this year, bringing some of the most exciting examples of Haitian culture and art to New York. Along with partners S.O.B.'S, PEN World Voices, and The Maysles Institute, FIAF will present a month-long celebration exploring the crossroads of culture and identity and providing a forum for dialogue and inspiration.

The small Caribbean island of Haiti is home to a rich and vibrant community of artists and writers, where influences and beliefs from all over the world have come together to create a cultural voice that is at once unique and universal. This May, World Nomads at FIAF will showcase outstanding Haitian music, cinema, literature, and visual arts that have come to inspire audiences and artists worldwide. Highlighting both acclaimed and up-and-coming artists, World Nomads will explore the diverse cultural landscape of Haiti through performances, talks, screenings, and an exclusive gallery exhibit.

"With the close connection of the French and Creole languages and 500,000 Haitian emigres who now call the New York area their home, a focus on Haiti this year is a natural sequel to World Nomads' first season," says Lili Chopra, FIAF Vice President of Cultural Affairs. "This year's ambitious program will bring together exceptional musicians, film-makers, writers and artists, to provide an exciting celebration of transculturalism and an engaging examination of Haitian culture and art."

Some highlights of the FIAF series will include the pioneering "voodoo-rock" band RAM, the writings of the multi-talented Franketienne, the revelatory filmmaking of directors Jonathan Demme and David Belle, and the works of some of Haiti's brightest contemporary artists, including Wesner LaForest and Odilon Pierre, to name a few. Encompassing all FIAF cultural programming for the month and stretching between the Maysles Institute in Harlem and S.O.B.'S and the Bubble Lounge downtown, the expansive World Nomads program is set to captivate all of the senses.

   World Nomads: MUSIC    RAM   Friday, May 1 at 8pm   Venue: FIAF, Florence Gould Hall   Admission: $15 FIAF Members; $20 Non-Members   Note: In Creole, English and French    After-Party and Performance @ S.O.B.'S   Featuring RAM and CaRiMi   Doors open at 11pm, Shows at Midnight and 2am   Venue: S.O.B.'S   Admission: $25    Haitian Freedom Celebration  

Featuring Barikad Crew, Haitian Fresh, and CaRiMi with special guest, Wyclef Jean

   Monday, May 18 at 9pm*   Venue: S.O.B.'S   Admission: $25   *Doors open at 7pm. Tickets not available through FIAF    Haiti Optimiste: A global acoustic and visual evening   Featuring Emily King, Michou, and a surprise guest   Wednesday, May 27 at 8pm (doors open at 7pm)   Venue: The Bubble Lounge  

Admission: $10 at the door including a Haitian cocktail - all proceeds to benefit HELP (Haitian Education and Leadership Program) and the Cine Institute, Haiti's only film school

   World Nomads: TALKS    Reading and Writing Multilingual Haiti  

With Dany Laferriere and Madison Smartt Bell, moderated by Kaiama L. Glover

   Saturday, May 2 at 1pm   Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom   Admission: Free and open to the public   Note: In English and French with interpretation    Franketienne: Haitian Identity   With Franketienne   Saturday, May 2 at 3pm   Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom   Admission: Free and open to the public   Note: In French with English interpretation    Krik? Krak!   Saturday, May 2 at 5pm   Venue: FIAF, Le Skyroom   Admission: Free and open to the public   Note: In English, French, and Creole    See fiaf.org for a complete list of PEN World Voices events on May 2    World Nomads: CINEMA    CinemaTuesdays every Tuesday in May    Venue: FIAF   Admission: Free for Members; $7 for Students; $10 for Non-Members    The Agronomist (Jean Dominique l'Agronomiste)   The Man by the Shore (L'homme sur les quais)   Anita   Miss Body Plastik   Mrs. Little Bones (Madame Ti Zo)   Haiti Cherie   The Gospel of the Creole Pig (L'evangile du cochon Creole)   Eat, For This is My Body (Mange, ceci est mon corps)    World Nomads: ART    Jonathan Demme Collection: Inspiration of Haitian Art   Thursday, May 7th - Saturday, June 13th   Opening reception: Wednesday, May 6th - 6 - 8pm   Gallery hours: Tuesday - Friday: 11am - 6pm; Saturday: 11am - 5pm   Venue: FIAF Gallery   Admission: Free and open to the public    World Nomads: VENUE    The French Institute Alliance Francaise   FIAF  Florence Gould Hall; 55 East 59th Street   FIAF  Tinker Auditorium; 55 East 59th Street   FIAF  Le Skyroom; 22 East 60th Street; 8th floor   FIAF  Gallery; 22 East 60th Street; ground floor   All venues are located between Park and Madison Avenues.    Information: fiaf.org, 212 355 6160, World Nomads:   fiaf.org/events/spring2009/2009-05-world-nomads.shtml    Subway: 4, 5, 6, N, R and W at 59th Street; F at 63rd Street    Tickets: fiaf.org, 212 307 4100    Box office: 55 East 59th Street   

Hours: Tuesday: 11am - 7pm, Wednesday - Friday: 12 noon - 7pm, Saturday: 12 noon - 4pm

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: FIAF (French Institute Alliance Francaise)

CONTACT: Jennifer Kutsher of the FIAF (French Institute Alliance
Francaise), +1-646-388-6677, jkutsher@fiaf.org

Web Site: http://fiaf.org/

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Profile: International Entertainment