Italy protagonist in Paris with “Passioni Italiane”

Italy is at the centre of the Parisian cultural scene for seven days of meetings, lectures, dialogues, exhibitions and performances organised in some of the French capital's most iconic venues, as a great container of words, ideas and emotions, namely "Passioni Italiane" (Italian Passions). With two parallel paths: participation as Guest of Honour in the Festival du Livre de Paris (from 21 to 23 April at the Grand Palais Éphémère) and the eighth edition of ITALISSIMO, the Festival of Italian literature and culture (from 18 to 23 April in various venues around the city).

Participation in the Festival du Livre, with a privileged area of 500 square metres inside the Grand Palais Éphémère and an intense programme of events, is made possible thanks to the support and collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture with the Centre for Books and Reading, the Italian Embassy in Paris, the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris, ICE - Agency for the promotion abroad and the internationalisation of Italian companies and AIE - Associazione Italiana Editori (theItalian Publishers' Associationwhich, as on similar occasions, makes use of the Ex Libris agency). The Media partner is Il Giornale della Libreria.

The programme of the Festival du Livre de Paris - the most important French and French-speaking event in the field of publishing, as well as one of the most relevant in Europe - is matched by that of ITALISSIMO curated by Fabio Gambaro. Created in 2016, the Festival has established itself as one of the most eagerly awaited events for the promotion of Italian literature and culture in Paris, with growing favour and support from both the transalpine cultural world and the public and media. ITALISSIMO offers a highly articulate programme, in which a mix of the best-loved authors from the Italian publishing scene and a selection of new voices takes place through the exchange and intertwining with the other arts: between writing and image, thought and performance. It takes place in various venues and in collaboration with prestigious cultural institutions in the city, such as Maison de la Poésie, the Italian Cultural Institute, the Consulate General of Italy, Théâtre de l'Odéon, Théâtre Les Déchargeurs, Sciences Po, Sorbonne Université, Sorbonne Nouvelle, L'Entrepôt and Panthéon movie theatres, Maison d'Italie, Bibliothèque Publique d'Informationdu Centre Pompidou and the high schools of the Paris region. This eighth edition of ITALISSIMO is supported by ICE - Agency, the Centre for Books and Reading, the Embassy of Italy in Paris, Centre National du Livre, Sofia, Drac Ȋle de France, Monte Paschi Banque, Castaldi & Partners, the Consulate General of Italy in Paris and Comité d'animation culturelle Paris1.

"Passioni Italiane"will first and foremost be a great celebration of authors. They will be entrusted with the task of telling the French public about the creative, cultural, editorial and artistic wealth of contemporary Italy. But the journey - which is anticipated in the first months of 2023 by the cycle "Sei autori sulla via del Festival del Libro di Parigi", at the Italian Cultural Institute in Paris - will break down the barriers of the present time, going all the way back to the sources of literature and the universal myth of the Comedy (Le voci di Dante with Toni Servillo, opening event on Monday 17 April at Théâtre de l'Odéon), and then descend the river of time in the company of the classics, with tributes to Gabriele D'Annunzio and Italo Calvino. The exhibition Eccellenze italiane. Figure per Italo Calvino, organised in collaboration with Bologna Children's Book Fair and set up inside the Italian Pavilion, will also be dedicated to Italo Calvino on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of his birth. An exciting spring week, in which the colours of Italy - protagonists in the poster image signed by Emiliano Ponzi - will contribute to making the Ville Lumière even brighter.