\u201cIt\u2019s a lot of work, a lot of energy and a lot of enthusiasm,\u201d said event chairwoman and La Jolla resident Vanina Joulin-Batejat. \u201cThe idea was to bring to the U.S. and to La Jolla \u2026 the best of Francophone culture and some kind of French spirit.\u201d<\/p>\n
The festival also points to the importance of bringing different people from different backgrounds together, Joulin-Batejat added.<\/p>\n
\u201cLearning a language is also super important because it\u2019s not [just] learning another language,\u201d she said. \u201cYou are learning another culture and \u2026 another perspective.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"La](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/LJL-L-FRENCH-FEST-ADVANCE.jpg\")
La Jolla resident Vanina Joulin-Batejat is chairwoman of the upcoming French Literature and Arts Festival, with events primarily in La Jolla. (Provided by Vanina Joulin-Batejat)<\/p>\n
Conversations about bringing the French Literature and Arts Festival to La Jolla gained steam in April.<\/p>\n
Ann Craig, a La Jolla resident since 2001, volunteered to be an honorary patron for the event, noting her love of French culture and hopes of bringing it to the Athenaeum Music & Arts Library.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more [Joulin-Batejat] talked about it, the more enthusiastic I got,\u201d Craig said. \u201cAnd I said \u2018How do we make this happen?\u2019 And I ended up underwriting the event.\u201d<\/p>\n
Craig, who has been a part of a French speaking group for nearly 25 years, said she hopes the festival \u2014 particularly the author events \u2014 will draw more people to \u201cphenomenal\u201d French literature, art and music.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hoping they will encounter \u2026 the richness of French culture,\u201d Craig said. \u201cAnd I understand there\u2019s going to be some presentations, some talks that people can attend and it will deepen their awareness of life, difference of culture and just the beauty of literature.\u201d<\/p>\n
Another key player facilitating the festival\u2019s debut is Julie Ripoll, executive director of Alliance Francaise de San Diego, a nonprofit organization and certified Heritage School founded in 1927 to promote the French language and French-speaking cultures. Among the projects the group has organized is the San Diego French Film Festival<\/a>, which was presented for the fifth time this year in La Jolla.<\/p>\n The French Literature and Arts Festival \u201cis totally aligned with our mission because it helps us to foster meaningful cultural exchanges and to promote Francophone writers, artists and educators,\u201d Ripoll said.<\/p>\n The following festival events are set to take place in La Jolla:<\/p>\n Friday, Oct. 3<\/p>\n \u2022 Creative writing workshops and panels<\/strong>: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., various locations. Events include a poetry competition at The Bishop\u2019s School and a short-story competition at UC San Diego\u2019s Geisel Library presided by French author and former Le Monde newspaper editor-in-chief Eric Fottorino. Free.<\/p>\n \u2022 \u201cFrom Book to Screen: \u2018Hola Frida!\u2019\u201d<\/strong>: Screening of the French animated film with English subtitles, 6:30 p.m., San Diego French-American School, 6500 Soledad Mountain Road. Author Q&A will follow. Refreshments included. $10-$15; free for Alliance Francaise students.<\/p>\n Saturday, Oct. 4 \u2022 Francophone authors<\/strong>: Book signings, a panel discussion and interviews, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Athenaeum Music & Arts Library, 1008 Wall St. Free.<\/p>\n
\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/athenaeum.jpg\")
The Athenaeum Music & Arts Library in La Jolla will host events Saturday, Oct. 4, during the French Literature and Arts Festival. (File)<\/p>\n