Alliance Francaise of NW CT

Parlons Francais - Back to Basics 2pm
2017-05-17 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Continuation of the daytime series Parlons Francais hosted by the Brookfield Library. Designed for those who have studied French in the past, and just want a refresher.
Led by Colin Harrison, students have been going ‘back to basics’ with the textbook “Ultimate French – Beginner-Intermediate”. We meet downstairs in the Community Room.
Please register for this event through the Brookfield Library website.

Evening French "Back to Basics"
2017-05-11 18:30 - 20:00, 2017-04-27 18:30 - 20:00, 2017-04-13 18:30 - 20:00, 2017-03-30 18:30 - 20:00
The continuation of the Thursday evening series “Parlons le Français – Back to Basics” is hosted by the Brookfield Library. Designed for those who have studied French in the past, and just want a refresher.
Led by Colin Harrison, students have been going ‘back to basics’ with the textbook “Ultimate French – Beginner-Intermediate”. We meet in one of the corners, upstairs in the Main Library.
Please register for this event through the Brookfield Library website.

Cine-Club 1pm
2017-05-09 13:00 - 15:30
Today’s French film will be “Eight Women” starring Catherine Deneuve, Isabelle Huppert and Fanny Ardent, among others.
Shown in French with English subtitles, this is a musical comedy/mystery from 2002 directed by François Ozon (Potiche. Lots of songs and fun take place in this movie.
At an isolated mansion in the snowy countryside of 1950s France, a family is gathered for the holiday season. But there will be no celebration — their beloved patriarch has been murdered! The killer can only be one of the eight women closest to the man of the house.
AFNWCT members attend free of charge. A suggested donation of $5 is requested from non-members.

Café Conversation in Southbury
2017-05-06 10:30 - 12:30
Café Conversation is a great way to practice, improve and/or help you feel more comfortable speaking French with friendly francophones and francophiles who enjoy speaking French in an informal setting. The group meets two Saturdays a month from 10:30 to 12:30 (be sure to check this calendar often). Have a cup of coffee and meet/greet fellow members for the first half hour or so with some small talk – en français (It’s all about practicing!) and then prepare to tackle the subject of the day.
An article in French (often with a side-by-side English translation) is read out loud en français by the participants to practice proper pronounciation and to check understanding of the French vocabulary and grammar. The article will then be used to spark the conversation.
All levels of French are welcome. AFNWCT members attend free and a $5 suggested donation is kindly requested from all others.
Those with a question, or if you wish to propose a certain topic or lead one of the discussions should contact Brigitte: cafe@afnwct.org
This group meets at the AF Center located at 1 Pomperaug Office Park, Suite 301 in Southbury. See map below.

Short Films Festival - Program 3
2017-05-05 19:00 - 21:00, 2017-05-02 13:00 - 15:30
Program 3 – Field of Dreams
Embark on a cinematic voyage you will never forget, with the greatest new exponents of European filmmaking. The Eurochannel Short Films Tour is back for its eighth edition, with a special programming theme: happiness!
The Eurochannel Short Films Tour has been a successful Eurochannel trademark for the last seven years. A unique event, the tour invites viewers to follow talented directors on an exciting exploration of Europe through short films: with the directors as guides, viewers discover fascinating cultures through the eyes of a filmmaker. Almost every European country and region is represented in this edition of the Eurochannel Short Films Tour – each of whose film is broadcast in its original language and subtitled in English – which is an example of the program’s creativity and dynamism.
Program 3 – Field of Dreams
A Place on Earth – Serbia
Countryside by the Sea – Portugal
Alptraum – Germany/Switzerland
Barathon – France (Île de Ré)
Life is Everything – Italy
Kamila – Czech Republic
A Suggested Donation of $5 is kindly requested. Questions? Call (203) 707-0710

Groupe de Lecture Returns to Summer Home
2017-05-04 18:30 - 20:00 | Burnham Library, Bridgewater, 62 Main St S. (Route 133), Bridgewater, CT, 06752, United States
Meeting on the first Thursday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm, this group has a lot of fun sipping wine, tasting cheese and crackers and taking turns reading out loud in French. Enjoy hearing and sharing the richness of the French language.
May’s meeting will return to its summer location : The Burnham Library in Bridgewater..
The title of the current selection is “Lutetia” by Pierre Assouline and the group will resume reading Lutetia, having read to page 196 last time.
Lutetia (2005) raconte une histoire d’amour entre le détective du Lutetia et une amie d’enfance, mais surtout une histoire de la France de 1938 à 1945 à travers l’histoire de l’Hôtel Lutetia qui a, durant toute l’Occupation, servi de siège à l’Abwehr (les services secrets de l’état-major allemand) puis, à la Libération, de lieu d’accueil des déportés et rapatriés.
If you have any questions, please let Amanda know at lecture@afnwct.org.

AFNWCT Members attend for free; A suggested donation of $5 is requested from others.
Questions or comments? Contact Amanda: lecture@afnwct.org

Parlons Français - Back to Basics
2017-05-03 14:00 - 15:30, 2017-04-19 14:00 - 15:30, 2017-03-29 14:00 - 15:30

Southbury French Discussion Group
2017-05-03 12:00 - 13:30
Our Southbury French Discussion Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 pm.
Today’s discussion will be the French Elections to be held in May.

A combination picture shows portraits of the candidates who will run in the second round in the 2017 French presidential election, Emmanuel Macron (L), head of the political movement En Marche !, or Onwards !, and Marine Le Pen, French National Front (FN) political party leader. Pictures taken March 11, 2017 (R) and February 21, 2017 (L). REUTERS/Christian Hartmann – RTS13KJY
Our Discussion Group welcomes French speakers at all levels, whether you are a French native, fluent, just starting out or haven’t used your French in +20 years – bring your lunch and join us. We promise to be friendly and kind and look forward to meeting you.
AFNWCT members participate at no charge. A $5 suggested donation is kindly requested from all others.
If you have questions, please call 203-707-0710.

Go, Van Gogh! - 2pm
2017-04-30 14:00 - 16:00
Go, Van Gogh will be presented by Michael Norris of Armchair Art Tours*. Mr. Norris received his BA in classics from the University of California at San Diego and his MA in classics and Ph.D. in art history at the University of California at Santa Barbara. He spent twenty years at the Cloisters Museum and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and has lectured on trips all over the world. He lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.
Pastor and painter Vincent van Gogh produced more than 2,000 works of art in his last decade. Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo that, as he had no children, he viewed his paintings as his progeny. We’ll explore some of these “brilliant children,” especially those of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Wine and cheese will be served following the presentation. A suggested donation of $5 will go towards this and future educational and cultural programs.
RSVP: Seating is limited so please reserve your place by calling (203) 707-0710.

*http://www.armchairarttours.com/ – a series of illustrated conversations about art, offered to the public.

Café Conversation - 10h30
2017-04-29 10:30 - 12:30, 2017-04-08 10:30 - 12:30, 2017-03-25 10:30 - 12:30

Morris French Discussion @ 6:00pm
2017-04-27 18:00 - 19:30 | Harvest Moon Timber Frame – Morris, CT, 198 East St, Morris, CT, 06763, United States
The Morris French Discussion group will meet on Thursday, April 27* starting at 6:00 pm at the offices of Harvest Moon Timber Frame, LLC located at 198 East Street** in Morris (see Google Map below.) Previous discussion subjects have featured Edith Piaf, les calissons, le champagne, l’attentat à Nice, Truffaut interviews of Alfred Hitchcock, les parapluies de Cherbourg, the origin of Le Père Noël, Bic pens, Roquefort cheese, Le Beaujolais Nouveau….
Whether you are just learning French or are an advanced speaker, you are welcome to join. You will have an opportunity to learn, practice, and improve your French language skills at these informal meetings. This month’s discussion focus is TBD. If you would like to receive a copy of the handout prior to the meeting, please send your request by email to afnwct@afnwct.org.
AFNWCT Members attend for free; A suggested donation of $5 is requested from others
*Normally this group meets on the 3rd Thursday of the month. Exceptionally April’s meeting is on the 4th Thursday
**East Street is in fact route 109. There’s a big sign out front. There’s both a red barn and a house – the group will be meeting in the house.

Give Local 2017 Open House
2017-04-25 17:30 - 19:30
Come join us for a glass of cheer!
We’ll be watching the GiveLocal Leaderboard to see how we’re doing with donations. Thanks to a generous donor, donations will be matched up to $200 for those who donate on the first day of the campaign.
Stay tuned for special times to give that can augment our chances of winning a special prize.

Give Local 2017
2017-04-25 - 2017-04-26
Give Local Greater Waterbury & Litchfield Hills is a 36-hour online giving event hosted by the Connecticut Community Foundation and is part of the nationwide Give Local America initiative.

Every dollar raised for our organization during this 36-hour campaign will be stretched further by bonus funds and potential prizes donated by Connecticut Community Foundation and their generous sponsors. (In 2016, the bonus percentage was 12% – meaning that a $100 gift magically transformed into $112!)

If you are planning to give an annual gift to your favorite nonprofit, consider making that gift during this 36-hr campaign so you can help generate momentum and help stretch your donation with the available bonus funds.

Remember also to let your friends, family, and social network know about our organization by asking them to join in supporting us.
And, if you’ve already given what you planned to give this year, perhaps you could give a little more. Even $10 contributions add up and will help us take advantage of this fundraising opportunity.

Swift Middle School Visit
2017-04-22 10:30 - 11:30
We’re excited to welcome students from the Swift Middle School in Oakville from 10:30 to 11:30 am. The students and their teacher, Madame Rader are visiting several French cultural sites in the area and will spend and hour at our AFNWCT Language School for a special French activity. Please let Joanne Hutchings know if you’d like to help out with the morning’s activity and/or meet the students.
Please note the Café Conversation meeting is now scheduled for April 29th.

Deadline for Petanque League Enrollment
2017-04-20
Enrollment in the 2017 AFNWCT Pétanque League is due no later than today – April 20. Participation is limited to 24 AFNWCT Members so be sure to sign up early to reserve your spot.

Southbury Discussion Group est "en vacances"
2017-04-19 12:00 - 13:30
There will be no Wednesday French Discussion group meeting today. We look forward to seeing youl when we come back together on the 4th Wednesday, April 26th at noon to play Scrabble!

Facebook Photo Contest - Today only!
2017-04-11 09:00 - 2017-04-12 09:00
Click HERE to go to our Facebook page to see a photo from a recent trip to Provence! This Facebook Photo Contest is part of the #GiveLocalGWLH fundraising campaign to take place on April 25-26.
Like our post – The organization with the most “LIKES” will win $500!
Also – “SHARE” it with your friends – (Likes must be on our Home Page) Merci Beaucoup!

Parlons Français - Back to Basics
2017-04-05 14:00 - 15:30
Continuation of the series Parlons Francais hosted by the Brookfield Library. Designed for those who have studied French in the past, and just want a refresher.
Led by Colin Harrison, students have been going ‘back to basics’ with the textbook “Ultimate French – Beginner-Intermediate”.
Please register for this series through the Brookfield Library website.

Southbury French Discussion Group @ noon
2017-04-05 12:00 - 13:30
Our Southbury French Discussion Group meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from noon to 1:30 pm.
Today’s discussion is about Le Jardinage – Bring your thoughts and be ready to discuss your favorite plants, flowers and vegetables.

Our Discussion Group welcomes French speakers at all levels, whether you are a French native, fluent, just starting out or haven’t used your French in +20 years – bring your lunch and join us. We promise to be friendly and kind and look forward to meeting you.
AFNWCT members participate at no charge. A $5 suggested donation is kindly requested from all others.
If you have questions, please call 203-707-0710.

A Voice from the Congo - 7pm
2017-03-31 19:00 - 21:00
A Voice from the Congo will be presented by Toto Kisaku, a theater director, actor, set designer and producer from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) who is currently residing in Connecticut. For +17 years, he has traveled the world sharing his experience through shows, workshops, and residencies. For this presentation, Kisaku will provide historical background regarding past and current rulers of the DRC and share the story of his life growing up in the DRC. His talk will also touch on his socially conscious theatre work, and his point of view on the cost of freedom.
Kisaku was selected in 2003 among the young artists of Kinshasa by Jacques Livchine and Philip Boulay to represent Congo in the 20th edition at the Limoges festival and to perform in two pieces by Bernard M. Koltes. Kisaku was also in the French version of “Topdog / Underdog” by Suzan L. Parks at the Forum de Blanc Mesnil, the Théâtre Louis Jouvet and the Théâtre de l’Athénée in Paris. He has produced plays such as “Basal’ya Bazoba, “Rencontres au pluriel,” “Surface 1 et 2,” “20 ans, et alors!” and “Mort d’Oluwemi d’Ajumako” among others. Kisaku has also participated in the Avignon, Limoges, Paris Quartier d’Eté, Taz à Oostende, ICAF, Pilotobes, A/D Werf, Right About Now, Toseka, Mantsina, and Connexion Kin festivals.
In 2003, he founded a theater group, K-Mu Théâtre, (Kinois en Mutation) based in Kinshasa with other young Arts and Drama graduates from the National Institute of Arts as a Centre for Research and Artistic Creation in Urban Areas. Toto Kisaku and K-Mu Théâtre were the 2010 recipients of the Freedom to Create Prize, an international award that supports and recognizes artists who strive for social change in places where there is no freedom to create. The prize was awarded for their production of Basal’ya Bazoba a play about the violent persecution of children accused of witchcraft.
Kisaku’s African Tale will be performing at the Tilt Kids Festival in March in collaboration with the Cultural Services of the French Embassy and he is currently working with local companies from the Institut Français de N’Djamena. His newest work is in full preparation and will be performed in July 2017.
Mr. Kisaku’s presentation will be primarily in French however, there will be visuals and/or translations for those who are less fluent in French. Light refreshments will be served after the presentation and time to discuss further questions with our speaker.
Please call 203-707-0710 to RSVP – STANDING ROOM ONLY. A suggested donation of $5 is kindly requested to help defray the costs of this event.

Mille Bornes
2017-03-29 12:00 - 13:30
We play Mille Bornes this week from 12 noon until 1:30pm.
Practice vocabulary for playing ames and learn the French words for travelling by car and getting into trouble with a flat tire or running out of gas…
Bring your lunch and join us!
AFNWCT Members attend for free; A suggested donation of $5 is kindly requested from others.
RSVP is kindly requested by calling (203) 707-0710.

Eurochannel's 8th Short Films Program 2 - 1pm
2017-03-28 13:00 - 15:30
The Alliance Francaise of NW CT is once again co-sponsoring with the Southbury Film Commission Eurochannel’s Eighth Short Films Tour: A Touch of Happiness
Embark on a cinematic voyage you will never forget, with the greatest new exponents of European filmmaking. In collaboration with the Southbury Film Commission and Eurochannel, the Alliance Francaise of Northwestern Connecticut presents programs from the Eurochannel Short Films Tour eighth edition, with a special programming theme: happiness!
The Eurochannel Short Films Tour has been a successful Eurochannel trademark for the last seven years. A unique event, the tour invites viewers to follow talented directors on an exciting exploration of Europe through short films: with the directors as guides, viewers discover fascinating cultures through the eyes of a filmmaker. Almost every European country and region is represented in this edition of the Eurochannel Short Films Tour – each of whose film is broadcast in its original language and subtitled in English – which is an example of the program’s creativity and dynamism.
On the Eurochannel Short Films Tour, viewers will enjoy a cinematic voyage through Europe, hear all its languages, and experience inspiring stories that will move them to reflect on a wide range of topics. This year, the Tour includes new regions such as Nova Gorica (Slovenia) and Nivelles (Belgium). Also, viewers will be introduced to cinematic adventures from the most charming countries such as France, the United Kingdom and Italy. Plenty of places to go, plenty of stories to enjoy… We propose only one question: how happy are you?
Happiness for the world to see
“Happiness depends upon ourselves,” said Aristotle. But while philosophers and religious thinkers often define happiness in terms of living a good life, or flourishing, rather than simply as an emotion, scientists have a more pragmatic approach with measurable indicators.
Scientists argue that experiencing positive events, feeling loved and loving, accepting others and being accepted, and keeping good habits lead to finding happiness. Although it is true that an exact and complete definition of “happiness” is impossible, we can agree that it resides in a sense of well-being rather than wealth or power. But what makes some people happy might not make you happy, and the Eurochannel Short Films Tour explores different motives and definitions of happiness.
Today’s six shorts will be from Program 2 representing the countries listed below:
PROGRAM 2: “A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN”

All Cats Are Pink in the Dark (La nuit tous les chats sont roses, 2015) France Drama 19 min.
Have You Got A Minute? (Ce L’hai Un Minuto, 2013) Italy Comedy 9 min
Shhh (Shhh, 2015) England Psychological Romance 11 min
Botev Is An Idiot (Ботев е идиот, 2012) Bulgaria Drama 9 min
Petit Flirt (Petit Flirt, 2014) Greece Comedy 13 min
Finding Richard (Finding Richard, 2014) England Drama 13 min.

ALL PROGRAMS ARE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC WITH A SUGGESTED DONATION OF $5. Please RSVP by calling 203-707-0710 with your name and the number of people attending as seating is limited.
The Southbury Film Commission is a sub-commission of the Southbury Economic Development Commission and has as its mission to market the town of Southbury as a filming destination by promoting local professionals and support. The Southbury Film Commission welcomes volunteers, either as members or just helping with particular tasks. For more information visit their website at www.southburyfilm.org or contact the SFC Chair at southburyfilm@southbury-ct.gov.
All the Europe you love is on Eurochannel! Eurochannel is the award winning television channel featuring premium European entertainment with the biggest stars in cinema, TV and music. Eurochannel is available on Sling in the US. Visit Eurochannel on www.eurochannel.com, become a fan on Facebook on www.facebook.com/eurochannel and follow them on Twitter on www.twitter.com/eurochannel.
