"The French Alliance in Bishkek" has the honour to present the Francophone Week in Bishkek from 4 to 12 April 2025. This week of events is organised jointly with the Embassies of France, Switzerland, the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of Belgium, Canada and Morocco. The programme includes educational, cultural and entertainment events. This year's festival theme is "French as a Window to the World".
Francophonie Week is a festival of French language and cultures of French-speaking countries, which is celebrated annually in spring all over the world. The organisers and partners have prepared a wide programme for the general public, which consists of more than 30 events.
French is the fifth most spoken language in the world and the third most spoken business language, spoken by more than 300 million people on five continents, and is also the language of diplomacy. 88 countries are members of the International Organisation of La Francophonie, 29 of which have French as an official language.
Concerts
In Bishkek, the festival will begin with a concert of the State Academic Large Symphony Orchestra named after A.Dzhumakhmatov under the direction of chief conductor Rakhatbek Osmonaliev, which will take place on 4 April at 18:30 at the A.Maldybaev Opera and Ballet Theatre in Bishkek (free entry).
A children's concert of French music will be held at the M. Abdraev Republican Secondary Specialised Music Boarding School on 8 April at 11:00.
Films
The Swiss comedy "Roll the Drum" will be presented on 11 April at 18.00 at the cinema "Russia" in Bishkek. The film is in French with Russian subtitles. Free entry with tickets, which can be obtained at www.kassir.kg webpage.
Screenings of films by French, Belgian and Canadian directors will take place at the French Alliance in Bishkek (address: 242 Ogonbaeva St.) and at the House of Cinema (13 Logvinenko St., free entry).
Conferences
On 7 April at 17:00 the National History Museum will host a conference about the Louvre from Gordana Faye. The French Alliance will host a conference about studying in European countries with Erasmus+ on 11 April at 14:30 and a conference from the French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC) will take place on 7 April at 11:00.
Closing Ceremony
The closing ceremony of the Francophonie Week and awarding of the winners of the contests will be held on 12 April at 14:00 at the Novotel Hotel and will end with a French musical evening in the resto-bar Teleport (7 April 168/1).
Other events
The festival programme also includes a children's performance "The Cat in Boots" (Musa Dzhangaziev Puppet Theatre (April 6 at 15:00), a rugby tournament (April 5 at 11:00 at Molodaya Gvardiya Boulevard, 124B/1), exhibitions, contests, songs, tastings of French and Swiss wines and much more. "Join us for unforgettable experiences!
More information is available on social media:
If you have any additional questions, please contact below:
French Alliance in Bishkek: Begaim Israilova, tel: +996 772 251 700, afbichkek.direction@gmail.com
Embassy of France: Guzel Ishenova, tel: +996 312 979 714, guzel.ishenova@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Embassy of Switzerland: Tursunai Chodurova, tel: +996 312 301036, tursunai.chodurova@eda.admin.ch