April 2008 Chers Amis, Le rideau est retombé sur le Festival du film français de l'Alliance française qui connut, à nouveau, un grand succès auprès d'un public très cinéphile. S'il fallait n'en garder qu'un souvenir, ce serait celui de Catherine Deneuve gravissant les marches du "Norton" un samedi soir. Merci Madame ! La jeune et talentueuse photographe Valentina Schulte expose son travail. Sa maîtrise de la lumière et des compositions élégantes servent à merveille le regard qu'elle porte sur notre environnement quotidien. A partir du 17, Médecins sans Frontières présente un très intéressant photoreportage sur la République démocratique du Congo. Et à nouveau, pour le plus grand plaisir des gourmets et des gourmands, Diane, David et Jane nous invitent à une Soirée Fromages et Vins consacrée à la cuisine du fromage. Amitiés francophones ! Hervé Devoulon, Directeur

April 2008 Dear Friends, Alas, the curtain has been drawn on the Alliance Française French Film Festival, which once again has been an amazing success. The image that will forever stay with us... one Saturday evening, Catherine Deneuve walking the red carpet in Norton cinema. Merci Madame! This month, the Alliance Française is holding an exhibition by the talented young photographer Valentina Schulte. Her elegant use of light beautifully illustrates her work, centred on our daily environment. From the 17th, Doctors without Borders will showcase an eye-opener display on the Democratic Republic of Congo. We also look forward to Jane, David and Diane's ever-popular Cheese and Wine Evening dedicated to cooking with cheese. Best francophile wishes! Hervé Devoulon, General Manager

Tuesday 1st April
"Celebrating the Voyage of the count de La Perouse"
Presented by Monsieur le Consul Général de France & in conjunction with the AF de Sydney, Dr Talmont, president of the Association médicale francophone d'Australie, will introduce Dr Peter Orlovich, president of the "Amis de La Pérouse", who will speak about the voyage of the count de La Pérouse, with an Australian Historical View.
AF Gallery, 6.30pm. All welcome!

Monday 7th April
Tapas for lunch!
Come and join us for a special lunch to celebrate the cuisine of our Spanish friends. You will taste & discover amazing flavours: think chorizo, anchovies, sardines, garlic prawns, ensaladilla, the famous tortilla española and special meatballs! All prepared by Pablo, our Spanish chef. Too hard to choose? Try them all!
AF Café from 12 to 3pm
$6 to $10, BYO wine
One glass of sangria per person offered with a meal.
Booking essential.

Until 15th April
"Walking Tour: Part 2" by Valentina Schulte
This exhibition is centred upon the idea of showing the smaller, often missed details of our new ultra-disposable lives. Similar to 'behind the scenes footage', it shows the hidden urban society that often claims to be nonexistent and sometimes irrelevant. These are parts of the city that are obscured from sight by the visual cacophony of the urban sprawl, the "architectural style through the city that is peacefully overlapped". Unassuming places where the urban and natural landscapes meet can create a feeling of melancholy or suspense and are seductive in their rare moments of calm.
AF Gallery. All welcome!

Friday 11th April
Fromages & Vins
Cooking with Cheese!
March was dedicated to the Alliance Française French Film Festival, which kept us running from Paddington to Leichardt to catch as many movies as we could! But we're back & very inspired!
Our first four evenings focused on the best way to appreciate the character of an individual cheese: simply with bread, a glass of wine & some good company. But why not start playing with it?
Cheese is the best collaboration between man and nature. Made with one basic ingredient, milk, it is amazingly versatile, perfect on its own and yet an ideal partner to other seasonal ingredients. Join Jane, David & Diane for original recipes, a few combinations made in heaven, the best wines and lots of fun.
Grand café, 6.30. Booking essential
Members $55, Non members $65
(No access to the building after 7pm)

Soirée de la Francophonie
L'AF Sydney would like to warmly thank the sponsors and partners who generously participated in the celebration of the Francophonie. Morris' Egyptian Restaurant; Le Petite Tarte Café; Le Pain Quotidien; Australia on a Plate; Tagine Restaurant; Tinderry Terrines; Souk in the City; La Brasserie; Ambiance Interiors; Biguine Bio; Quebec Oz Club; Yorgo Koporis $ Dusha Balkana; Mr et Mme Kaufman; Mme Susie Newman.

Never before has Australia seen a group show by the internationally acclaimed VII photo agency. VII, founded by the same number of photo-journalists in New York in Sept 01, has been responsible for creating and relaying to the world many of the images that define the turbulent beginning of the 21st century. In 2005, five photographers travelled with MSF to document the crises of the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaire. "This remarkable photo exhibition sheds light on the suffering of the population of DRC. The Congolese have experienced war, displacement, disease, malnutrition, epidemics, sexual violence... Yet the tragedy of the Congo has remained virtually invisible to the world." The Australian section of Médecins Sans Frontières is proud to bring this international photo exhibition to the Alliance Française de Sydney. A MSF spokesperson will be here to introduce the exhibition & answer any questions the audience might have. AF Gallery, 6.30pm. All welcome