Of Books, Films and Food

 Books and Literary Prizes
 Spotlight on a Member: The Alliance Française
 Films you should not miss
 The Galette and The Cake
 Solidarity Dinner at l’Ardente
 Les Expressions Françaises: "Mettre les livres au pilon"

Books and Literary Prizes

As winter settles in with its chilly winds and soft snowfall, there is something magical about curling up with a good book or watching a good movie. The world outside may be gray and cold, but it is the perfect time to explore new genres, dive into old favorites, or follow our members’ recommendations.

Le Prix Littéraire Alliance Française/BonjourBooks 2025. Our very own "Prix des Libraires"

The Prix des Libraires is a unique French literary award given annually by a jury of independent booksellers from across the country. Booksellers, as the first point of contact for readers, are well-positioned to gauge what will appeal to their customers.

Announced in January, it recognizes books that resonate with both booksellers and readers. The selection process involves booksellers nominating a shortlist, which is then reviewed and voted on by a jury.

Le Prix Littéraire Alliance Française/BonjourBooks 2025.
Friday, January 30, at 7 pm
At the Alliance Française

What about French literature outside of Paris? Is there no salvation outside the capital? It is the observation of the Parisianization of French literature that motivated Jennifer Fulton, owner of Bonjour Books, and Sarah Diligenti, Executive Director of the Alliance Française of Washington, to create a prize that would give a voice to other voices.

Four speakers will present some of the prizes awarded in 2025 by Parisian juries.

Click here to register.
This event will be exclusively in French.
Books will be available for purchase on site.

The most famous annual literary prizes in France besides the Prix des Libraires:

L’Alliance Française and its role in Promoting French Literature

The Alliance Française focuses on promoting French culture globally.

Through its cultural programming, educational initiatives, and literary events, the Alliance Française acts as a bridge between French-speaking culture and other cultures.

It organizes various cultural events such as book fairs, author readings, literary festivals, and discussions. These events, often paired with workshops and discussions on French literature, foster direct engagement between French authors and their readers.

By spotlighting authors through literary prizes and special programs, it gives them a platform to share their insights on global issues, language, and identity, helping to keep French literature relevant and thriving across borders.

It also collaborates with French publishers, bookstores, and literary organizations to facilitate the international distribution of French books, ensuring their reach to a global audience.

Soulmates and Strangers: Online Literary Salon with Author Judith Umlas
January 24, 2026 at 2 PM
Alliance Française de Washington

Maybe you were lucky enough to have had a pen pal living in another country with whom you exchanged letters in each other’s language.

Judith Umlas, author of Soulmates and Strangers, will talk about the lifetime friendship between her American mother and her French penpal.

It is an emotion-filled story that survives the geographical distance and chapters of life, including the dreadful years of WW2.

Join this online presentation and discussion with Judith Umlas and Valerie Galinsky, NEUROLANGUAGE COACH® and translator of Soulmates and Strangers into French.

The event will be in English and will be ONLINE.

Reserve your tickets here.

Films you should not miss

Democracy on Screen
Wednesday, January 14, 2026 6:30 PM 9:30 PM
NYU - 1307 L Street Northwest Washington, DC

French in Motion is delighted to present its first DEMOCRACY ON SCREEN screening and debate event in Washington with the feature documentary CHAOS KABOUL, directed by Xavier Lefebvre.

Intimately filmed over 3 years from the inside, French ambassador to Afghanistan, David Martinon, is the only foreign diplomat to anticipate the coming chaos of the withdrawal of American forces in 2021. He mobilizes every resource to evacuate his staff and hundreds of civilians who faced mortal danger with the return of the Taliban.

Democracy on Screen is a monthly documentary and conversation series created by French in Motion in partnership with The John Brademas Center of NYU showcasing recent international documentaries that examine democracy as a pillar of human rights, followed by moderated discussions with journalists, filmmakers, and scholars.

The post-film discussion will feature Nick Spicer, Europe Editor at NPR.

This series is in-person and requires that you register here.

"Right in the Eye" by Alcoléa & Cie

January 20, 2026 at 7:30 PM
La Maison Française

Villa Albertine DC presents the live movie-concert "Right in the Eye", a spellbinding multimedia creation by composer and performer Jean-François Alcoléa, inspired by the films of cinema pioneer Georges Méliès.

Designed for audiences of all ages, "Right in the Eye" is an immersive experience where film, light, and live music intertwine.
Showcasing 12 original films, the production blends early cinema with contemporary musical invention in a poetic and playful homage to Méliès’ boundless imagination.

The performance will be followed by a Q&A with the artistic team.

Reserve your tickets here.

"Crooks in Clover" ("Les Tontons Flingueurs") film screening

January 28, 2026 7:30 PM
La Maison Française

"Crooks in Clover" ("Les Tontons Flingueurs"), the legendary 1963 comedy directed by Georges Lautner and written by Michel Audiard, whose razor-sharp dialogue became part of French popular culture. Starring Lino Ventura, Bernard Blier, and Francis Blanche, the film is widely regarded as one of the most iconic and endlessly quoted works in French cinema history.

Synopsis: A dying mob boss hands over his business to an old friend, Fernand. The boss’ assistants want to get rid of the latter. But are the Volfoni brothers and Théo real threats? Ensuing fights and shootouts are more comical than deadly.

Following the screening, the ALPA (Embassy Staff Leisure Association) will host a live Q&A and interactive quiz, inviting audiences to explore the film’s cult status in a lively and playful discussion.

Reserve here.

La Galette and The Cake

The relationship between the two cakes is clear, but the King’s Cake in the U.S. has evolved into a celebration not just of Epiphany, but of the entire Mardi Gras season.

SO here in the U.S. we can eat the Galette until…February 17th!

The tradition is deeply rooted in French influence particularly in New Orleans. When the French settled in Louisiana in 1718, they brought with them their Galette des Rois tradition to celebrate Epiphany on January 6th, marking the arrival of the Three Kings and the beginning of the Carnival season, which ends on Mardi Gras.

They both involve a hidden figurine in the heart of the cakes, a fun family practice making these two versions of a similar cultural tradition.

If you want to become King or Queen of the Day, here are two events you should not miss. And if you want more, check out the recipe below.

Dégustation de Galettes des Rois - King Cake Tasting

January 9, 2026 7 PM
Alliance Française de Washington
https://www.francedc.org/

Celebrate this Epiphany season with a tasting of Galettes des Rois - King Cakes. The AFWDC is partnering with Un je ne sais Quoi… a local French Patisserie and Café, to bring you three delicious flavors of Galettes, and a French cultural experience you will not forget.

This event will take place in the cozy French language library.

Get your ticket today to save your slice!

La Galette des Rois – Les Voeux 2026 – A French Celebration

January 17, 2026 7 PM
La Maison Française

Travel to French soil and celebrate with us two of the most important French traditions. No plane ticket required.

The cake, traditionally topped with a golden paper crown, is a sweet and delicious puff pastry confection with almond-flavored frangipane filling. But the celebration is much more than that, as the person who will end up with la fève, a small porcelain charm hidden in one of the slices, becomes a “King/Queen for the Day”.

Les Voeux: Wishing “Meilleurs Voeux pour la Nouvelle Année” (Best Wishes for the New Year) in France is not just something you do on January 1. French people do it the entire month, and it often becomes the pretext for more celebration and Champagne toasting.

Reserve here.

For those of you who miss these celebrations, why not try this recipe at home? And don’t forget the fève—that’s French for ‘bean’! No porcelain charm? No problem—just use a real bean, the authentic tradition.

Recipe Galette des Rois.

Make the Frangipane:
o Cream butter and powdered sugar.
o Add almond meal, eggs, vanilla, rum, and salt. Mix until smooth.
o Chill for 30 minutes.
Create the Galette:
o Preheat oven to 200°C (400°F).
o Roll out the puff pastry into two circles (22-24 cm).
o Place one pastry circle on a baking sheet, spread frangipane on top, leaving a border. Hide the fève inside.
o Place the second pastry circle on top, seal edges, and decorate with a knife.
o Brush with beaten egg.
o Bake for 25-30 minutes until golden brown.

And if you want fine dining, join us for the Solidarity Dinner of the Comité Tricolore at l’ Ardente.

February 18, 2026 6:30 PM
200 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington DC 20001

Reserve here.

The Comité Tricolore is inviting you to a Solidarity Dinner at l’ Ardente, a timeless Italian culinary experience !

L’ Ardente is an hospitality venture from Chef David Deshaies and his award-winning team behind Unconventional Diner. The restaurant reflects the glorious contrasts of Italy itself: haute cuisine yet simple; glam yet rustic; indulgent yet restrained.

Amongst many awards, l’ Ardente was #3 in the Washington Post Best Restaurant List in 2023 and Chef David Deshaies was a semifinalist for the James Beard Awards. Also in 2023, l’Ardente won the Upsacle Casual restaurant of the year RAMMY Award.

You don’t want to miss this dinner!

Check the special 3-course menu designed for the Comité Tricolore!

Tickets are available at the price of $110 per person: $90 for your meal (tax and tip included, drinks excluded) and $20 as a donation to the Comité Tricolore. The donation is tax deductible.

Les Expressions Françaises

Mettre les livres au pilon
To put books in the shredder

The expression "mettre des livres au pilon" has its origins in the historical practices of printing and book production. The word "pilon" refers to a device used for grinding or crushing materials, especially grains, but in the context of publishing, it referred to an instrument for destroying unsold books, defective copies, or books removed from circulation.

Shredding a book can be used as a tool of censorship but is mostly used in the context of publishing when a book is withdrawn from sale for contractual or legal reasons (e.g., violations of copyright).