One can’t help but get a sense of chaos and confusion when confronted with the daily news. Raging, cries of anger, and apocalyptic events multiply, seem muted and the result is the destabilization of democratic benchmarks. The only responses to these events have been repression and control, a subversive use of disorder, or relativism and disengagement; reactions unlikely to meet the challenges of justice and emancipation.
True to its mandate, the Festival des Libertés invites us to question these findings on chaos and to evaluate the impact of these reflexive responses on rights and freedoms, democracy, equality, secularism and social cohesion. The Festival induces us to leave behind panic, powerlessness and gloom, and to use judgment to understand the complexity of our era and to update the adjudication of freedoms, solidarities, and power in a changing world.
The Festival des Libertés offers documentaries, debates, shows, exhibitions and concerts. It offers all forms of expression critically engaged with their era, is inspired by the promotion of a more just world, but presented in a convivial and festive atmosphere for which it is known.
Complete rundown of the program on www.festivaldeslibertes.be
Formed in working-class Paris in the 1980s, this charismatic and raucous tribe quickly stood out with their many transnational influences, both Parisian and (…)
Vladimir Steyaert shines a light on Alan Turing, Giordano Bruno, Camille Claudel and Chelsea Manning. What do they have in common? Their bold stand against the status quo!
Inspired by the beginnings of the Berlin techno scene, KOMPROMAT is a new group formed by Vitalic and Rebeka Warrior. She is one half of the crazy electro-p (…)
‘Young women land in a strange world. Some laugh about it, others avoid it or even give in. Alice on the roof will not choose. She observes this world, sitt (…)
Mixing contemporary art, dance, theatre and music, Abd Al Malik thrusts Le jeune noir à l’épée painted by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1824-1898) into our era (…)
Why is contemporary youth attracted by nationalist ideologies? Paola Pisciottano tries to understand the success of the resurgence of identity politics among adolescents.
Prolific iconoclast at the crossroads of Anglo-Saxon Rock and text songs, Hubert-Félix Thiéfaine has created, over a long career, a particular and undeniabl (…)
Girl or boy? Neither. Both. Other. Searching for her own identity, Silvia Calderoni from Italy meditates on her appearance and looks to accept her unique body, free of society’s definitions.
After selling out their eight shows at l'Ancienne Belgique in just a few hours last May, dEUS is offering us a new show at the centre of the magic that is t (…)
Since the great revelation of the ambitious album, ‘Au Baccara’, Odezenne, pioneers of a new genre, will continue to refine a specific signature that invite (…)
Rapper, poet, novelist and playwright, Kate Tempest leads us through the uncertainties of our time. First known for her plays and poetry, Kate Tempest (…)
An emblematic figure of African reggae for over 30 years, the Ivorian star will be on stage at the Festival des Libertés. Tirelessly driven by political and (…)
