Events in Corsica

Film festivals:

- Rencontres du cinéma italien (February)
- Rencontres du cinéma espagnol (March)
- Sémaine du cinéma britannique (October)
These 3 main festivals take place in Bastia, and are dedicated respectively to Italian, Spanish and English film production, with a rich program of screenings, meetings, exhibitions and concerts.
For info: www.studio-cinema.com www.festivalcineitalien.com

- Cycles du film Resistance – Ajaccio, Porticcio, Sartène, Porto-Vecchio (www.cine2000ajaccio.com) ((april): this event explores the relationship between cinema and history, with conferences, meetings and screenings dedicated to European and Corsican Resistance. The festival is in collaboration with the Association Ciné 2000, Les Amis de la Résistance Association National des Anciens Combattants de la Résistance (ANACR).

- Festival européen du cinéma et du monde rural – Lama (www.festilama.org) (first week of August): in the heart of the Balagne region, every summer takes place this open air festival, a happy combination of rural world and film art, with retrospectives on classical and unknown films, short films, documentaries, photography exhibitions, conferences and symposia.

- Les journées montagnes – Ajaccio and Corte (www.cine2000ajaccio.com) (second week of October): a festival which proposes films, theater performances, music, conferences and thematic exhibitions dedicated to mountain and mountaineering.

- Journées du cinema espagnol et latino americain – Ajaccio (www.latinita.fr/festivalencours.htm) (second half of November): the festival offers a wide selection of films coming from Spain and south America, with a special eye on new emerging artists. There are meetings and conferences held by specialists and operators, with dance and theatre performances, photography exhibitions and laboratories for children

- Arte Mare/Festival du Cinéma et des Arts en Méditérannée – Bastia (www.arte-mare.com) (November): beautiful festival dedicated to the wide film and art production of the Mediterranean area, with film makers, actors, authors, musicians and songwriters.

Music festivals:

- Festival jazz Equinoxe – Bastia (www.jazzequinoxe.com) (April): a good occasion to have a taste of the best international jazz available, in a relaxed and joyful atmosphere. Concerts are held inside the Théatre Municipal, with an approximate price of € 20.

- Festival du jazz – Calvi (www.calvi-jazz-festival.com) (third week of June): a week full of performances by international jazz musicians, with jam sessions in bars and along the sea promenade.

- Festimusica – L'Île Rousse (third weekend of June): a beautiful festival dedicated to popular music from Corsica, Sardinia and Tuscany.

- Calvi on the rocks – Calvi (www.calviontherocks.com ) (July): a festival combining digital arts, electronic music, rock, hip hop and music made in Corsica

- Estivoce/Festivoce – Pigna (www.festivoce.casa-musicale.org) (second week of July): this festival was founded with the purpose to promote and manage all music activities in the area of Balagne, with special attention to Corsican tradition and instrumental music. Concerts are regularly held in the auditorium, with steady performances by groups coming from all over the island. The music year culminates with the event “Voce in festa”, a 5 days festival which sees involved many traditional artists.

- Nuits de la guitare – Patrimonio (www.festival-guitare-patrimonio.com) (last week of July): International Festival of guitar, drawing every year the greatest guitarists, from jazz to blues, from rock to classical exc…

- Au son des mandolines – Ajaccio (www.ausondesmandolines.com) (Last week of July): the biggest festival in the world dedicated to mandolin, which takes place in the village square.

- Jazz au couvent – Cervioni (http://t.loriaut.free.fr/index2.htm)(end of July, beginning of August): three jazz nights in the background of the unparalleled frame of a Franciscan cluster, with performances by international artists and collateral concerts organized in the square opposite the church. Approximate price for a single night € 17, or € 45 for a 3 nights package.

- Festival de musique – Erbalunga (first week of August): in the heart of this picturesque corner of Cape Corse takes place a string of open air concerts of jazz, pop, flamenco and instrumental Corsican music.

- Festival Pascal Paoli – Bastia (third week of August): Corsican music festival which sees as protagonists emerging artists of the island.

- A festa u viulinu – Sermano, closet o Corte (third week of August): a festival dedicated to violin and traditional instruments, with performances of artists coming from all over Europe, and dances in the village square. All performances are free.

- Settembrinu di Tavagna – Peru Casevecchje, Velone-Olmeto, Taglio Isolaccia, Poggio-Mezzana, Talasani (www.tavagna.com) (end of August): a lively festival of traditional and contemporary music from all over the world, in the characteristic frame of the villages of the Tavagna region.

- Rencontres de chants polyphoniques – Calvi (half of September): created in 1989 to preserve and to divulgate the Corsican tradition of polyphonic songs, this festival represents one of the most important events on the island. During the 5 days festival the citadel hosts polyphonic bands from all over the world, Tibetans, Mongols, South-Africans, Cubans exc.. The festival takes place between the cathedral of Saint Jean-Baptiste, the oratory of Saint-Antoine and Place d’Armes. Absolutely not to miss.

- Musicales de Bastia – Bastia (www.musicales-de-bastia.com) (first fortnight of August): eclectic mix of live music and performances taking place inside the Théatre Municipal and on the stage in Saint-Nicolas square.

Other events:

- Le lazaret Ollandini – Ajaccio (www.lazaretollandini.com): the ancient lazaret of the city has been renovated and turned into a place for exhibitions and music, film, cultural, science and philosophic events.

- Rencontre d’art contemporain – Calvi (from June to September): for three months the citadel of Calvi hosts exhibitions and sale of paintings, engravings, sculptures and other works from the best regional and oversea artists, who can be met in person during the event.

- Zitellina in festa – Bastia (www.bastia.fr):a big party for children and their families, organized by the local tourism association. Some huge inflatable structures are staged in the middle of the city to entertain children, accompanied with laboratories and music events.

- Journées européennes du patrimoine (www.journeesdupatrimoine.culture.fr): as in all the rest of Europe, these days represent a good chance to discover for free and with professional guides, monuments and beauties that are normally closed to the public during the rest of the year. To know the list of sites and monuments included in the program, consult the website of the Ministry of Culture or ask the local tourist offices.

- Fête de la Bande Dessinée – Bastia (www.una-volta.org) (April): international exhibition of comics, with Belgian and French artists dominating the scene.

- Festimare – Ile Rousse (www.festimare.com) (May): this big city event revolves around the sea in all its social and cultural aspects.

- Lumières de Toscane – Porto Vecchio (first week of June): lyrical concerts, theatre performances, craftsmanship exhibitions, laboratories for school and a film exhibition with screenings and symposia held by Italian artists.

- San Ghjuvà – Corte(24th June): the feast of San Giovanni is celebrated with events and performances in the town of Corte.

- Festival international de la bande dessinée – Ajaccio (www.bd-ajaccio.com) (end of June)

- Contafoli/Le festival de la nuit du conte – Vero (end of June): a homage to the art of story telling. During the event, the streets of the city fill up with people who gather up to listen to the story tellers’ tales.

- Fête du Livre Corse - L’Ile Rousse (July): an important event dedicated to literature

- Rencontres Internationales de Théâtre – Olmi-Cappella (www.aria-corse.com) (between July and August): it’s an international theatre stage, where both professional artists and amateurs can participate in staging performances and shows.

- Festa di u mare – Santa Severa (last weekeend of July): antiquities, poetry competition, lessons of sea kayak, water games and a children parade: all this dedicated to the theme of water.

- Ballu in Corti/Festival de danse de Corte – Corte (first week of August): a festival dedicated to dance, in all its forms , in a week rich of performances by famous national and international artists.

- A Santa di u Niolu – Casamaccioli (www.foireduniolu.com) (8-10 September): the most ancient and known festival in Corsice, with singing competitions in all bars of the village. The event revolves around the celebration in honor of the Virgin statue, which was carried here some centuries ago on amuleback. There is a funny story behind this episode: since the statue was said to have miraculous power, all villages were struggling to have it. Finally the statue was tied on a muleback, and the animal was left free to go around, until it reached the village of Casamaccioli. Since then, a pilgrimage is held every year, with an agriculture and artisans fair. This is also a good occasion for debates and symposia on the Corsican identity and the economic prospectives of the island.

- Festiventu – Calvi (www.lefestivalduvent.com) (Last week of October): seven days of concerts, conferences, symposia, creative laboratories, exhibitions, street art, with a special eye on ecologic issues. The common theme is the wind.

Sports events:

- Cyclocorsica – (between the end of May and the beginning of June): a bicycle race throughout Corsica in 7 stages, in some of the best landscapes of the island. Bicycle lovers will be fond of this tour.

- Interlacs – Corte (July): one of the most important mountain races in the world, with about 300 participants who have the privilege to run across some of the finest sceneries of Corsica.

- A Girandulata – Speluncato (third weekend of July): a 14 km running race developed around the picturesque village of Speluncato. At the end of the race participants are offered a buffet lunch with typical products. Registration fee: € 10.

- Via Romana – Carpineto(beginning of August): in the heart of Castagniccia, a territory rich of history and tradition, the Roman road crosses small villages and isolated countryside churches and parishes, where racers can find relief under the chestnut and beeches, or drinking from the numerous springs and fountains met along the way.
For info on next edition: www.trail-viaromana.com

- Festimonti – Bocognano (end of September): festival of the mountain, with trekking and mountain bike tours, horse riding and courses of canyoning and hang gliding, as well as screening of film dedicated to mountain.

- A Balanina – L'Île Rousse (second Saturday of November): 17 km race among the sweet landscapes of the Balagne.