Come meet some of the world's most celebrated graphic novelists and comic book artists across a full week-end of conversations, masterclasses, screenings, book signings, parties, and workshops featuring Barry Blitt, Aleksi Briclot, the Brizzi Brothers, Delaf, Anita Kunz, Loui, Françoise Mouly, Peter de Seve, Adrian Tomine, and more.

Schedule of Events:

Friday, March 28, 2025

11:00 am: Little Nicholas - Happy As Can Be

Attention: For school groups only. Not a public event.

Dir. amandine Fredon, Benjamin Massoubre, 2022, France, 121min, DCP
In French with English subtitles

In a display of ingenuity and imagination, co-directors amandine Fredon and Benjamin Massoubre craft an animated biopic of Jean-Jacques Sempe and Rene Goscinny. Sempe and Goscinny are the talented authors behind Le Petit Nicolas, the beloved character who was the subject of many illustrated children's books. Young audiences will appreciate the humor and mischief of Little Nicolas, while adults will treasure the creative retelling of Sempe's and Goscinny's post-war world, as well as the relationships they forged in the U.S.-Goscinny with MAD Magazine, and Sempe with The New Yorker.

7:30 pm: Art Spiegelman: Disaster is My Muse

Dir. Molly Bernstein, Philip Dolin, 2024, U.S., 98min. DCP
In English

While best-known for his Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel Maus, serialized from 1980 to 1991 and voted by the New York Public Library as one of the 125 most important books of the last 125 years, Art Spiegelman's deeply personal body of work also includes In the Shadow of No Towers, Breakdowns, and The Wild Party. He also created 21 provocative covers for The New Yorker, where he was a staff artist and writer from 1993-2003. With his wife, Françoise Mouly, Spiegelman published and edited the acclaimed and influential comics magazine Raw from 1980-1991, where Maus was first serialized. When Maus was banned by a Tennessee school board in 2022, Art, a self-avowed "first amendment fundamentalist," stepped back into the spotlight as an ardent defender of free speech and opponent of book banning.

The screening will be followed by a QandA with Special Guests-stay tuned for the announcement!

After the screening and QandA, join us for the Opening Night Party in L'Alliance's Tinker Auditorium. Savor delicious food and drinks, enjoy music, and watch a Live Exquisite Corpse session where guest illustrators will create a unique piece of art. An Exquisite Corpse is a group drawing activity that gained popularity in 1920s artistic circles when it was adopted as a technique of the Surrealist movement to generate collaborative artworks.

Saturday, March 29, 2025

11:00 am - 7:00 pm: Artist Alley and Bookstore

Throughout the weekend, Tinker Auditorium will feature a pop-up Comic Arts Fest Book Fair: a hub for book signings, meetings with authors, as well as exclusive books and merchandise for sale. Food and beverages will also be available.

Location: Tinker Auditorium, 55 East 59th Street New York, NY

10:15 am: The Fox-Badger Family

Screening of four episodes of the series The Fox-Badger Family, Season 2

Dir. Florian Ferrier, 2022, France, 50min (4 episodes of 12 minutes each)
In English
Recommended Age: 3+

Adapted from the French comic book series, The Fox-Badger Family (La Famille Blaireau-renard) follows the charming and heartwarming tale of Edmund the badger, who marries a beautiful fox named Margaret, blending their two families into one harmonious and lively home. Together with their children-Edmund's twin sons Woodsy and Scoutbadger, his baby daughter Berry, and Margaret's daughter Rosie-they navigate the ups and downs of family life, learning to adapt, love, and grow together in their shared burrow.

Location: Florence Gould Theater, L'Alliance New York, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY

11:00 am: Aleksi Briclot: My Journey with Marvel Studios

60min - In English

In this first exclusive masterclass, graphic artist and illustrator Aleksi Briclot shares the journey that led him to join Marvel Studios. Through visual storytelling, Briclot will dive into the world of concept art, covering character and creature design, as well as keyframe illustration while showcasing numerous examples of his work. He will walk through his transition from creating concept art to working in design studios to breaking into the film industry.

Aleksi Briclot has been a concept artist for Marvel Comics since 2010, and a major talent in cover art for such titles as X-Men, Stranger Things, and The Avengers. A graphic designer and illustrator for a host of fantasy comic books and games, he was named one of the "100 favorite artists" in the fantasy genre by Imagine FX magazine. On the occasion of his first monograph release in the U.S.-Multiverse: The Art of Aleksi Briclot-Briclot details his creative process, inspirations, and diverse experience with the form.

Location: Le Skyroom, Skyroom, L'Alliance New York, 22 East 60th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY

1:30 pm: The Return of the Iconic Gaston Lagaffe

75min - In English

Originally created in 1957 by Belgian cartoonist Andre Franquin, the beloved comic strip character Gaston Lagaffe returned triumphantly in 2023 with Gaston 22: Le Retour de Lagaffe! Newly penned by Quebecois comic artist Delaf (best known for his children's series Les Nombrils), this delightful book was the first new adventure of Gaston since 2007. In this conversation, Delaf offers firsthand insight into Franquin, his legacy, and the process of recreating one of the French-speaking world's most beloved characters.

Location: Le Skyroom, Skyroom, L'Alliance New York, 22 East 60th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY

3:30 pm: How to Become a Mangaka

75min - In English

Join French-Ghanaian manga artist Loui, creator of Redflower for an exclusive masterclass. Originally from Ghana, Loui moved to France to pursue his dream of becoming a mangaka. He started with self-publishing, learning the industry from the ground up before finding his own path to professional publishing. Discover the essential skills, creative process, and industry insights needed to become a professional mangaka. Perfect for aspiring artists and manga enthusiasts!

Location: Haskell Library, Haskell Library, 22 East 60th Street 2nd Floor, New York,, NY

4:00 pm: The Brizzi Brothers' Journey

Join Paul and Gaetan Brizzi, legends of the animation world since their first feature in 1984, Asterix et la Surprise de Cesar, in celebrating the US release of their latest graphic novel, Dante's Inferno (L'Enfer de Dante), a lush adaptation of the 14th century poem The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri. Former co-directors of Walt Disney Studios France and winners of numerous awards for their animation work-which includes Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Fantasia 2000-the brothers turned to writing graphic novels in 2014, and have since created beautiful adaptations of literary classics, from Don Quixote to The Phantom of the Opera.

Location: Le Skyroom, Skyroom, L'Alliance New York, 22 East 60th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY

7:00 pm: Frank Miller: american Genius

Dir Silenn Thomas, 2024, U.S., 109min
In English

Released in 2024, Frank Miller: american Genius documents the unique journey of an unparalleled american artist. Made for his fans following Miller's near-death experience, the film explores the half-century career of the legendary comic book artist and writer, from his small-town beginnings in Vermont to New York City, Hollywood, and beyond.

Location: Florence Gould Theater, L'Alliance New York, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY

Sunday, March 30, 2025

11:00 am: Aleksi Briclot: A World Full of Magic

60min - In English

In this second masterclass, graphic artist and illustrator Aleksi Briclot presents his work as an illustrator and concept artist on the trading card game Magic: The Gathering. He will briefly explain the game's rules and how he came up with the ideas to create his cards. Via a visual presentation, Briclot will discuss the details of concept art, character research, scenery, and creatures. He will also discuss practical advice for fledgling illustrators, and a step-by-step guide to creating a fresco (quadriptych).

Aleksi Briclot has been a concept artist for Marvel Comics since 2010, and a major talent in cover art for such titles as X-Men, Stranger Things, and The Avengers. A graphic designer and illustrator for a host of fantasy comic books and games, he was named one of the "100 favorite artists" in the fantasy genre by Imagine FX magazine. On the occasion of his first monograph release in the U.S.-Multiverse: The Art of Aleksi Briclot-Briclot details his creative process, inspirations, and diverse experience with the form.

Location: Le Skyroom, Skyroom, L'Alliance New York, 22 East 60th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY

11:00 am: Living with Dad

Screening of four episodes of Living With Dad

Dir. Daniel Klein, 2022, France, 50min (4 episodes of 12 minutes each)
In English
Recommended Age: 6+

Living with Dad is a family-friendly sitcom for kids that breaks stereotypes and champions values like diversity and equality. Meet Baby Bella, Roxane, Ondine, and Panda, four unique sisters whose unique personalities invite families to relate and laugh together. Originally a best-selling comic book series from creator Nob, published by Dupuis Editions, it has sold over 500,000 copies globally and continues to inspire readers worldwide, with translations in French, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and more, and a new volume released each year.

Location: Florence Gould Theater, L'Alliance New York, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY

1:00 pm: The Rise of Afromanga

60min - In English

Building on the global phenomenon of Manga, Afromanga is a way to celebrate diversity with authors from Africa, Europe and the US. Artist Loui and Ignatz nominated manga artist, Gigi Murakami discuss the rise of Afromanga, the impact of their work, and how storytelling creates a new vision of this form.

Location: Le Skyroom, Skyroom, L'Alliance New York, 22 East 60th Street, 8th Floor, New York, NY

1:00 am - 6:00 pm: Artist Alley and Bookstore

Throughout the weekend, Tinker Auditorium will feature a pop-up Comic Arts Fest Book Fair: a hub for book signings, meetings with authors, as well as exclusive books and merchandise for sale. Food and beverages will also be available.

Location: Tinker Auditorium, 55 East 59th Street New York, NY

2:30 pm: Paris, 13th District

Dir Jacques Audiard, 2021, France, 106min
In French with English subtitles
Mature audiences (Rated R)

Based on the illustrated stories by renowned New Yorker cartoonist Adrian Tomine, Jacques Audiard's Paris, 13th District explores the messy, exhilarating world of modern romance. Set in stunning black and white, the film follows emilie (Lucie Zhang) and Camille (Makita Samba), who cross paths when Camille responds to emilie's ad for a new roommate. As their connection deepens, new relationships and shifting desires throw their lives into a whirlwind, challenging the boundaries of love, sex, and friendship.

Location: Florence Gould Theater, L'Alliance New York, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY

6:00 pm: Francoise Mouly, from Indie Comics to The New Yorker

Preceded by Closing Night Drinks at 5pm in L'Alliance New York Lobby

90 min - In English

With the participation of Barry Blitt, Peter de Sève and Anita Kunz
Moderated by Nadja Spiegelman

Join New Yorker Art Editor, Françoise Mouly, and special guests for an evening of conversation and storytelling celebrating 100 years of the beloved magazine. Mouly invites a panel of distinguished artists and writers including Anita Kunz, Peter de Sève and Barry Blitt to join her in an overview of her illustrious career.

Fifty years ago, young Parisian Françoise Mouly discovered her twin passions in New York City: the field of comics and underground cartoonist Art Spiegelman. In this conversation, Nadja Spiegelman, Françoise and Art's daughter-herself a writer, editor and publisher-will talk to her mother about her trajectory. She will ask Mouly to recount how she carved her own path in a male-dominated industry by seizing the means of production-literally buying an offset press and becoming the publisher, designer, and co-editor of RAW, the groundbreaking magazine that elevated comics to serious art. The conversation will move to how and why Mouly published Spiegelman's Maus and launched children's imprints Little Lit and TOON Books and finally land on Mouly's thirty-two-year tenure as The New Yorker‘s Art Editor. The two will recount their experience with the open-call website Blown Covers, and jointly editing, publishing, and distributing RESIST! in 2017. The presentation will bring to life Mouly's and Spiegelman's joint interest in nurturing creative talent, and in consistently championing emerging artists.

Location: Florence Gould Theater, L'Alliance New York, 55 East 59th Street, New York, NY

Date: March 28 - 30, 2025

Location: Various Venues in New York, NY

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