Festival International de la Bande Dessinée

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The Festival international de la bande dessinée d’Angoulême, more commonly known as FIBD, is the main French-speaking comic book festival. It takes place every year in January and combines exhibitions, debates, meetings and signing sessions, with the main French-speaking authors present.

Numerous prizes are awarded there, including the grand prize of the city of Angoulême, which rewards an author for all of his work; and the Fauve d'or, rewarding an album released the previous year.

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The first edition of the international comics show took place from January 25 to 27, 1974. This in the disused wing of part of the Musée d’Angoulême. The organizing association is chaired by Francis Groux. Jean Mardikian is the general secretary, while the festival itself is directed by Pierre Pascal. Hugo Pratt signs the first poster. Burne Hogarth, Harvey Kurtzman, Maurice Tillieux, André Franquin, Claire Bretécher, Gotlib, Fred, Tibet, Peyo, Jean Roba, Jean Giraud are present. This first edition was an immediate success and welcomed ten thousand visitors. The following edition welcomes 15 000 people.

Then, in 1981, the festival moved beyond the amateur stage. Indeed, Angoulême becomes a “permanent capital of images in France”, beyond just comics. Thus, a comic strip school workshop and the Maison de la bande bande (documentation and research center) were opened in 1982. Then, during the 1984 festival, Jack Lang announced the creation of a National Comics Center and image (CNBDI). A museum, media library and research center at the same time, it has since become Cité Internationale de la Bande Dessinée.

Finally, in 1996, the international comic strip fair changed its name to become the Festival International de la Bande Dessinée (FIBD).