Joburg's newly revamped Francophone multimedia library Dibuka, part of the Alliance Francaise in Parkview, celebrates its 15th anniversary this month with a packed programme of workshops, film screenings talks and children's activities themed around storytelling, bookmaking, animation and comics. Events are bi-lingual (French and English, films are show in French with English subtitles). All events are free with the exception of workshops which cost R50 per person and can be booked online. 

Highlights of the month-long festival include:

Wed Sep 12 at 19:00: Screening of Corniche Kennedy
2017 French film adapted from the novel by Maylis de Kerangal which sees an upper class young girl in search of adventure, befriending a group of idle young teens from the wrong sides of the tracks who live for taking death-defying risks. Watch the trailer here.

Sat Sep 15 from 11:00: Workshop - The Little Prince with Kwasha! Theatre Company
A creative workshop for kids which looks at how to create stories using everyday objects led by the youth-driven South African theatre company Kwasha!. Tickets cost R50 and space is limited. Book online here.

Wed 19 Sep at 19:00: Screening of Lost in Rio 2009
French film by Michel Hazanavicius, part of the classic French series of OSS 117 adventure comedies which follow the globetrotting exploits of the 1960s super spy Hubert Bonisseur de la Bath (aka OSS 117). In this outing OSS 117 finds himself on assignment in Rio de Janeiro, where he is on the hunt for a secret microfilm that lists French Nazi collaborators during World War II. 

Thu Sep 20 at 18:30: Short Animation Movie Night
A night dedicated to contemporary international short animation films selected by multi-award winning South African artist, film and theatre maker Naomi van Niekerk.

Fri Sep 21 from 16:00: Dibuka Kids - Story Time with Lindiwe Matshikiza 
A poetic and interactive afternoon of French and English poetry and storytelling for kids aged 3 to 7.

Sat Sep 22 from 11:00: Stop motion workshop with Naomi Van Niekerk 
A hands-on introduction to the world of stop-motion animation. Tickets cost R50 and space is limited. Book online here.

Tue Sep 25 at 18:30: Discussion and Q&A - Comics in South Africa and France
Artists Breeze Yoko and Daniel Browde discuss the differences and common inspirations of comic strips in France and South Africa and share their experiences of how to start a comic from scratch. 

Wed Sep 26 at 19:00: Film screening Lulu in the Nude. 
Based on Etienne Davodeau's 2013 graphic novel of the same name.  Following a botched job interview, Lulu decides not to return home, leaving her husband and their three children in the lurch. During her few days of stolen freedom, she crosses paths with a variety of people who, like herself, are at the edge of the world.

Fri Sep 28 at 16:00: Dibuka Kids workshop - Activities around A Mouse’s Tale.
Using short animation as a base Benjamin Renner presents a fun class for kids aged 7 to 12 on how to analyse visual language in a world full of images and sounds.

Sat Sep 28 from 11:00: Workshop - Make a Zine! with Alphabet Zoo
Local zine producers Alphabet Zoo lead a workshop on how to create your own zine within just an hour and a half. Tickets cost R50 and space is limited. Book online here. 

Sat Sep 29 from 12:00-17:00: Dibuka Day!
Winding up the Dibuka Library Festival, the Alliance Francaise hosts a creative festival in the garden with live music, a food and drinks market, a book sale by Bridge Books, lots of kid-friendly activities and a chance to make your own silkscreen bags with Alphabet Zoo.