Ambierle BD Festival - Bulles de Caractère

A heritage of over 40 years of passion for the 9th art

The history of the Ambierle BD Festival is rooted in the Rhône-Alpes Science Fiction and Imaginary Festival, founded in Roanne in 1979 on the initiative of Jo Taboulet. For 27 years, this festival made Roanne a major meeting place for science fiction, fantasy, and comic strip enthusiasts in the region. In 2002, the Village du Livre (Book Village) was created in Saint-Romain-la-Motte before moving to Ambierle, a village of character nestled on the slopes of the Côte Roannaise. In 2009-2010, the RenaisonBD – Bulles en Côte roannaise project laid the groundwork for a new festival dedicated to comic strips. In 2011, the first edition of "Bulles de Caractère" was launched in Ambierle, perpetuating the spirit of the Roanne festival in an exceptional heritage setting.

Ambierle, village of books and character

Ambierle is one of the seven Book Villages in France, a label that distinguishes municipalities that have made books and culture their identity. Classified as a Village de Caractère in the Loire department, Ambierle captivates with its 11th-century Benedictine priory, its Gothic church with remarkable stained glass windows, and its Alice Taverne museum dedicated to the arts and popular traditions of the Roannais region. Located on the Côte Roannaise, a renowned wine-growing area, the village offers an ideal setting for a cultural festival combining heritage, literature, and comic strips.

A festival rooted in its territory

The Ambierle BD Festival unfolds over several days and in several locations in the Roannais region. The heart of the festival beats at the Ambierle sports hall and on the monastic site of the priory, where around forty authors meet the public for signing sessions. But the event extends far beyond the village: exhibitions are organized at the Roanne theater and the Joseph Déchelette museum, film screenings at the Espace Renoir cinema in Roanne, and author meetings in the media libraries of the Roannais. This territorial dimension is what makes the festival unique, as it energizes the entire Roannais living area.

A rich program for all audiences

Each edition offers a varied program that emphasizes the meeting between authors and readers:

• Signings with around forty comic strip authors, covering all genres: Franco-Belgian BD, science fiction, fantasy, children's, graphic novels, manga
• Exhibitions showcasing the work of invited artists, as part of the festival and off-site
• "L'œuvre en résonance": an original concept that contrasts the universe of a comic strip author with the collections of the Joseph Déchelette museum
• Comic strip workshops for children and schoolchildren
• Screenings of films related to comic strips and the imaginary
• Meetings and conferences with authors in the media libraries and cultural venues of the Roannais
• Bookstore with the presence of the bookstore Le Comptoir de Roanne for the sale of signed albums

A passionate team

The festival is driven by the association Festival du Livre d'Ambierle, chaired by Jo Taboulet, a historical figure of the festival since its origins in Roanne. The team is completed by Jean-Philippe Alizay (vice-president and treasurer), René Andriol (secretary), and Sophie Clairfayt (assistant secretary). Marie-Pierre Alizay manages author relations and cultural mediation. The entire operation relies on the commitment of passionate volunteers who work year-round to keep the Village du Livre alive and organize the festival.