Ambierle BD Festival - Bulles de Caractère

15th Edition: Bulles de Caractère 2025

The 15th edition of the Ambierle BD Festival "Bulles de Caractère" took place from September 26th to 28th, 2025 in the Roannais region. True to its formula of combining off-site events in the lead-up and a major gathering in the village of Ambierle over the weekend, this edition offered a rich program of meetings, exhibitions, and discoveries.

Friday, September 26th: Roanne in BD Mode

The festival began on Friday in Roanne with three major events:

• Gaëtan Brizzi Exhibition at the Roanne Theater (September 20th to October 3rd, 2025): The renowned artist presented his original plates from his albums L'Enfer de Dante, Don Quichotte, and MacBeth. Meeting with the author from 4 PM to 5 PM.
• "L'œuvre en résonance" Exhibition: Julien Delval at the Joseph Déchelette Museum (September 24th to October 5th, 2025): An unprecedented dialogue between the illustrator's creations and the museum's collections. Meeting with the author at 6 PM in the museum's library, free admission.
• Screening of the film "Belle enfant" by Jim at the Espace Renoir cinema at 8:30 PM, followed by a discussion with the director and comic strip author.

Saturday, September 27th and Sunday, September 28th: The Festival in Ambierle

The heart of the festival beat in Ambierle over the weekend, with around forty authors gathered at the sports hall and on the monastic site for two days of signings, meetings, and activities. Visitors had the opportunity to meet authors from all corners of the comic strip world, from Franco-Belgian BD to science fiction, fantasy, and children's literature.

Among the authors present: Philippe Aymond, Jim, Julien Delval, Gaëtan Brizzi, and Joël Alessandra, whose watercolors, BDs, and travel journals were featured in an exhibition in the village (September 18th to 30th, opening reception on September 19th at 6 PM).

On Saturday morning, a meeting with Jim was organized at the Le Coteau media library at 10:30 AM (free admission), allowing the public to discover the universe of this versatile artist, who is a screenwriter, illustrator, and director.

The Bookstore Le Comptoir de Roanne

The bookstore Le Comptoir from Roanne was present to sell albums by the attending authors, allowing visitors to leave with their signed works.

Program - Friday, September 26th, 2025 (Roanne)

• 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Meeting with Gaëtan Brizzi - Roanne Theater (as part of the exhibition, Sept 20th - Oct 3rd)
• 6:00 PM: Meeting with Julien Delval - Joseph Déchelette Museum Library ( "L'œuvre en résonance" exhibition, Sept 24th - Oct 5th) - Free admission
• 8:30 PM: Screening of the film "Belle enfant" by Jim - Espace Renoir Cinema, Roanne

Program - Saturday, September 27th, 2025 (Ambierle + Le Coteau)

• 10:30 AM: Meeting with Jim - Le Coteau Media Library - Free admission
• 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Signings with around forty authors - Ambierle sports hall and monastic site

Program - Sunday, September 28th, 2025 (Ambierle)

• 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM: Signings with around forty authors - Ambierle sports hall and monastic site

Exhibitions

• Gaëtan Brizzi - Roanne Theater (September 20th - October 3rd, 2025)
• Julien Delval - Joseph Déchelette Museum, Roanne (September 24th - October 5th, 2025)
• Joël Alessandra - Ambierle Village (September 18th - 30th, 2025, opening reception Sept 19th at 6 PM)

• 15th edition of the "Bulles de Caractère" festival
• Gaëtan Brizzi exhibition at the Roanne Theater: original plates from L'Enfer de Dante, Don Quichotte, and MacBeth
• "L'œuvre en résonance" exhibition: Julien Delval at the Joseph Déchelette Museum
• Joël Alessandra exhibition in Ambierle village: watercolors, BDs, and travel journals
• Screening of the film "Belle enfant" by Jim at the Espace Renoir cinema
• Meeting with Jim at the Le Coteau media library
• Around forty authors for signings including Philippe Aymond, Jim, Julien Delval, Gaëtan Brizzi, Joël Alessandra
• Le Comptoir de Roanne bookstore on-site