Respire! A Franco-Maltese festival celebrates a gradual return to freedom

Running from June to mid-July, some 20 events across Malta and Gozo will celebrate arts, culture, sport and Franco-Maltese relations

Charles-Baptise will be playing at Storeroom and the French residence for the launch of Respire!
Charles-Baptise will be playing at Storeroom and the French residence for the launch of Respire!

By Audrey Jandin

Respire! is the first edition of a French-Maltese festival organized by the French Embassy and its francophone organe Alliance Française. It will take place from 15 June to 15 July across Malta and Gozo. 

After several months marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, cultural life is gradually returning to normal, and the Franco-Maltese cultural season was born out of this desire for freedom, creation and artistic stimulation.  

The festival, which runs from mid-June to mid-July, will feature some 20 events in Malta and Gozo celebrating arts, culture and sport. 

Respire! is a festival jointly organised by the French Embassy in Malta and the Alliance Française de Malte-Méditerranée, with the active support of some 15 French and Maltese partners from a wide range of backgrounds – entertainment venues, stationery shops, sports shops, restaurants, accommodation, sailing races. 

The birth of this festival is based on the financial support of generous donors and French companies based in Malta who were able to mobilise very quickly to make this festival possible.   

The first public event was the broadcast of the Euro 2020 football match between France and Germany at Surfside in Sliema on Tuesday 15 June. The event brought together more than 80 French and Maltese supporters, who were happy to be able to cheer on the French team and take part in numerous games and competitions, while respecting health measures. 

Respire! will be launched by the French Ambassador to Malta H.E. Brigitte Curmi on Monday 21 June, on the occasion of the Fête de la Musique (Music Festival). 

Singer-songwriter Charles-Baptiste will then perform at The Storeroom in Ta' Xbiex and the following day in Gozo. 

Throughout the summer season, artistic events – French film screenings at Spazju Kreattiv, concerts – will mingle with sporting events such as the Bailli de Suffren race between Saint-Tropez and Birgu, and conferences and debates on the Mediterranean and on freedom of expression. 

All information can be found on the social networks of the French Embassy in Malta and the Alliance française de Malte-Méditerranée. 

Festival program 

MONDAY 21/06 FROM 5:00 PM TO 7:00 PM
Launch of the Respire festival!
French Residency
In the presence of Charles-Baptiste
Event by invitation only 

MONDAY 21/06 FROM 7:00 PM
Music Festival
Storeroom
In the presence of Charles Baptiste and Sourya Voravong 

TUESDAY 22/06 FROM 7:30 PM. to 9:30 PM
Music Festival in Gozo
Concert online, live
In the presence of Charles Baptiste  

FRIDAY 25/06 AT 5:00 PM
France-Malta Tea Party
French Residency
Event reserved for members of the France Malta association 

FRIDAY 25/06 AT 6:00 PM
Conference - Research on traditions Maltese and Mediterranean oral presentations: a collaboration Franco-Maltese
University of Malta - virtual event (zoom)
In the presence of Micheline Galley 

MONDAY 28/06 FROM 10:30 AM TO  11:30 AM
Conference - La Francophonie and the Mediterranean
University of Malta - face-to-face event (on reservation) and virtual (zoom)
In the presence of Fabien Flori 

TUESDAY 29/06 AT 4:30 PM
Screening - Antoinette in the Cevennes
Spazju Kreattiv cinema
Follow-up of a Q&A with Caroline Vignal, director of the film
reservation required 

WEDNESDAY 30/06 AT 7:00 PM
Round table - The place of women in the film industry
Spazju Kreattiv
private event, broadcast on zoom
In the presence of Caroline Vignal, Rebecca Cremona, Rebecca Anastasi, Corsye Borg and Angélique Muller 

TUESDAY 06/07 TO SATURDAY 10/07
 Bailli de Suffren
 Gozo & Malta
 Reception on 8 July, by invitation only
 In the presence of Olivier Poivre d'Arvor  

THURSDAY 08/07 AT 7:30 PM
Cinema - The North Wind
Spazju Kreattiv Cinema
Preceded by the short film 'Night-time at the Station' 

SATURDAY 10/07 AT 8:30 PM
Cinema - You will die at 20
Spazju Kreattiv Cinema 

TUESDAY 13/07 AT 6:00 PM
Artistic walkabout
French Residency
Plastic arts, debate of ideas and concert - by invitation only 

THURSDAY 15/07 AT 6 PM
Conference - From the "Jew of Malta" to the Jews of Malta
St Paul’s Missionary College, Rabat
In the presence of Nathalie Cohen, followed by a cocktail