vOilah! France Singapore Festival returns for a special edition from 22 October to 22 November 2020, with a diverse lineup of of on-site, and online family-friendly programmes to celebrate the best of Singapore and France partnerships.
Photo Credit: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2020
1. Virtual Reality (VR) Experience at Gardens by the Bay
When: 24 Oct to 8 Nov 2020
Photo Credit: Fantasium Group
Embark on an immersive journey of discovery, inspiration and creation in a Virtual Reality (VR) exhibition that showcases Monet’s iconic water lilies and many other French masterpieces with A Virtual Voyage Through Masterpieces. Through multi-sensory experiences and interactive activities, it invites you to travel back in time for an intimate rendezvous with French and Francophone old masters.
2. Chocolate-Making Workshop at L’Atelier Du Petit Chocolat
When: 14 Nov 2020
Photo Credit: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2020
Calling all little chefs! Get hands on by learning how to make chocolates at this fun-filled Weiss chocolate class. Pick up basic kitchen techniques, and develop a sensibility for quality ingredients and balanced eating. Captain of the crew is chef Jose Luis Del Amo, a highly trained pastry chef with an in-depth knowledge of the chocolate world!
3. Bespoke Menus
Photo Credit: Odette
Feast on unique creations by restaurants just for the festival, which include a pastry named Le Paris-Brest-Singapour, created by Odette’s three-star Michelin chef Julien Royer that merges flavours of gula melaka, coconut and a rich kaya cream into the classic French dessert.
Photo Credit: Tiong Bahru Bakery
Tiong Bahru Bakery also will retail the Kaya Croissant for a limited period as a spin on our favourite breakfast food, the humble Kaya Toast.
Both chefs will also conduct online classes to teach you how to whip up those dishes at home.
4. French Film Festival
When: 8 to 2 Nov 2020
Photo Credit: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2020
The French Film Festival returns with its biggest lineup of 37 films this year, showcasing a diverse genre of films, including a specially curated selection of movies, and the best of French storytelling for the young ones. Not to be missed is Calamity, the first prize winner at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this year, that follows the adventure of Martha Jane and her family as they search for a better life.
For more information on the French Film Festival, visit the website here.
5. Online Music Performances
Photo Credit: vOilah! France Singapore Festival 2020
A key highlight would be the festival’s finale, Orchestre National d'Île-de-France (National Orchestra of Paris Region) conducted by Kahchun Wong. An astounding artistic collaboration that traverses geographical boundaries, the performance features innovative technology by French Classical music startup, NomadPlay, and will see Singaporean instrumentalists playing alongside the Orchestre National d'Île-de-France to present French classics such as Claude Debussy's Prélude à l'Après-midi d'un Faune and César Franck's Symphony in D minor.
Other virtual musical collaborations with local performers include a night of French baroque music titled Les Goüts réünis performed by Red Dot Baroque, as well as a presentation of the film William Christie, the Art of Giving, a film to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Les Arts Florissants, a world renowned ensemble. It’s founder William Christie will also join in the screening to share more about its history and future plans for the ensemble.
6. French Football Academy Singapore
The newly opened French Football Academy Singapore, the second academy to be opened worldwide after New York last year, will offer free training sessions, a single 2 vs 2 elimination tournament and Fit Foot practice for the ones accompanying young players with the World Champions training methods, in presence of UEFA Coaching Licence holder Patrick Vallée.
For more information on the Festival and the full lineup of programmes, please visit the website here.