Shakespeare on screen in francophonia

Call for papers

Shakespeare on Screen in francophonia International Conference

Organized by IRCL, Institut de recherche sur la Renaissance, l’âge Classique et les Lumières, UMR 5186 CNRS, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, Ministère de la Culture

In partnership with RIRRa21 (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3)

Montpellier, Friday September 26 and Saturday September 27, 2025

Having already organised a sequence of study days in Montpellier devoted to Shakespeare on screen in the French-speaking world over the last ten years, IRCL has decided to organize, in partnership with RIRRa21, an international conference on this theme, as part of its “Shakespeare on Screen in Francophonia” research programme.

The aim of this programme is to catalogue and analyse the presence of Shakespeare on French-speaking screens. This includes French-language Shakespearean films (filmed stage productions, TV adaptations, cinematographic adaptations), as well as allusions to Shakespeare and his works in French-language cinema, or more broadly on French-language screens. This programme is a continuation of the work carried out by Mariangela Tempera (†, University of Ferrara) on Shakespeare’s national and European forms of expression.

From the beginnings of silent cinema to the film Mon Inconnue (dir. Hugo Gélin 2019) or episodes of French TV series such as Un si grand soleil (2018-), Shakespeare remains present on francophone screens through adaptation or allusion. The aim of this international conference is to continue this work on French screens, but also to open the debate to works from other French-speaking countries.

Proposals for this international conference may focus on one or more specific French or Francophone adaptations, but may also address the following questions, among others:

  • How is Shakespeare used in French or Francophone cinema?
  • Which French-speaking directors use the Shakespearean script on a recurring basis?
  • What effect does Shakespearean allusion have on a French-speaking audience?
  • Is there a French or Francophone specificity to Shakespearean film quotations?
  • How are Shakespeare’s plays adapted by French cinema and television?
  • What role does Shakespeare play on French screens?
  • How is Shakespeare used in Francophone TV series?
  • What role does Shakespeare play on screens in French-speaking countries other than France?

A website (https://shakscreen.org/) has been set up by IRCL, providing a database of thematic articles and news on new French film adaptations. However, the aim of this international conference is to go beyond the French perspective and open up to other French-speaking countries.

The research presented at this conference will be published online on the “Shakscreen” website subject to the usual peer-review system by international readers.

Proposals for papers should be sent by January 31, 2025 to the following address:
shakscreen(at)univ-montp3.fr.
Online participation will be welcome.

Organising committee : Patricia Dorval (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL) Sarah Hatchuel (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, RIRRa21) Nathalie Vienne-Guerrin (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL) Jean Vivier (CNRS, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL)

Organising committee : Patricia Dorval (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL) Sarah Hatchuel (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, RIRRa21) Nathalie Vienne-Guerrin (Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL) Jean Vivier (CNRS, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier 3, IRCL)

Download program