Herminée Nurpétlian to Lead Lyon BD Festival into New Era
Lyon, June 13 – Herminée Nurpétlian, former head of books at the French Institute of Lebanon, has been appointed as the new director of the Lyon BD Festival. Her arrival marks a pivotal moment for the international comic strip festival, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year amidst past challenges. Nurpétlian, with a decade of experience in organizing literary events in Beirut, brings a fresh perspective to the festival, aiming to revitalize it by leveraging its existing strengths and diversifying its funding.
A New Leader with a Wealth of Experience
Nurpétlian’s background includes extensive work at the French Institute of Lebanon, where she managed literary and intellectual debate initiatives. She played a key role in the Francophone Book Fair of Beirut, an event she describes as a historic literary gathering born in the aftermath of the civil war. Her experience in a challenging environment, where adaptability and reinvention were crucial, has shaped her approach to cultural event management.
“In Lebanon, it’s always like that: you have to adapt, reinvent yourself, and get back on your feet,” Nurpétlian stated. After ten years, she sought new challenges, noting the relatively small cultural and literary scene in Lebanon. This desire for a new professional chapter led her to Lyon.
Rebuilding on Strong Foundations
The Lyon BD Festival has faced its share of difficulties, including the COVID-19 pandemic, team instability, and a reduction in public funding. An ambitious project for a permanent comic strip venue, though relevant for Lyon, was perhaps ill-timed, Nurpétlian acknowledged.
Her roadmap for the festival is not about starting from scratch but rather “building on what made the festival historically successful,” particularly its international partnerships with approximately fifteen countries. Nurpétlian herself became familiar with Lyon BD through a strong partnership established with the French Institute to create a comic strip festival in Beirut.
In a sector undergoing significant changes, as evidenced by the crisis at the Angoulême Festival, Nurpétlian advocates for a cultural event model that genuinely listens to its creators. “Comic strips today are not what they were fifteen or even ten years ago. There are profound evolutions, new demands,” she observed. For her, “a festival precisely has this role: to support female and male authors, to listen to them.”
For this anniversary edition, the festival will host around a hundred authors, illustrators, and scriptwriters, focusing on the theme of the Mediterranean. This theme is promoted by the French Institute in Paris as part of an international cultural season.
A Fresh Look at Public Funding
Coming from a country where culture largely relies on private patronage, Nurpétlian offers a unique perspective on the French funding model. “When I arrive here and see the support from local authorities, their desire to give culture an important place, I have an external view. This makes me even more eager to preserve this model.” However, Nurpétlian recognizes that this model is under pressure. Her priority will be to “diversify financial resources” and “develop other forms of funding” to avoid relying solely on one pillar for the festival’s future.
The Lyon BD Festival is scheduled to take place on June 12, 13, and 14. A professional day will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026, at the Comédie Odéon Theatre. The main festival events will run on Saturday, June 13, and Sunday, June 14, from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM at the Hôtel de Ville, Place des Terreaux.
Source: Lyon Capitale
