A special meeting of the NY Comics & Picture-story Symposium will be held on Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 8:00 PM at  The New School,  66 West 12th Street, Room A407. Free and open to the public.

Presentation: Antonin Baudry on his recent book Weapons of Mass Diplomacy.
Antonin Baudry, author of the award-winning graphic novel Weapons of Mass Diplomacy (illustrated by Christophe Blain), will discuss his bestselling satire of Franco-American relations in the lead up to the Iraq War. Baudry, who is Cultural Counselor at the French Embassy in New York, will discuss the genesis of the book (published in France as Quai D’Orsay), which draws on his experiences an advisor to former French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin. He will talk about the motivations behind his satire of diplomatic life and why he chose to write it in comic book form. Drawing on the political situation that underpins the book, as well as the vibrant French bande dessinée scene, this talk will provide a unique insight into the creative and diplomatic processes, and will interest anyone with a passion for politics, culture, and comedy. Weapons of Mass Diplomacy was recently adapted into an acclaimed movie, directed by Bertrand Tavernier and starring Thierry Lhermitte and Julie Gayet, which will be released in the US in 2014 (as The French Minister).

Abel Lanzac is the pseudonym of Antonin Baudry, a French diplomat who is currently the Cultural Counselor of the French Embassy and Permanent Representative of the French Universities in the United States. Previously he was an Advisor for International Economic and Cultural Affairs for former French Prime Minister Dominique de Villepin. Baudry’s career has been a hybrid of diplomatic and cultural enterprises. As Abel Lanzac, Baudry received the prize for best album at the Angoulême International Comics Festival with designer Christophe Blain in February 2013 for their graphic novel Quai d’Orsay (published in English as Weapons of Mass Diplomacy).  The film adaptation of Quai d’Orsay premiered in November 2013 and won the special jury prize for best screenplay at the Saint-Sébastien Film Festival in September 2013. The film was also chosen as a special presentation at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.  It is nominated for a 2014 César award for best adaptation.