#SHOWBIZ: A year of French flair: Le French Festival unveils extended celebration
KUALA LUMPUR: Get ready for a year-long rendezvous with la belle France! Le French Festival 2025 is shaking things up with a brand new format, stretching its magnifique celebration of French culture from March all the way to November.
Think of it as a delicious, slow-cooked feast of films, art, music, and more, popping up across Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, and even Kuching.
Forget a fleeting few weeks – this year, each artistic gem gets its moment to truly shine.
The festival boasts six dazzling highlights, each with its own distinct flavour.
We've already raised a glass to the French language in March with Francophonie, but the main course is yet to come.
Mark your calendars, cinephiles! May will see the return of the much-loved French Film Festival, bringing a delectable selection of 13 films to Golden Screen Cinemas.
Prepare to be swept away by tales of culinary dreams in Sugar and Stars, the joyful noise of The Marching Band, and the heartwarming journey of Flow.
From the historical epic The Count of Monte Cristo to the quirky animation of Chicken for Linda!, there's a story for every palate.
You can snag your tickets starting May 8 via the GSC app, website, or e-kiosks.
But the fun doesn't stop there. June will be filled with melodies during Music Month, culminating in a free and family-friendly Fête de la Musique bash at Titiwangsa Park on June 28.
September is for the little ones with Le Petit Festival, promising creative adventures galore.
October will tantalise your taste buds with Gastronomy Month, featuring workshops with Paul Bakery and food-themed film screenings.
And finally, November will plunge us into the fascinating world of digital arts with Digital November.
Adding a thoughtful touch, Le French Festival 2025 shines a spotlight on the vital theme of ocean and environmental preservation, perfectly aligning with the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice.
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The Star
5 hours ago
- The Star
Can't get your hands on a Birkin? Here's your chance to own THE original Birkin
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"We foresee it to be as unique as the Diana jumper or a worn jersey from the NBA. It has value because of what it is and what has happened because of that bag.' This is the original bag made in 1984 for Jane, who was an icon of French cinema. The story behind the bag has become something of a fashion legend. Jane was on an Air France flight to London from Paris and had been upgraded to first class. The basket bag she carried, her signature for decades, was in poor shape. As she boarded the plane, the contents started to spill out: wallet, keys, business cards, diapers, cigarettes, glasses. Read more: Birkin handbag maker faces class-action lawsuit in the US over 'refusal' to sell Her seatmate happened to be Jean-Louis Dumas, then the CEO of Hermes, the luxury house founded in 1837 by Thierry Hermes. Jane and Dumas talked about how she needed a bag that could fit all of her necessities and they began to sketch out an idea on an airsickness bag. Their concept had two handles like a tote, and somewhat resembled a shrunken version of the Haut A Courroies luggage that Hermes made. Her custom bag became the prototype of the Birkin, which was named after her. The bag became desirable partly for its rarity. 'There are a limited number of them created each year,' Halimi said. 'There is the craftsmanship: you can repair it and restore it and cherish it. And then in a world of fast fashion and seasonal trends, it's not going to be out of style anytime soon. If you are offered one to buy at Hermes, you feel like part of this small club.' The Birkin has become a fixture in pop culture since its inception, name checked in many song lyrics and appearing as a plotline on a 2001 episode of Sex And The City that included the memorable line: 'It's not a bag, it's a Birkin!' This original bag is different in several ways from the commercially available Birkins. Its size is unique, with a height of just under 14 inches and a depth of just under 16 inches; its strap is not removable; the hardware is made of brass; the inner zipper is from a different manufacturer; the studs on the bottom are a different shape. And one more detail: a nail clipper that Jane had hung on the outside of the bag is included. She was known for not being precious with her Birkins. She covered some in stickers for political causes and frequently hung trinkets off them. A 2022 file picture shows Catherine Benier at her boutique in Paris. The Birkin prototype was purchased at auction by Benier in 2000. She decided to sell it after seeing how many people came to visit it. Photo: The New York Times On social media, fans have taken to posting their own charm-laden bags or phones, which some call 'Birkinifying'. Over the past year, imitations – or homages – to the bag have gotten notice online, including the Boatkin. The original Birkin, though, has remained a subject of intense fascination. It was exhibited at New York's Museum of Modern Art as part of the show Items: Is Fashion Modern? that ran from 2017 to 2018, and again in 2020 at London's Victoria and Albert Museum as part of the exhibition Bags Inside Out . Sotheby's displayed it in the company's Paris galleries in October 2024, and at Sotheby's Maison, Hong Kong in April 2025. Thousands of people came to see the bag at the Sotheby's showings, Halimi said. Jane, who died in July 2023, owned five Birkin bags over the course of her life, one of which sold for around US$160,000 (approximately RM677,000) in a 2021 auction. This prototype, which has the added value of being the original, was sold by Jane at a charity auction for Aids in October 1994. It went to auction again in May 2000, at Poulain-Le Fur, and was purchased by Catherine Benier, a prominent collector and the owner of the Les 3 Marches de Catherine B vintage shop in Paris, for an undisclosed price. Read more: Like the famous bag named after her, Jane Birkin is a style icon 'Acquiring the first Birkin from Hermes was a dream of mine as a collector,' Benier wrote in an email. She said she had read about the 1994 auction but didn't participate, and was determined to win the 2000 auction when she heard about it in advance. 'I got the bag after fierce bidding between myself and other foreign bidders… It's the jewel in my collection.' Benier kept the bag stored, but the crowds who visited it last fall influenced her decision to sell. 'A collection is only worth it if it's shared,' she wrote. She expects the bag to set records, but would not specify a desired number. 'Twenty-five years ago when I acquired it, it was already the most expensive bag in the world,' she wrote. 'All these elements fuel the legend of the first Birkin bag, so certainly a price exists, but what is it? This bag is the object of a lifetime, it's a legend, an icon. Does a legend have a price? Certainly.' – ©2025 The New York Times Company This article originally appeared in The New York Times.
Malay Mail
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Malaysian Reserve
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SiriusXM Canada is Back for All 2025 CFL Games and New Exclusive Content
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The June episode will focus on Pride and the LGBTQ+ community's relationship to sports, featuring an interview with Maven Maurer, the first openly transgender former professional football player. The ongoing partnership also includes the SiriusXM Kickoff Show, which will set the stage for the 2025 edition of Canada's largest single-day sporting event – the 112th Grey Cup. The Kickoff Show shines a spotlight on Canadian artists and sets the atmosphere for the day's festivities. Past performers have included Alessia Cara, The Beaches, The Reklaws, Steven Lee Olsen, JESSIA, Owen Riegling, Jamie Fine, and more. 'We're proud to carry on our strong relationship with the CFL, delivering every thrilling moment to our subscribers—including the SiriusXM Grey Cup Kickoff Show at the season's biggest game,' said Michelle Mearns, SVP of Programming & Operations. 'From coast to coast, we keep fans connected to their favourite teams, and this year, we're excited to offer even more exclusive content.' 'We're thrilled to expand our collaboration with SiriusXM,' said Tyler Keenan, Chief Revenue Officer of the CFL. 'Fresh, engaging content brings fans closer to the action and fuels their passion for the league. CFL fans and SiriusXM listeners—get ready for another unforgettable season!' The Ottawa REDBLACKs will head west to Mosaic Stadium to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 5 to officially open the 2025 season. The Montréal Alouettes will host the defending champion Toronto Argonauts on Friday Night Football on June 6. A Saturday doubleheader will see the Calgary Stampeders play host to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, before the BC Lions take on the Edmonton Elks to close out Week 1. The CFL is part of SiriusXM's commitment to deliver comprehensive sports coverage from every major sport to its subscribers, including the NHL, NFL, NASCAR, MLB, NBA, PGA and more. SiriusXM Canada's complete regular season coverage of the CFL can be found here. ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE Built on a foundation of more than 110 years of football tradition and history, the Canadian Football League features nine teams, millions of fans and a commitment to service to the community, as well as, elite sport. To stay up to date with CFL news, visit ABOUT SIRIUSXM CANADA Sirius XM Canada Inc., operating as SiriusXM Canada, is the country's leading audio entertainment company. SiriusXM creates and offers ad-free music; premier sports talk and live events; comedy; news; podcasts; and exclusive talk and entertainment. SiriusXM is available in vehicles from every major car company, as well as on smartphones and all connected devices on the SiriusXM app. For more information, visit Join SiriusXM Canada on Facebook, on X, on Instagram and on YouTube. SiriusXM radios and accessories are available from retailers nationwide and online at SiriusXM. In addition, SiriusXM Music for Business provides ad-free music to a variety of businesses. SiriusXM is also a leading provider of connected vehicles services, giving customers access to a suite of safety, security, and convenience services including automatic crash notification, stolen vehicle recovery assistance, enhanced roadside assistance and turn-by-turn navigation. SiriusXM Canada has been designated one of Canada's Best Managed Companies 16 years in a row and is currently a Platinum Club Member.
