Franka Günther (Initiator)

Franka Günther initiated the festival in 2009, modelling it on the Rendez-vous de l’histoire in Weimar’s French twin city Blois. The Francophile cultural manager was made a Knight of the Legion of Honour in France and was awarded the Federal Cross of Merit in Germany for her unfailing commitment to Franco-German exchanges. As of 2020, she has been working on behalf of the French Embassy and as director of the Institut français in Erfurt where she is responsible for cultural relations between Thuringia and France. She will remain active in the festival as the Association’s executive director.