Belfort. Fimu: “the public has always responded, and remains open and receptive to all these discoveries”

Fimu, “from a popular festival to increasingly strong international recognition of artists”

After returning to the developments of the International Music Festival (Fimu), its director Julian Catusse explains how the artists are selected and how the event “marks the construction of their careers. HAS”

The International Music Festival (formerly the international university music festival) was created in 1987. Since it has focused more on artistic quality, it has spread beyond the borders of the territory and throughout the world. Julian Catusse, became director of Fimu three years ago, looks back at the reasons for this recognition, and the growing interest that programmers have in it.

What developments has Fimu undergone since its creation?

“Originally, it was teachers from UTBM, passionate about music, who invited foreign orchestras. Two years later, the town of Belfort returns to the loop, and carries the event with them. For almost three decades, it was above all a great popular festival. With the arrival of Matthieu Spiegel in 2016, my predecessor, the selection of artists appeared, and became clearer over the years. From there, our international recognition became stronger and stronger. HAS”

What makes you notice this?

“Ten years ago, we only received 500 applications. Since then, as we attract more and more programmers, more and more groups want to come. Last year, we reached 1,325 applications, which was already an absolute record. This year, there are 426 more, out of a total of 87 countries represented. It’s a great indicator, but it makes us fear the next edition. Casually, that’s already a lot of artists for the ears of 10 juries. HAS”

What criteria do they use to select them?

“We tell them to put points on those they want to see on stage, which allows us to have as many artists who have 10 views on Spotify as those who have 15,000. As we only base ourselves on listening, we can also make mistakes. But aside from that, we have the luxury of having actors who are experts in their field. This year for example, we have the producer of Damso, Nonstop productions, and the guy is clearly a big name in rap. HAS”

What next for artists?

“Already, everyone who applies is listened to by world music producers, like Wax Booking, and that’s huge. The selected groups do not all know “a before” and “an after”. Despite everything, Fimu marks the building their career if only in terms of visibility. The Arsenal has a maximum capacity of 9,000 spectators, for some, it will remain their biggest stage for a long time. Knowing that these are artists at the very beginning of their emergence, and still in the shadows in their own country. HAS”