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Medici residency
Prix BD France Télévisions Villa Medici
The Prix BD France Télévisions Villa Medici aims to support comics and all those involved – authors, publishers, booksellers – by awarding a prize each year to a comic book and its creator. The prize is awarded by a jury of enthusiastic readers.
The winner enjoys exceptional visibility thanks to the support and commitment of the France Télévisions group, as well as a one-month residency at the Villa Medici to promote his or her work.
The first Prix BD France Télévisions Villa Medici was awarded on January 30, 2026 to Elene Usdin and Boni for their album Detroit Roma, published by Sarbacane. From among 8 candidates, the readers’ jury chaired by journalist Augustin Trapenard (La Grande Librairie, France 5) chose to reward “this intimate road trip, this visual slap in the face”.
“It’s an honor and a joy to chair the jury for the first Prix BD France Télévisions Villa Medici. With this prize, we maintain the link between creators and readers of the 9th art. It’s a great opportunity to promote comics and encourage a taste for reading! […] Detroit Roma will be relayed on our airwaves, bringing it to the widest possible audience. Elene Usdin and Boni will be staying for a month at Villa Medici to continue their creative work in this setting.
Detroit Roma, Boni and Elene Usdin © Sarbacane, 2025
Winners
2026: "Detroit Roma" by Elene Usdin and Boni
Detroit, 2015. In an old Ford Galaxy, two young girls travel from North to South across an America in decline. Fleeing their hometown of Detroit, they drive to Rome, Georgia, a pale copy of the ancient city. A road-trip as mysterious as it is imbued with meaning. For Becki, it’s about following the route of the slaves, her ancestors. For Summer, it’s a tribute to the Italian roots of her mother, Gloria. On the road, Becki scratches away at her sketchbooks, already blackened by their history, their daily dramas and their chaotic friendship. Through sketches, mileage and confidences, the two friends unravel the family secrets that tied their destinies together long before they were born.
