Four days dedicated to literature

Four days, 28 writers and poets from 10 countries will take part in the upcoming 5^th International Literature Festival in Nicosia, Lemithou and Galata. Coming up on November 3-6, it features two special events. One is dedicated to a great living Irish poet Michael Longley, and the other to the world-famous German writer Bernhard Schlink, whose novel Der Vorleser, was made into the Oscar winning film, The Reader. Readings, discussions and a meet the writers session aim to make this festival edition another one to remember!

Titled To the Sea-Girt Shores of Cyprus, eight writers from abroad, 20 from Cyprus, one theatre director, two actors and a musician are all part of the festival with walks, tours, and school visits planned. Kickstarting the activities on November 3 is a Literary Encounter at Kastelliotissa Medieval Hall where readings and interviews will take place with international and local writers/poets.

Then, the morning of November 4 will include more readings and presentations in an event titled Literary Walks at the Parakentro Cultural Centre in Lemithou while the evening will be dedicated to writer Bernhard Schlink. Hosted at ARTos House in Nicosia, this event will include a talk by Greek writer Elena Penga, recorded interviews with the German writer and a staged reading of Jahrestag from the book Abschiedsfarben directed by Andreas Araouzos.

November 5’s evening is dedicated to one of Northern Ireland’s foremost contemporary poets, Longley. He is renowned for the quiet beauty of his compact, meditative lyrics, and is the author of many poetry collections while in 2001 he was awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry. The event at ARTos will include poetry readings by Longley himself, connecting with Cyprus audiences online, as well as a talk by James Taylor, an assistant professor of American Literature at the European University Cyprus.

The festival will conclude on Saturday 6 with a morning walk within the walled city of Nicosia and an afternoon event Literary Horizons at the Nicosia Municipality Multifunctional space with more readings and projections. Hoping to connect emerging writers, established authors and poets, students and word lovers all around, the 5^th International Literature Festival aims to be a platform where new and classical ideas meet, contemporary literary trends are explored and new approaches are found.

5^th International Literature Festival

Annual festival with 28 participating writers and poets and several events. November 3-6. Various locations and times. Facebook page @LiteraryFestivalCyprus. Tel: 99-577006