THE George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) 2025 wrapped up its 15th edition with more than 3,000 people attending the four-day event.
Organisers stated that the audiences came from over 10 countries, while 51.6% of Malaysian attendees were from outside Penang.
They said the festival continued to attract a wide age range, from young adults in their 20s to senior literature enthusiasts in their 70s and 80s.
This year marked the second edition of the festival fully curated by Penang Institute, which also organises GTLF as one of its annual flagship events.
The theme for 2025, Urban Myths and Memories, focused on the city’s layered histories and how stories and imagination shape collective memory.
Festival director Datuk Dr Ooi Kee Beng said literature offered a way for people to understand their lives through the blending of fact and imagination.
The festival featured 23 panel discussions, 22 book launches, four workshops, history walking trails, film screenings and a music heritage exhibition curated by Paul Augustin.
Other highlights included the spoken word performance Ghost Bird by Omar Musa and Mariel Roberts Musa, and Front, a participatory art work by Danish artist Christian Falsnaes in collaboration with In Situ Malaysia.
A total of 36 writers and artists from 12 countries took part, including Madeleine Thien of Canada, Belgium’s Lize Spit, France’s Wilfried N’Sonde, and UK poet Helen Mort.
Local and regional names such as Omar Musa, Bernice Chauly and Ahmed Masoud also contributed to discussions and performances throughout the festival.
The inaugural Penang Monthly Short Story Prize went to Nur Syuhada Mohd Surahbil for her story The Echo That Splits Two Worlds, earning her RM800 and publication in Penang Monthly’s December issue.
Runners-up Tan Shu Min and Joshua Lim will also have their stories featured on Penang Monthly’s website.
The festival received support from returning sponsors Greatech Technology and HSBC Malaysia, as well as international and local partners including the Embassy of Belgium, TECO Malaysia, British Council Malaysia, Tim Promosi Sastra Indonesia, Aliran and the Hashim Sani Centre for Palestine Studies.
Events were held across five heritage venues in George Town, namely Bangunan UAB, Bangunan Wawasan, Hikayat, Cheah Kongsi and The Canteen@ChinaHouse.
Most programmes were free and open to the public, with only a few workshops and special sessions requiring tickets.
Festival manager Julia Tan said the 15th edition celebrated the people and communities who have supported GTLF over the years, adding that this year’s event remained intimate, and inclusive.
