THE George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) returns for the thirteenth time this Nov 23 to 26 to celebrate global literature, literary arts, and translations.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Wong Hon Wai said this year’s festival, themed ‘Terra Incognita’, would go beyond English to include Bahasa Malaysia, Mandarin, and Tamil, therefore, departing from the norms of the previous festival.
This year’s festival will not only go beyond the norm but also focus on mitigating the uncertainties of Southeast Asian writers and incorporating new approaches to storytelling, particularly the adoption of multi-sensorial elements.
“Since 2011, the George Town Literary Festival has served as a beacon for the celebration and preservation of literature, arts, and culture.
“Penang has solidified its status as a leading hub for literary events, not only within the Southeast Asia region but also on the global stage.
“By placing a significant emphasis on arts and literature, we can elevate the quality of life, fostering civic engagement and actively contributing to the realization of the Penang2030 vision,” Wong told a media conference at his office in Komtar yesterday (Nov 16).
George Town Literary Festival manager Swarna Rajagopal said the festival would see a gathering of over 70 esteemed writers from 17 countries, featuring 59 events.
“We expect to receive about 6,000 participants,” he said.
Highlighting the event are exclusive sessions featuring the renowned Taiwanese writer Wu Ming Yi, distinguished rock music expert Dr Muhamad Takiyuddin, and esteemed American Professor of Journalism and International Affairs, Janet Steele.
Other events such as readings, screenings, and exhibitions will also be showcased during those four days.
Concerning exhibitions, the festival will be partnering up with embassies and high commissions across the globe. For example, the Embassy of the Federative Republic of Brazil to Malaysia will feature works of Brazil’s literary sensation Clarice Lispector, while the High Commission of the Republic of India to Malaysia will showcase the works of revered Nobel Laureate, Rabindranath Tagore.
Furthermore, in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of George Town-Adelaide twin sister city celebration, the festival will welcome two esteemed Australian writers, Dinalie Dabarera and Minh Bui Jones.
The opening ceremony will take place at 6.30pm on Nov 24 at The Loft 29 in Church Street Ghaut. Several events will take place in other venues, which include Mano Plus and Black Kettle in Beach Street.
For details, visit www.georgetownlitfest.com or Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/georgetownlitfest/
The George Town Literary Festival is an effort undertaken by the Penang government to celebrate, promote, and preserve local and international literary arts.
As of now, the festival has evolved into Malaysia’s largest literary event, standing as one of the premier literary festivals globally.
Also in attendance were Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng and the Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau head of sales and marketing Siti Sarah Ismail.
Story by Norman Sim
Pix by Muhamad Amir Irsyad Omar