DUBAI: The Emirates Airline Literature Festival, one of the world’s top 10 literary festivals, kicks off tomorrow at InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammed bin Rashid Library in Dubai.
“Crystal Edition” is expected to be “extraordinary” according to the organizers, featuring more than 260 authors and talents from around the world in more than 300 sessions and workshops covering a wide range of topics including literature It will be the largest line-up to date. , arts, culture, etc. Among the most famous names is Brian Cox, the Emmy-winning patriarch of the hit streaming series Succession. Master Storytellers Jeffrey Archer, Cecilia Ahern, Mohsin Hamid and Alexander McCall Smith. Indian politician Shashi Thalor. Famous religious commentator Reza Aslan. Versatile top children’s writer David Walliams and others.
Archive image of Litfest’s official ceremony choir
Image Credits: Courtesy
Opening ceremony
The festival’s signature event, Desert Stanzas, returns on the opening night of February 1, featuring poetry renditions and stories that invite reminiscence in honor of the ancestral wisdom and culture of the past. An homage to the protection of the planet and his COP28 story will also be interpreted through the performance.
File photo of a poetry evening held under the event
Image Credits: Courtesy
Festival Director Alam Boroki said: The sponsors and partners who work tirelessly to ensure the festival’s success, the authors and talents who bring life and joy to the festival, the audience who return year after year to support the festival, and the teams and volunteers who work every day. A night to deliver a special edition every time. The biggest and most special edition ever is for them. ”
She added: “We welcome you to our new venue sponsor, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library, and the festival’s home, InterContinental Dubai Festival City, to celebrate our joint partnership, the fruit of many years of hard work. We can’t wait to celebrate our success, and the community we’ve built together over the years.”
The festival is supported by title sponsor Emirates Airline and founding partner Dubai Culture and Arts Department (Dubai Culture). The event is held under the auspices of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.
special event
On the agenda are several special events, including ‘Dinner with Bobby Chin,’ a vegan feast conceived by a celebrity chef on February 3, along with an exclusive menu at InterContinental’s Zaytoon Restaurant, along with elegant dining. demonstrates its focus on sustainability. Dubai Festival City.
Top novelists from around the world attend the festival. Among them is art historian and BAFTA-nominated broadcaster James Fox. Influential best-selling British historical novelist Kate Mosse. Marcus du Sautoy, mathematician and author of popular math and science books, TikTok MENA’s business and his marketing director. 2022 International Booker winners Annie Arsan Matter, Geetanjali Shree and more.
For the first time, the festival welcomed guest curator, poet and author Lem Sisay.
Sponsored by Dubai Culture, this year’s Emirati Strand runs throughout the programme, celebrating national cultures and providing opportunities for Emirati and international writers to share ideas and converse on a range of topics that appeal to multicultural audiences. provide. session.
support talent
Dr Saeed Mubarak Bin Kahbash, CEO of Dubai Culture’s Arts and Literature Sector, stressed the importance of Dubai hosting literary and cultural festivals, saying: said like this. Supporting local talent, highlighting their achievements and creativity, and presenting them to the world through activities and sessions that enrich the local and regional cultural scene, and qualitative discussions that foster cultural exchanges between human societies. An effective global platform that contributes to the creation of a sustainable cultural environment, which falls within the framework of Dubai Culture’s commitment to create a sustainable cultural environment that attracts intellectuals and literary figures from around the world. ”
He added: The spirit of the festival’s motto, ‘Old Friends’. The opening of the 15th edition of the festival coincides with the start of Dubai He Art Season, which presents a range of initiatives that offer community members the opportunity to ‘walk on the art side’ from February to March 2023. ”
‘old friends’
Many sessions are inspired by the 2023 festival’s theme, ‘Old Friends’, and celebrate the friendships forged over the last 15 years.
Most of the sessions take place at the Interconnectional Dubai Festival City, but audiences can also take an Abra boat tour on Dubai Creek or attend some sessions at the Mohammed bin Rashid Library.
Mohammed Al Murr, President of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Library Foundation, said: Scenes at the local and regional level. The festival has successfully strengthened its position, giving emirate writers from different literary disciplines an ideal opportunity to learn about diverse world cultures and reach out to others. It is also a positive step towards strengthening the infrastructure of the writing and publishing sector. ”
He added: This is in line with the objectives of the Dubai Creative Economy Strategy 2025, which aims to transform Dubai into a preferred destination for international talent and a global capital of the creative economy. ”
Ticket prices start at AED 25. Also new this year are 1 Day, Weekend, Student and Publishing 1 Day Passes starting at Dh 199 and the All Access Crystal Pass with exclusive entry to the Green Room. Also returning is the Festival Fringe, full of free events and performances for the whole family.
