The 15th edition of the Emirates Airline Literature Festival kicks off on Wednesday with a host of guests. With so many sessions each day through Monday and multiple creatives participating, it can be hard to decide which session to attend.
Held at two locations this year, InterContinental Dubai Festival City and Mohammed bin Rashid Library, it features a wide range of talks by authors discussing everything from contemporary storytelling art and love to social issues and spirituality.
With an old friend theme, the festival revisits its own story by inviting some of its early guests for a reminiscence, looking forward to the future of storytelling and welcoming newcomers.
Here are seven sessions not to be missed by book lovers.
Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet: Film Screening and Talk
anime movie Prophet, The film will be adapted from the 1923 book by renowned Lebanese-American author, poet and visual artist Khalil Gibran. Afterwards, there will be interviews with director Roger Allers, producers Clark Peterson and Haytham Nasr.
It tells the story of Mustafa, an exiled artist and poet, who returns home with his housekeeper and daughter. Audiences enter the fascinating world of the poet’s imagination as he flees those in power who try to stop Mustafa’s words, threatening to cause riots.
The main characters are voiced by Liam Neeson and Salma Hayek, who also produced the film. Hayek also recorded a special video of her message for the session. This session will delve into the making of the film and how Gibran’s words were translated into animated form.
Date Time: February 2, 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
venue: Al Baraha III, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Brian Cox: Shakespeare, Success and Inheritance
Scottish actor Brian Cox, a legend of theater and screen, tells audiences about his life. his memoir, put the rabbit in the hatwill be released in October 2021 and tells a candid account of how he came from a working-class Scottish background to become one of the most famous Shakespearean actors of his generation.
Besides his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre, Cox’s film and television performances include his portrayal of Hannibal Lecter in the 1986 film. manhunter, And most recently, his role as HBO’s Logan Roy Inheritance.
Date Time: February 2, 8:00pm to 9:00pm
venue: Al Riwak II, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Warrior Queens, Rebels, Whores — How Women Shaped the World
In this session, Kate Mosse, founder of the #WomanInHistory campaign that celebrates the achievements of women, and historian Manu S. We will discuss the importance of studying — and share their stories with a contemporary audience.
Date Time: February 2nd, 6:30pm to 7:30pm
venue: Al Baraha II, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Mohsin Hamid: The Last White Man
British-Pakistani novelist Mohsin Hamid has announced his latest book, the last white man.
The novel follows the story of Anders, who wakes up to find that his skin color has changed from white to “a deep, unmistakable brown.” It’s not just happening to him, it’s happening to many other people.
This novel brings to the forefront how race, power, love and humanity are often viewed in times of change.
Hamid is also the author of a best-selling novel moth smoke, missing point, How to get filthy rich in rising Asia When exit west.
Date Time: February 3, 6:30pm to 7:30pm
venue: Al Riwak II, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
fables around fire
Fables and myths are part of a collective tradition of storytelling that transcends time, culture and country.
From Yoruba queens to Filipino duende, this debate on the power of folklore takes place under the stars in the Amphitheater of the Muhammad bin Rashid Library.
Writers such as Ben Miller, Budjette Tan, Bolu Babalola, Dubai Abulhoul and Nicholas Jubber tell the myths and stories of their respective cultures, followed by myths and folklore.
Date Time: February 4, 8:00pm to 9:15pm
venue: Amphitheater, Muhammad bin Rashid Library, Al Jaddaf
Past, Present and Future of Islam
UAE diplomat and author Omar Saif Ghobash, Malaysian socio-political commentator Marina Mahathir and Iranian-American religious scholar Reza Aslan will discuss the global importance of Islam. am.
With approximately 2 billion followers worldwide and a growing number, Islam is made up of many ethnicities and nationalities. Panelists will explore the past, present and future of Islam in the face of pressing challenges such as climate change and a growing youth population.
Date Time: February 4, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
venue: Al Baraha III, InterContinental Dubai Festival City
It must have been love, but is it over now?
Love across time and culture is a rich and diverse theme. But how have depictions of love changed in the last 50 or 100 years? How has romance changed from the heyday of the Mills & Boons novels of the mid-20th century to modern romcoms and vampire romances?
All of this when famous authors Bol Babalola, Cecilia Ahern, and Katherine Webber (who explore love in one form or another) discuss one topic that we may not fully understand. and more questions.
Date Time: February 5, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
venue: Al Baraha II, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City
The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature will take place from 1-6 February at the InterContinental Dubai Festival City and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Library. Details and tickets are available at www.emirateslitfest.com
Updated: Feb 1, 2023, 3:05 AM
