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The '''George Town Literary Festival''' (GTLF) is an annual festival which takes place in the city of [[George Town, Penang]], [[Malaysia]]. The festival takes place every last weekend of November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/books/news/2014/11/25/the-george-town-literary-festival-returns-with-a-capital-edge/|title=The George Town Literary Festival returns with a capital edge|date=25 November 2014|website=The Star|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref> |
The '''George Town Literary Festival''' (GTLF) is an annual festival which takes place in the city of [[George Town, Penang]], [[Malaysia]]. The festival takes place every last weekend of November.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/books/news/2014/11/25/the-george-town-literary-festival-returns-with-a-capital-edge/|title=The George Town Literary Festival returns with a capital edge|date=25 November 2014|website=The Star|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref> |
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George Town Literary Festival is the only [[literary festival]] which is funded by the state government in Malaysia. The festival celebrates |
George Town Literary Festival is the only [[literary festival]] which is funded by the state government in Malaysia. The festival celebrates world literature, translation and the literary arts, with various writers, novelists, [[spoken word]] artists and thinkers from diverse locations and disciplines coming together annually to engage in intellectual discourse freely. It is currently the largest world literature festival organised in Malaysia and the first literary event in Southeast Asia to receive the Literary Festival Award at the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards. |
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The festival was initiated in 2011 by former Chief Minister of Penang, [[Lim Guan Eng]]. Debuting with a line-up of 5 writers, the festival's last edition featured over 80 writers and speakers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/read/article/george-town-literary-festival-looks-at-where-malaysians-are...-and-where-we|title=George Town Literary Festival looks at where Malaysians are… and where we think we’re going|date=26 November 2015|website=The Malay Mail|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref> Since 2016, the |
The festival was initiated in 2011 by former Chief Minister of Penang, [[Lim Guan Eng]]. Debuting with a line-up of 5 writers, the festival's last edition featured over 80 writers and speakers while its upcoming edition will take place from 21 - 24 November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/read/article/george-town-literary-festival-looks-at-where-malaysians-are...-and-where-we|title=George Town Literary Festival looks at where Malaysians are… and where we think we’re going|date=26 November 2015|website=The Malay Mail|access-date=2016-05-11}}</ref> Since 2016, the festival has been organised by the [[Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau]]. Previously, [[Penang Global Tourism]] led production from 2011-2014 while [[Penang Institute]] took charge in 2015. |
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==History== |
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From 2011 to 2014, the festival was organised by Penang Global Tourism, while Penang Institute, the state’s public policy think tank took over the reins in 2015. |
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===2011-2013: Early years=== |
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The festival's first three editions were curated by Bernice Chauly. Its inaugural edition was themed “History & Heritage: Where are our Stories?” and comprised 7 events held across 26 & 27 November 2011. Taking place in the then-newly established [[China House]] and the E&O Hotel, the festival's five headliners were Malaysian authors [[Muhammed Haji Salleh]], [[Farish Ahmad-Noor]], [[Iskandar Al-Bakri]], [[Shih-Li Kow]] and [[Tan Twan Eng]]. |
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Themed "Voyages. Hopes. Dreams." the second edition of the festival was the first to feature an international lineup comprising writers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Held at Sekeping Victoria, China House and Studio @ Straits, the festival spanned 20 events while its duration was extended to 3 days. It's line-up of 14 writers included A. Samad Said, Alfi'an Saat, David van Reybrouck, Linda Christanty & Nii Ayikwei Parkes. |
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Due to increased support from foreign embassies and government agencies, the 2013 festival programme grew to feature 37 events in Sekeping Victoria, China House and 179 Victoria Street. Themed "The Ties That Bind", 20 speakers headlined the festival including Ali Cobby Eckermann, Eric Hansen, Tash Aw, Christine Otten and Cecil Rajendra. |
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===2014: Departure=== |
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The 2014 edition was notable for being curated by [[Cooler Lumpur]], an ideas festival in Kuala Lumpur with the same name. Directed by Umapagan Ampikaipakan, the festival took place in Whiteaways Arcade and was themed "Capital". It spanned 38 events and featured 27 speakers including Eddin Khoo, Miguel Syjuco, John Krich, Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh and Susan Barker. There was also a fringe programme comprising stand-up comedy and a quiz. |
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===2015-2018: Rise to acclaim=== |
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The festival's following four editions saw Bernice Chauly returning to the helm as festival director. In 2015, the festival was themed "We Are Who We Are/Are We Who We Are?" and featured 36 speakers including Wajahat Ali, Evan Fallenberg, Robin Hemley, Pablo Jofre and Marina Mahathir. |
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In recognition of the displacement of communities across the globe, the 2016 festival was themed "Hiraeth". However, the festival's growing presence and increasing public attention led to vandals defacing an exhibition by Zunar, whose works commented politically on former Prime Minister Najib Razak's financial scandals and alleged corruption. Zunar's eventual arrest drew international attention and support for the festival's position as a platform for free speech. The 2016 edition of the festival is also notable for scoring a nomination in the Literary Festival Award category at the LBF International Excellence Awards. |
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In 2017, the festival featured a theme of "Monsters & (Im)Mortals". Featuring a larger curatorial team due to the addition of Gareth Richards and Pauline Fan as co-curators, the festival line-up comprised 46 writers and 55 activities. Among the year's headliners were Gerður Kristný, Mei Fong, Latiff Mohidin, Laksmi Pamuntjak and Gündüz Vassaf. The 2017 edition became the first literary festival in Southeast Asia to receive the Literary Festival Award at the LBF International Excellence Awards. |
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The following year, the festival was themed "The State of Freedom" to commemorate the anniversaries of human rights milestones, as well as Malaysia's first change in government since achieving independence 59 years prior. Extended to run across 4 days, the 2018 edition featured the largest line-up of writers and number of events in the festival's history. Notable events at the 2018 edition include a series of LGBTQIA+ discourses as well as the inaugural Malaysia National Poetry Slam. |
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===2019=== |
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The 2019 edition is currently in pre-production. Taking place from 21 - 24 November 2019, the festival will be directed by Pauline Fan and Sharaad Kuttan, marking the first time two co-directors will helm the festival in its 9-year history. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 09:27, 30 May 2019
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (May 2016) |
| George Town Literary Festival | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location(s) | George Town, Penang |
| Country |  Malaysia |
| Inaugurated | 2011 |
| Website | www |
The George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) is an annual festival which takes place in the city of George Town, Penang, Malaysia. The festival takes place every last weekend of November.[1]
George Town Literary Festival is the only literary festival which is funded by the state government in Malaysia. The festival celebrates world literature, translation and the literary arts, with various writers, novelists, spoken word artists and thinkers from diverse locations and disciplines coming together annually to engage in intellectual discourse freely. It is currently the largest world literature festival organised in Malaysia and the first literary event in Southeast Asia to receive the Literary Festival Award at the London Book Fair International Excellence Awards.
The festival was initiated in 2011 by former Chief Minister of Penang, Lim Guan Eng. Debuting with a line-up of 5 writers, the festival's last edition featured over 80 writers and speakers while its upcoming edition will take place from 21 - 24 November 2019.[2] Since 2016, the festival has been organised by the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau. Previously, Penang Global Tourism led production from 2011-2014 while Penang Institute took charge in 2015.
History
2011-2013: Early years
The festival's first three editions were curated by Bernice Chauly. Its inaugural edition was themed “History & Heritage: Where are our Stories?” and comprised 7 events held across 26 & 27 November 2011. Taking place in the then-newly established China House and the E&O Hotel, the festival's five headliners were Malaysian authors Muhammed Haji Salleh, Farish Ahmad-Noor, Iskandar Al-Bakri, Shih-Li Kow and Tan Twan Eng.
Themed "Voyages. Hopes. Dreams." the second edition of the festival was the first to feature an international lineup comprising writers from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Held at Sekeping Victoria, China House and Studio @ Straits, the festival spanned 20 events while its duration was extended to 3 days. It's line-up of 14 writers included A. Samad Said, Alfi'an Saat, David van Reybrouck, Linda Christanty & Nii Ayikwei Parkes.
Due to increased support from foreign embassies and government agencies, the 2013 festival programme grew to feature 37 events in Sekeping Victoria, China House and 179 Victoria Street. Themed "The Ties That Bind", 20 speakers headlined the festival including Ali Cobby Eckermann, Eric Hansen, Tash Aw, Christine Otten and Cecil Rajendra.
2014: Departure
The 2014 edition was notable for being curated by Cooler Lumpur, an ideas festival in Kuala Lumpur with the same name. Directed by Umapagan Ampikaipakan, the festival took place in Whiteaways Arcade and was themed "Capital". It spanned 38 events and featured 27 speakers including Eddin Khoo, Miguel Syjuco, John Krich, Sudhir Thomas Vadaketh and Susan Barker. There was also a fringe programme comprising stand-up comedy and a quiz.
2015-2018: Rise to acclaim
The festival's following four editions saw Bernice Chauly returning to the helm as festival director. In 2015, the festival was themed "We Are Who We Are/Are We Who We Are?" and featured 36 speakers including Wajahat Ali, Evan Fallenberg, Robin Hemley, Pablo Jofre and Marina Mahathir.
In recognition of the displacement of communities across the globe, the 2016 festival was themed "Hiraeth". However, the festival's growing presence and increasing public attention led to vandals defacing an exhibition by Zunar, whose works commented politically on former Prime Minister Najib Razak's financial scandals and alleged corruption. Zunar's eventual arrest drew international attention and support for the festival's position as a platform for free speech. The 2016 edition of the festival is also notable for scoring a nomination in the Literary Festival Award category at the LBF International Excellence Awards.
In 2017, the festival featured a theme of "Monsters & (Im)Mortals". Featuring a larger curatorial team due to the addition of Gareth Richards and Pauline Fan as co-curators, the festival line-up comprised 46 writers and 55 activities. Among the year's headliners were Gerður Kristný, Mei Fong, Latiff Mohidin, Laksmi Pamuntjak and Gündüz Vassaf. The 2017 edition became the first literary festival in Southeast Asia to receive the Literary Festival Award at the LBF International Excellence Awards.
The following year, the festival was themed "The State of Freedom" to commemorate the anniversaries of human rights milestones, as well as Malaysia's first change in government since achieving independence 59 years prior. Extended to run across 4 days, the 2018 edition featured the largest line-up of writers and number of events in the festival's history. Notable events at the 2018 edition include a series of LGBTQIA+ discourses as well as the inaugural Malaysia National Poetry Slam.
2019
The 2019 edition is currently in pre-production. Taking place from 21 - 24 November 2019, the festival will be directed by Pauline Fan and Sharaad Kuttan, marking the first time two co-directors will helm the festival in its 9-year history.
References
- ^ "The George Town Literary Festival returns with a capital edge". The Star. 25 November 2014. Retrieved 2016-05-11.
- ^ "George Town Literary Festival looks at where Malaysians are… and where we think we're going". The Malay Mail. 26 November 2015. Retrieved 2016-05-11.