Jakarta – The world's finest thinkers, writers and artists will gather in Ubud, Bali's cultural capital, to explore the pressing issues confronting humanity at this moment, their historical roots and potential consequences.
Attention all literary, arts and current affairs enthusiasts! The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF), one of Southeast Asia's most esteemed literary festivals, has just announced its 20th-anniversary edition, scheduled to take place from Oct. 18 to 22, 2023.
To commemorate this significant milestone while addressing the current global state, this year's festival has adopted an aptly contemplative theme: Atita, Wartamana, Anagata, meaning, the past, the present and the future, inspired by the Balinese concept of time, Tri Semaya. With the multifaceted crises of global conflicts and climate change, humanity stands at a pivotal crossroads.
To engage the audience in thoughtful discussion through literature and the arts, the festival will feature prominent speakers and visionaries, including fearless environmental defender Vandana Shiva, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and investigative journalist Geraldine Brooks, Booker Prize-winning author of Girl, Woman, Other, Bernadine Evaristo, Geetanjali Shree, 2022 Booker Prize winner Shehan Karunatilaka and journalist, human rights defender, writer and film producer Behrouz Boochani.
The festival's artwork, created by Indonesia's living legend, senior journalist, poet, essayist, novelist, visual artist and prodemocracy activist Goenawan Mohamad, will also be one of its highlights.
Additionally, the festival will showcase internationally acclaimed Indonesian authors like Leila S. Chudori, whose novels have been translated into English, the latest being The Sea Speaks His Name, published by Penguin Random House Southeast Asia in 2020. Another prominent figure who will attend is author and scholar Intan Paramaditha, whose books have been translated into English under the titles Apple and Knife and The Wandering, both published by Harvill Secker.
Excitingly, the festival also launched its inaugural writing retreat from Oct. 15 to 22. Held in the lush grounds of the five-star Plataran Resort & Spa, this immersive three-day writing adventure will be led by renowned novelists Louise Doughty, Jill Dawson, Kathryn Heyman and Kate Pullinger. Following this retreat, participants will experience four days of festival magic, including the exclusive opening Gala, dinner at Casa Luna hosted by Janet DeNeefe and much more.
The festival is set amid the mesmerizing and mystical landscape of Ubud and aims to be an intellectual and creative oasis, providing a safe space for speakers and the audience to express themselves through literature and the arts.
[For more details about the program, visit ubudwritersfestival.com/program. To explore ticket options, go to ubudwritersfestival.com/tickets. To learn more about the Writing Retreat, visit ubudwritersfestival.com/retreat.]