On Saturday, the two-day Bangalore Lit Fest begins

This weekend, The Lalit Ashok in Seshadripuram will play host to the 11th annual Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF).

on Dec 02, 2022

It switches back to an offline format after two years of using a hybrid paradigm. This year, it features a special section just for kids.

This weekend, The Lalit Ashok in Seshadripuram will play host to the 11th annual Bangalore Literature Festival (BLF).

Over 250 authors and speakers, including historian William Dalrymple, author and former chief minister of Karnataka Veerappa Moily, poet and novelist Jeet Thayil, journalist and researcher Akshaya Mukul, and author-politician Arun Shourie, will give talks and participate in sessions during the two-day event on December 3 and 4.

In order to engage writers from other countries in the festival this year, BLF has partnered with the literary network Asia Pacific Writers and Translators. Both fiction and non-fiction subjects will be covered, including history, biographies, translations, literature, religion, mythology, travel, art, music, feminism, food, film, publishing, and technology. According to Shinie Antony, co-founder and festival director, the vast range of books and subjects included in the festival determine its focus.

For the festival this year, BLF has partnered with the literary organisation Asia Pacific Writers and Translators. It will cover a wide range of fictional and non-fictional subjects, including history, biographies, translations, literature, religion, mythology, travel, art, music, feminism, food, film, publishing, and technology. According to Shinie Antony, co-founder and festival director, the festival's theme is determined by the vast range of books and subjects they cover.

The fest returns to an offline format after two years of using a mixed strategy. "Over the past two years, we went hybrid and conducted business both offline and online, just like the rest of the globe. Given that the festival is returning in full force after two years of worldwide unrest, it's almost as though we're hosting the very first edition, she continues.

However, she asserts that in today's quickly evolving society, particularly in the wake of the pandemic, technology and digital platforms now have a significant influence on the literature we produce and surround ourselves with. The second edition of LitMart allows aspiring authors to pitch their stories to a panel of publishers, editors, and literary agents. There will also be a pitching tool for screenwriters called ScreenLit, which is a festival first. Screenwriter Alankrita Shrivastava, director Kamal KM, and filmmaker Natesh Hegde will all serve on the jury. The 15 entries for ScreenLit that have been shortlisted will have the chance to network for future screenplay opportunities.