Programme Sections

Literature of the World: The selection for Literatures of the World is made by the festival’s organisers, supported by an international network of curators and friends, and by the jurors, internationally renowned experts in the literature of their regions. The current guest authors of the DAAD’s Berlin Artists’ Programme will also receive invitations. This festival section allows audiences to get to know not only world-renowned authors, but also fascinating new discoveries from the fields of prose and poetry.
Reflections: In the section Reflections authors, journalists and international experts from various specialist areas will all be voicing their opinions in discussions and talks on current political, social and cultural topics from Eastern Europe. Many of the festival’s authors will be provided an additional podium here in order to answer any questions.
International Children's and Youth Literature: In the International Children’s and Youth Literature section authors and illustrators from all over the world will be presenting their texts and illustrations in readings, workshops, school projects and talks. The aim of this part of the festival is to showcase a representative cross-section of high quality children’s and youth literature in different languages – from picture books to young children’s books, from graphic novels/comics to literature for young adults – in events both inside and outside schools, and to leave a lasting impression and awareness of the wider world in all its diversity, otherness and normality, while also providing the chance see what was previously known from a fresh perspective.
Speak, Memory: In the Speak, Memory festival section, German and international authors of the past decades and centuries – including the famous, the obscure and the forgotten - will be remembered in a combination of readings and talks. This year, some of the most important Eastern European authors will be presented.
Literature on Celluloid: On top of all that, the ilb is presenting some of our guest authors' important work in the Babylon cinema under the title “Literature on Celluloid”, which will look at the interrelationship between literature and film.
Specials: The Specials section of the programme includes the festival’s smaller, special events: Scritture Giovani – now in its tenth year – is a cooperative project with two of the most important literary festivals in Europe: the “Festivaletteratura Mantova” and the “Guardian Hay Festival”, and serves to promote Europe’s younger authors. For 2011 Scritture Giovani has hunted out four young authors who have written short stories in different languages about the predefined topic “names”. These texts will be released in a trilingual edition in English, German and Italian. An evening with New German Voices is in the programme for the fourth time, introducing the most talented young German-speaking authors, who we think will enjoy international success. The Readings in Prisons and Libraries as well as the International SLAM! Revue are obligatory.