Await some page-turners at next year’s GLF
Colm Toibin
Your favourite Literary Festival is back! The Fairway Galle Literary Festival returns from January 11-15, next year and an exciting initial line-up of authors has just been released.
First on the author list are: Colm Toibin – author of Brooklyn, adapted onto the big screen (the film was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture).
Dame Margaret Drabble – author of The Pure Gold Baby and 17 other novels. Holder of the distinguished Golden PEN Award
Lesley Hazleton – author of
The First Muslim: The Story of Muhammed, New York Times Editors Choice and an avid TedTalk speaker.
Amish Tripati - author of the fastest selling book trilogy in Indian history - The Shiva Trilogy
Ten years since its initial start date, the Festival has grown organically in size, content and feeling. Festival organisers are looking to ride on the success of the 2016 Festival, by delivering an exceptional 2017, showcasing participants who inspire and are inspired!
New additions for 2017 will be the introduction of one day of Sinhala programming on January 14. This innovative programme will be free and will highlight the diversity of the Sinhala Literary Arts through discussions, poetry readings, short films and writings in translations amongst others.
Another addition to 2017 is the Outreach Children’s Programme to be held in Jaffna on January 17 and 18 which aims to develop the literary arts in English in the North and bring some wonderful international children’s authors to the children of Jaffna.
Dame Margaret Drabble
Geoffrey Dobbs, Festival Founder said, “I’m happy to have my 2016 team back on board with Shyam Selvadurai curating the Festival for the 4th year and Amrita Pieris as Festival Director for the 3rd year supported by Natasha Thompson the Festival Manager. They are working to put together a great line-up of writers and are eager to produce the best Festival yet.”
The Fairway Galle Literary Festival is substantially supported by Fairway Holdings, in its second year as title sponsor. Hemaka de Alwis, Chairman, Fairway Holdings, stated “The Fairway Galle Literary Festival has become one of the principal cultural events in the world, bringing together people of many nationalities who love literature and affording them the opportunity of friendly interaction with world renowned authors. The blending in of architectural, musical and culinary events and the charming, old world atmosphere of Galle Fort contribute to the continuing success of the Festival. We believe that excellence in creative writing is an essential hallmark of modern cultural life in a nation. Accordingly, the annual Fairway National Literary Awards for the best novels in English, Sinhala and Tamil will be awarded during the Festival. Our continued zest to take forward the yearly Fairway Galle Literary Festival stems from the encouragement we receive from our audiences. The Fairway Galle Literary Festival acts as a catalyst to make national literary aspirations blossom forth.”
Jetwing Hotels and Sri Lankan Airlines are the Official Hospitality Partner and Official Travel Partner, respectively. Returning Silver partners are: Amangalla, Anim8, the British Council, Galle Face Hotel, the Fort Printers and the Owl and the Pussycat, as well as Electronic Media Partner, the TNL Group and Print/Online Media Partner, the Wijeya Group.
Check out the Festival’s revamped website, www.galleliteraryfestival.com, where festivalgoers will find an informed and active source for all vital information regarding the Festival. Follow the website and sign up for email updates on the festival programme highlights as they are announced.
Lesley Hazleton
Amish Tripati