Dear Readers,
Literature is performative—not just an act of writing but a full-body experience. The ilb aspires to disrupt and reinvent traditional formats, presenting extraordinary content for the 24th time, realized in collaboration with various partners. In addition to classic book premieres and panel discussions, our program includes, in a Poetry Night, a literary revue, performances with music, a Comfort Food Workshop, the Festival Kitchen, screenings, and two festival parties.
Here are some highlights:
Literature and Melody
Clemens Rynkowski and his musicians set the tone. Their sounds at the opening of the festival introduce the keynote speech by Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse.
Featuring: Ganna Gryniva – Vocals, Aly Keïta – Balafon, Laura Robles – Cajón, Florian Rynkowski – Bass/String Instruments, Clemens Rynkowski – Theremin/Keyboards/Musical Direction.
Festival Opening | Thu Sep 05 | 18:00
Ben Okri won the Booker Prize in 1991 for his magical-realist tour de force »The Famished Road.« Today, he is considered one of the most important contemporary British authors. Creativity, he reminds us, must reflect the urgency of the times. Together with interdisciplinary composer, pianist, and singer Cymin Samawatie, Okri performs a selection of his texts, immersing the audience in his work.
Ben Okri: Existential Creativity | Sat Sep 07 | 21:00
In cooperation with the Belgrade KROKODIL Festival, we bring young southeastern European writers to the stage in a literary revue. Rumena Bužarovska, Diana Çuli, Barbara Delać, Lejla Kalamujić, Barbi Marković, and Adelina Tërshani present new poetry and prose. In between readings, Ane Paška will perform a concert. Theater, music, text, and video merge into their own unique art form.
Spaces of Freedom – Unlearning History | Fri Sep 06 | 20:00
The »Poetry Night« offers a diverse and dazzling experience of the art of language with outstanding voices in poetry: Logan February, Tahir Hamut Izgil, Maria Stepanova, and Hannah Sullivan. These Nigerian, Uyghur, Russian, and British poets each read in their respective languages. Actors present the German translations.
Poetry Night | Thu Sep 12 | 20:00
Film and Food
Branwen Okpako presents her film »Return to Chibok,« which tells the story of the abduction of 276 girls by Boko Haram. It is based on Helon Habila’s research and his 2017 literary report, »The Chibok Girls.« The author speaks with the director about the multimedia work on this project. The film is part of the event »Shared Trauma« in cooperation with the Documentation Center for Displacement, Expulsion, Reconciliation.
Shared Trauma – A Night of Remembrance | Fri Sep 13 | 18:00–24:00
Return to Chibok – Film Screening | Fri Sep 13 | 22:00–23:45
»My mother’s kitchen is a revolving door of flavors«: The workshop by writer, poet, and performer Wana Udobang uses memories and emotions around the theme of food to create poems and stories. Participants are invited to a culinary-literary exchange. Feel free to bring fruit or a dish that holds special memories for you!
Comfort Food Workshop | Sun Sep 08 | 14:00
Festival Kitchen
Literary nourishment: The »Festival Kitchen« in the former ticketing hall of the Berliner Festspiele is the meeting point for spontaneous conversations and for food & drinks on late summer evenings. It is the place where we come together: the kitchen table at the heart of the festival. Catering by the restaurant Kreuzberger Himmel and an in-house bar courtesy of the Berliner Festspiele.
»Festival Kitchen«
Fri Sep 06 – Fri Sep 13 | 18:00–22:30
Sat Sep 14 | 18:00–21:00 followed by a party
»Festival Bar«
Fri Sep 06 – Sat Sep 14 | general hours 17:00–23:00*
(*opens one hour before the first event of the day // closes at 23:00 or as needed)
It’s not a festival without parties!
With drinks and music, we kick off the 24th ilb, where performer Wana Udobang will set the tone for the upcoming festival days with spoken word texts about feminism, joy of life, and physicality. She released her latest album »Transcendence« in 2020. On the opening night, we celebrate the magical and unifying power of words and music.
Opening Party | Thu Sep 05 | 21:30
The ilb and Tropen Verlag invite you to an »Awesome Time« at the ilb Closing x Tropen Party following the conversation between Niclas Seydack and Caroline Wahl about the millennial generation. The ten-day festival culminates in a grand finale with a set of the finest music. On the turntables: the up-and-coming Disco & House DJs WALL RA and Carl Hang. Admission is free. All are welcome.
ilb Closing x Tropen Party | Sat Sep 14 | 21:30
The ilb Team