Suppose that, a thousand years from now, someone were to have the wild idea of staging an international literature festival in Berlin – what would we tell them about the ilb?
25 years of the international literature festival berlin: time for a look back. And perhaps also for a little music of the future.
Inspired by the Barbarastollen – the central repository of the Federal Republic of Germany, where culturally and historically significant documents are preserved for the distant future – we undertake our own literary-historical rescue attempt. Together with the best audience in the world, we descend into the depths of the festival’s history and ask: What defines this festival – with its countless guests, stars and discoveries, languages and literatures, heated debates and legendary readings? Who can tell these stories? And what must absolutely be passed on, should someone dare to attempt another literature festival in a thousand years’ time?
With headlamp on and checklist in hand, the unofficial special unit of the Federal Office for the Protection of Literature – translator Katy Derbyshire and drag queen Audrey Naline – sets out to secure the traces. Alongside bizarre festival facts and absurd nightmares, we preserve, with musical and graphic support, the favorite moments of former staff and compile the ultimate ilb user’s manual. We are joined by Olga Bubich and Francesca Melandri, while Gabriele von Arnim offers an introduction to the art of confidence – a competence perhaps more valuable than ever in these times.
An evening between anecdote and archive, between resonance and hubris – so that, in a distant future, someone may say: “Wow, that ilb – what on earth was that…”
Former staff, volunteers, and interns receive free admission (+1)!
Click here for the registration link: Registration Anniversary Revue
Moderation: Katy Derbyshire, Audrey Naline
With: Gabriele von Arnim, Olga Bubich, Francesca Melandri
Live Illustration: Nino Bulling
Music: AFAR ODEA
Concept and Direction: Leonard Merkes
The anniversary program is generously supported by the LOTTO Foundation Berlin.