Dear Readers,
For a quarter century, authors living and writing in Berlin have helped make the international literature festival berlin [ilb] what it is today. They write, publish, and perform, turning Berlin into a living, breathing literary city. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we want to say thank you.
To honor their contribution, we are gifting 100 festival passes to Berlin-based authors. These passes grant access to the whole program of the ilb 2025 – valid for all events which aren’t already sold out. Pass holders are also invited to attend the festival’s opening on September 11 at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele.The Open Call is for writers of all genres who live in Berlin. Applications are open until July 31, 2025. [Apply HERE.]
Language and storytelling take center stage in »My Name Is Emilia del Valle« [translated by Frances Riddle], the new novel by bestselling Chilean-American author Isabel Allende, a beloved guest returning to the ilb for the fifth time. Her protagonist is unimpressed by conventions and follows her own path: »Through writing, I could transport myself anywhere and do whatever I imagined.«
Isabel Allende will digitally attend the event on September 16 discussing her latest novel. The German actress Katja Riemann will read from the book, and journalist Marie Kaiser will moderate. The event will be held in English with simultaneous German translation.
Another highlight of this year’s festival: Mieko Kawakami, one of the most influential voices in contemporary Japanese literature. Her work explores themes of female autonomy with sharp intellect, poetic intensity, and unflinching honesty. In her new novel »Sisters in Yellow« [translated by Laurel Taylor & Hitomi Yoshio], she tells the story of 17-year-old Hana as she grows up in poverty, longs for independence, and navigates female solidarity on the fringes of society while teetering on the edge of a criminal underworld.
Following her digital appearance in 2022, Kawakami returns in person for the German premiere of the book on September 18 at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele. The reading will be performed by actress Marie Bloching, with moderation by journalist Miriam Zeh. The event will be held in Japanese with simultaneous translation into German and will include German Sign Language [DGS] interpretation.
Tickets for these events – as well as for selected others – are already available HERE [click link].
We can’t wait to welcome you to the 25th anniversary edition of the ilb this September to celebrate, reflect, and share in the power of literature.
Warm regards,
Dr. Simone Schröder [Programmleiterin] und das ilb-Team