International Literature Festival Launches in Podgorica with Enthusiasm

The inaugural edition of the International Literature Festival was officially launched on September 30, 2023, at the Independence Square in Podgorica. This significant cultural event was opened by the Secretary for Culture of the Capital City, Snežana Tomanović, who expressed her excitement about the festival’s theme: “Books are at the center.” This message not only highlights the festival’s location in the heart of the city but also emphasizes the desire to place literature at the forefront of everyday life and cultural engagement.

During her opening remarks, Tomanović noted that the Capital City has organized the International Book Fair for the past decade. She stated, “This year, we wanted to provide a more beautiful, stronger, and larger framework for literary creation, connecting literature with other arts.” The festival is crucial for Podgorica, as it strengthens the city’s cultural identity and promotes young publishers while fostering international cooperation and enhancing reading culture.

Moreover, Tomanović expressed her belief that the festival has the potential to become a cultural brand for Podgorica. She highlighted the long-term vision of making literature an integral part of daily life.

The event also saw contributions from local businesses, with Zoran Milovanović, the Executive Director of MTEL, emphasizing the importance of corporate social responsibility. He remarked, “Cultural engagement goes far beyond financial support, no matter how significant it is for any project’s realization.” Milovanović assured that the cultural community in Montenegro could count on MTEL as a reliable partner and friend to the arts.

He added, “We believe in the power of ideas, the strength of imagination, and the synergy of successful corporations, relevant institutions, and talented individuals.” Milovanović took pride in helping introduce a variety of quality domestic, regional, and European authors to the Montenegrin reading public.

The Italian Ambassador to Montenegro, Andreina Marsela, also expressed gratitude to the Capital City and the Secretariat for Culture for allowing contemporary Italian authors to participate in this year’s festival. She announced that one of Italy’s prominent contemporary authors, Karlo Lucarelli, would be featured in the festival program on October 4, 2023.

As part of the festival’s opening ceremony, an exhibition titled “Creating in French – Stories of Languages, Journeys of Words” was inaugurated at the Radosav Ljumović National Library. This exhibition, created in collaboration with the French Embassy in Montenegro, the French Institute in Podgorica, and the Alliance Française in Paris, showcases a unique journey through the works of writers who express themselves in French.

Ambassador of France, An Marie Maske, stated, “Through quotes and portraits of authors, you will discover the relationship these writers have with the French language as a medium for expressing their art. The French language, like literature, does not belong to anyone in particular.”

Over the course of six festival days, from September 30 to October 5, more than 50 diverse programs are scheduled. These will include the promotion of new publications, meetings with well-known authors, and various musical and theatrical performances in open spaces. The fair section of the festival will operate daily from 11:00 to 22:00, with free admission for all attendees.

The festival is sponsored by MTEL, with support from the Ministry of Culture and Media of Montenegro, the Ministry of Education, Science, and Innovation, as well as the embassies of Italy and France and the European House in Podgorica. This collaborative effort underscores the festival’s significance in enhancing cultural dialogue and promoting literature within the community.