More than 70 authors and speakers from Greece and abroad, at least 50 thematic discussions, seminars and other events, as well as a wide range of reflections around the central thematic section “Individual and collective identities: Self-identification in the modern world”. , includes the 2nd Chania Book Festival, which will take place from 20 to 24 June at venues such as the Grand Arsenal and the Theater of Mikis Theodorakis.

The festival program was presented yesterday, and this year the Hellenist Rodrik Beaton, the North Macedonian writer Rumena Buzarovska, the Serb-born Croatian writer Lana Bastasic, the Franco-Swiss journalist and writer Mona Solet, and several Latin American creators such as Cuban prose writer Leonardo Padura, Colombian writer Santiago Gamboa, multi-award winning Nicaraguan writer Sergio Ramirez, short story writer Ana Maria Sua from Argentina, and her compatriot and “photographer of writers” Daniel Mordzinski. British writer Bethan Roberts and, of course, British historian and diplomat Michael Llewellyn Smith, who will “precede” the festival with a pre-opening event at which Smith will deliver a speech titled “Crete in my life”.

The 2nd Book Festival of the Cretan City will feature presentations, lectures, concerts and exhibitions about Cavafy.

In the “Greek Delegation” we will see, among others, Rhea Galanakis, Nikos Vatopoulos, Stavros Zumbulakis, Nikos Davveta, Christos Oikonomou, Yiannis Doukas, Christos Homenidis, Ersis Sotiropoulou, Demosthenes Papamarkos, Amanda Michalopoulou, Giannis Skalidakis and others. Filmmaker Theodoros Terzopoulos will also be present to present his new book Into the Labyrinth: Theodoros Terzopoulos Meets Heiner Müller.

Gender inequality, the relationship between humans and machines, the population exchange in 1923, the cultural characteristics of the Cretans, as well as issues of identity reflected in the works of Cavafy and Kazantzakis, are also some of the separate axes that will be explored. within the framework of the central thematic section of the festival. Side events that this year coincide with the anniversary of the birth and death of the Alexandrian poet include a concert by Lena Platonos, an exhibition by Dimitris Asteriou, theater performances by DIPETHE Crete, and a collaboration with the film Chania. Festival and with the Chaniaartoon comics festival.

“Chania is a model city for such events,” said festival director and journalist Manolis Pimplis. “The city has the right cultural and architectural environment, it has the right size – such festivals abroad are successful in cities of this size – it has creative and intellectual potential, as well as the ability to fully cover such events. One of our future goals will be for the whole city of Chania to live these days for the sake of the festival.”