Franschhoek Literary Festival: Programme Teaser
Last edited: February 05, 2010
Posted by Business and Arts South Africa
The Franschhoek Literary Festival: Fourth Edition will hit the streets of this Winelands village starting on Friday 14 May, with another gathering of writers, editors, publishers, readers and assorted book fans who will be deep in various conversations – sometimes to applause and laughter, occasionally escalating to hot argument – until sunset on Sunday 16 May.
In three short years the FLF has gained an international reputation as a respected celebration of books and writers. After hosting more than 3 000 visitors and 56 authors, poets and chairpeople in 2009, the FLF organisers are getting ready for another buzzing book weekend in autumn this year.
The FLF is a celebration of books and writers with the focus on promoting South African writing and reading. It is run largely by volunteers, well supported by the Franschhoek community.
The programme and the list of visiting writers have not yet been finalised, though some of the confirmed overseas writers include:
• From Japan: bestselling French author Muriel Barbery (The Elegance of the Hedgehog, Gourmet Rhapsody), courtesy of the Alliance Francaise.
• From Spain: John Carlin who wrote Playing the Enemy, the book about Madiba’s involvement in our 1995 Rugby World Cup win that became the Clint Eastwood movie Invictus, starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon.
• From the UK, sponsored by the British Council: TV personality Tom Watt, Arsenal fanatic and author of The Beautiful Game, a book of soccer heroes with a joyous young South African player on the cover.
The starting line-up of South African authors include former FLF stars Ivan Vladislaviæ (Portrait With Keys, Flashback Hotel), Deon Meyer (Blood Safari, 13e Uur), John van de Ruit (the Spud books), Rian Malan (Resident Alien), Chris van Wyk (Shirley, Goodness & Mercy and the children’s Long Walk to Freedom), Niq Mhlongo (After Tears) and Imraan Coovadia (High Low In Between).
This year we look forward to welcoming Jonathan Jansen (Knowledge in the Blood), Mandla Langa (The Lost Colours of the Chameleon), Jacob Dlamini (Native Nostalgia), Michiel Heyns (Bodies Politic), Véronique Tadjo (Queen Pokou), Ndumiso Ngcobo (Some of my Best Friends are White, Is it ‘Cos I’m Black?), Mark Behr (The Smell of Apples, Kings of Water), Pieter Haasbroek (Kruispunt), Aher Arap Bol (The Lost Boy) and Angela Makholwa (The 30th Candle). Of special interest will be Wessell Ebersohn, pioneer writer of SA thrillers who dropped out of sight for nearly twenty years and is now back with a new Yudel Gordon book, The October Killings.
Negotiations with other exciting writers – a number from Africa – continue.
As with FLF 2009, there will be a cookbook event on the morning of Friday 14 May with three M’s of local cuisine: Marlene van der Westhuizen (Sumptuous), Mark Dendy-Young (La Petite Ferme Cookbook) and Myrna Robins (Franschhoek Food).
The price of FLF tickets remains the same as last year: R60 per event, with concessions for students. Regular festival participants know that the proceeds of ticket sales and donations go into the FLF Library Fund which puts books into schools and crèches, with the long-term goal of achieving a new community library.
Over the past three years, the FLF has steadily worked towards achieving its literacy improvement goals through annual poetry competitions, poetry workshops, visits by authors to local schools and the Groot Drakenstein prison, an annual primary school spelling bee and the facilitation of Youth Affair productions in the Church Hall.
The FLF also contributes to the general economic and developmental wellbeing of the Franschhoek valley, drawing visitors to local guest houses and restaurants in the quiet season. “We believe that the festival has put Franschhoek on the map as a lively and inclusive cultural destination,” says Jenny Hobbs, an author herself, and one of the organisers of the FLF.
The festival will again host the South African Wine Writers prize and entries will be open to all writers who have had a wine-related article published in 2009.
The FLF will be presented in association with two new partners, and an announcement in this regard will be made within the next week.
‘The people shall read’ is the FLF’s mantra for 2010, starting with children. Your enjoyment of the FLF 2010 from 14 to 16 May will help to work towards this essential objective.
Details will be up on the website soon – www.flf.co.za – with the programme due towards the end of February. Be advised to book early via Webtickets, especially for events in the smaller venues.
In the interim, festival goers can book for the weekend and look forward once more to spending time with a diversity of local and international authors and enjoying legendary Franschhoek hospitality in breathtaking surroundings.
For further information, please email the helpline info@flf.co.za. For accommodation and general enquiries contact the Franschhoek Tourism office (021) 876 3603 or go to www.franschhoek.org.za.