Anticipated outlook for the International Literature Festival 2025, as discussed by Cristina Rivera Garza

The Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin, taking place from September 11-24 at the Haus der Berliner Festspiele, is set to showcase a vibrant and dynamic array of writers from the Latin American community in Berlin. Cristina Rivera Garza, the Curator in Residence for the festival, has carefully selected a group of up-and-coming writers, each bringing their unique perspective and voice to the table.

Cristina Rivera Garza, renowned Mexican author and academic, is the curator for this year's festival. Her events focus on providing diverse perspectives from the Spanish-speaking world, particularly on issues of migration and gender violence. Rivera Garza's selections aim to demonstrate that writing is not an isolating activity, but a concern for communities and the world.

Some of the writers being highlighted include Velia Vidal, an Afro-Colombian writer from the Chocó region of Colombia, Eliana Hernández-Pachón, Luisa Reyes Retana, and Esther Andradi. These writers are not only beautiful storytellers but are deeply concerned about their communities and the world. Many of them also play important roles as activists in their own communities.

Javier Zamora, the Salvadoran-American writer known for his memoir about traveling solo from El Salvador to the United States, will be in Berlin for the first time. Gabriela Wiener, whose work has recently been translated into German, will also be present. Writers from Latin America who have lived elsewhere in Europe, such as in Norway or Finland, will share their experiences and perspectives.

Rivera Garza's book, "Liliana's Invincible Summer," will be a focal point of the festival. The book, which was written in both English and Spanish simultaneously, has recently been translated into German, marking the first of Rivera Garza's works to be translated into the language. Rivera Garza will be discussing her book on September 13.

Through her curation, Rivera Garza hopes to envision a different vision and way of life in the present, not just the future. She believes that everything she writes is engaged and political, as she borrows and defends the language of entire communities. The selected writers are thinking about inescapable conditions of our time, such as migration and gender violence, and aim to engage people in conversations about these relevant issues.

The festival's creative team, mostly women, is dedicated to engaging the public in thought-provoking discussions. The full programme for the Internationales Literaturfestival Berlin is available at literaturfestival.com, where tickets can also be purchased. Don't miss out on this opportunity to witness the powerful voices of Latin American writers and engage in important conversations about our world today.

Anticipated outlook for the International Literature Festival 2025, as discussed by Cristina Rivera Garza