Novotvar as a Reflection of Contemporary Literature

Take a closer look at Novotvar on its homepage and Facebook.

The international literary festival aims to introduce the newest and most progressive prose and poetry from around the world and from Slovakia, too, and this year, between 5 and 9 October,  Novotvar will once again host a program packed with readings, concerts and more. Novotvar is already in its sixth year and it has become a staple of contemporary culture both in Bratislava and in the town of Modra where the readings and accompanying events take place.This edition's headliners include one of the best known Israeli fiction writers Etgar Keret or the renown Hungarian author Krisztina Tóth.

Keret will present his newly translated short-stories collection Porucha na kraji galaxie / A Glitch at the Edge of the Galaxy (translated into Slovak by Silvia Singer and Michal Vlk, and published by Artforum). Another name not to miss is the German star Olga Grjasnowa. Her novel Právna nejasnosť jedného manželstva has recently come out in the publishing house Literárna bašta. 

Of course, the festival will present many more interesting Slovak and international authors. The five days of the festival offer a variety of different poetics and faces. You can look forward to hearing and seeing stories, novel excerpts, traiditional as well as experimental poems, and multimedia performances. The organizational team puts the festival's program together relying on an established blueprint. As director Peter Brezňan puts it: „Novotvar has the ambition to function as a port, through which readers can get to know new texts by their favoritte authors, and to also meet authors who they will grow fond of.“ 

Slovak literature will have a strong representation this year. Fiction writers Jana Micenková and Ivana Gibová (currently nominated for the prestigious Anasoft Litera Award with her Eklektik Bastard) will present their new books. If you are a fan of poetry, you will certainly enjoy Dominika Moravčíková's reading. Her debut collection Deti Hamelnu (Children of Hamelm) has been praised by the critics and it is nominated for the national poetry award Zlatá vlna. Daniela Kováčiková and her poetry colleciton Svet:lom is nominated as well. The results of the competition will be announced as part of the festival program. 

The multi-genre character of Novotvar offers concerts, theater, dance and art performances aside from readings. This year, the legend of Slovak underground, the band Ali Ibn Rachid led by Ľubo Burgr, will perform. Jana Tereková, a respected dancer currently residing in France, will also be part of the line-up. You can find out more about the festival's program and authors on its website novotvar.sk.

The 6th edition of the Novotvar festival will take place  on 5-9 October in Bratislava and Modra. Fond na podporu umenia / The Arts Council is the main partner of the festival. 

(TS Novotvar)

photo: Novotvar 2020 -  Marko Pogačar / Foto: Juraj Starovecký