Books, authors, readings and conversations on European literature. 

Tirana, 11 December 2024 - FELT, a three-day Festival of European Literature in Tirana, organised by the European Union Delegation to Albania, will take place on 12-14 December 2024. Prominent European authors from Croatia, France, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Poland and children’s literary works from the Netherlands will meet Albanian readers and visit students in high schools.

FELT celebrates European literature by promoting contemporary authors and literary works from across Europe in Albania, also translated and published in Albanian. The festival is organised by the EU Delegation, in cooperation with the Italian Institute of Culture, as well as the Embassies of Greece, France, Croatia, the Netherlands, Poland and the Embassy of Ireland in Athens.

FELT takes place in three venues, Europe House, the National Library at “Sotir Kolea” and Agimi Art Center. The festival will offer a platform to foster dialogue, immerse into diverse literary landscapes, develop a better understanding of today’s world through literature in a series of conversations that reflect the diversity of European literature and languages.

“Literature, like other forms of art, inspires, engages and challenges us. It opens our mind to new ideas, it enables us to better understand each other, it helps us to build more diverse and inclusive societies. FELT, the Festival of European Literature in Tirana, is a celebration of European values, bringing the EU and Albania closer together”, EU Ambassador Silvio Gonzato said. 

“The Festival of European Literature in Tirana (FELT), seeks to spark inspiring exchanges, honor diverse literary traditions, and connect European authors and Albanian writers and readers. It aspires to cultivate a profound appreciation for the power of the written word across the rich tapestry of European literary traditions”, said the Director of the Italian Institute of Culture, Alessandro Ruggera.

Human rights, environmental issues, dealing with the past, childhood traumas, self-awareness and self-growth in different cultural backgrounds, getting to know and understand ourselves and others, the inner journeys and thoughts defining our paths, consequences of war and conflict, tense lives and dreams, the age of the internet – these are some of the topics tackled by the European writers joining FELT. It will feature reading sessions from the works of Catherine Prasifka, Annet Schaap and Annie MG Schmidt, Kristos Armando Gezos, Margo Rejmer, Dominique Barbéris, Miro Gavran and Paolo Giordano. Their conversations with Albanian authors and literary translators, with the participation of a diverse audience, will touch upon different contemporary literary styles and will create connections with local cultural and educational initiatives.  

FELT is about European values and highlights the role of literature in promoting dialogue, cross-cultural understanding and inclusivity while providing a platform for European authors to share their perspectives, insights, and creative processes. Encouraging a dialogue on current social, political, and cultural issues through the lens of European literature, FELT also emphasises the importance of reading and storytelling among participants, particularly students and young readers.

We are delighted to invite you to be part of this celebration. For more details, kindly find the FELT programme below.