Thursday 5 February 2015

Karachi Literature Festival, 2015

The Karachi Literature Festival (KLF) was launched in March 2010 and has been such a resounding success the organisers have recently added two sister events to their calendar, the Lahore and Islamabad Literature Festivals.

This momentum reflects the depth of Pakistan’s historical, literary, and cultural roots, and the great desire and energy throughout the whole country to seek knowledge, understanding, and creative growth.

KLF 2015, to be held this weekend, will bring together and celebrate authors writing in diverse languages, genres, and traditions. It will feature debates, discussions, lectures, mushaira, (traditional Pakistani poetry slams), a book fair, book launches, readings, signings, comedy, satire, theatre, music, and children’s sessions such as storytelling, puppetry, painting, singing, and creative movement.

Three literary prizes will be awarded during the Festival:
The KLF Coca-Cola Prize goes to the best non-fiction title originally written in English by a Pakistani or Pakistan-origin foreign national, published anywhere worldwide, and it comes with a prize of PKR 200,000.
The KLF Peace Prize, which comes with a prize of Euros 4000, is a joint project of the KLF, the Consulate General of Germany in Karachi, and the Embassy of Germany in Islamabad. It goes to a fiction or non-fiction title that promotes peace, tolerance, and international understanding, published anywhere worldwide in any language translated into English, and written by a Pakistani or a Pakistani-origin foreign national residing anywhere worldwide, or any foreign national who is a resident of Pakistan.
The KLF Embassy of France Prize promotes fiction originally written in English. The author, who must be a Pakistani or a Pakistani-origin foreign national residing anywhere worldwide, of the best novel or short story collection, published anywhere worldwide or self-published, wins an official invitation for a fully-sponsored visit to the Paris Book Fair.

If you are in Karachi, KLF will be held at the Beach Luxury Hotel on 6, 7, and 8 February. There’s no need to register in advance: just turn up. It’s free to attend.