Bard College Berlin to Host "LitFest: Writing Between Languages | Schreiben zwischen den Sprachen" 22-23 November

Bard College Berlin, a non-profit German-American university with 360 students from more than 70 countries, that offers intensive, transdisciplinary education in the humanities and social sciences, invites the public to its Pankow Niederschönhausen campus for LitFest 2023. Litfest is a two-day series of readings and author talks organized by literature professor Dr. Andreas Martin Widmann, known for his novel Messias. In accordance with its motto, LitFest explores “Schreiben zwischen den Sprachen,” or “Writing Between Languages,” highlighting writers that work in translation or in languages other than their native tongue. All events take place at Bard College Berlin (Waldstraße 15, Berlin 13156) and are free and open to the public.

The multilingual events in this series include a reading by author Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus on his novel Birobidschan, about a Jewish-socialist shtetl in Siberia influenced by Yiddish storytelling and magical realism. In Die Perfektionen / The Perfections, Vincenzo Latronico addresses the new work-life realities of digital nomads in Berlin in the early 2000s. The second day will include Yang Lian and Nhã Thuyên on writing in exile, translation, and publishing poetry across borders and languages; readings by Bard College Berlin students; and Jennifer Neal on her novel Notes on her Color, a fantasy coming of age story about a young Black and Indigenous woman who learns to change the color of her skin.

For a second year in a row, LitFest showcases “Bard College Berlin's role within the city's diverse literary landscapes.” Widmann continues, “Following a successful debut in 2022, I am excited that LitFest returns this year with another line-up of acclaimed writers, alongside an expansion of languages within the program. Our goal is to celebrate literature and share Bard College Berlin's academic and creative learning culture with the wider community. The selection of guest speakers reflects the diverse array of languages spoken at the college and the breadth of topics which make Berlin's multicultural literary scene so rich."

This year’s LitFest is generously supported by Fondation Charles Haimoff. More information about the events can be found here.

Post Date: 11-01-2023