First round of authors, artists and activists announced for Ubud Writers & Readers Festival’s 15th year

The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival today announced its first lineup of authors, artists and activists who will join this year’s five-day program of impassioned conversations, intimate special events, stimulating films and powerful performances from 24–28 October. Early Bird tickets are now on sale until the full program is announced from mid-August.

In 2018 UWRF celebrates its 15^th year as Southeast Asia’s leading festival of words and ideas. It will bring together more than 150 speakers from 25 countries, to share extraordinary stories and refreshing perspectives through the lens of this year’s theme, ‘Jagadhita’.

From Makassar to Nigeria, Jakarta to India, the first lineup of 16 speakers is testament to the Festival’s cultural diversity. Along with its intimate venues with views of Ubud’s iconic rice fields, jungles and valleys, the vast number of nations represented is what makes the UWRF unique among the world’s top literary events.

The Festival is honored to welcome revered British playwright, screenwriter, filmmaker and novelist Hanif Kureishi, alongside Professor Gillian Triggs, who served as President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2012 to 2017. They will be joined by Kim Scott, whose Benang (1999) was the first novel by an Indigenous writer to win the Miles Franklin Award, Australia’s premier literary prize. Scott’s second novel also won the Miles Franklin, and his third, Taboo, is shortlisted for this year’s Award.

Acclaimed Indian poet, novelist and dancer Tishani Doshi will appear alongside Nigerian American writer, filmmaker, and medical doctor Uzodinma Iweala. Pakistani memoirist and novelist Fatima Bhutto will return to UWRF after her first appearance in 2008. “I was so moved by the multitude of voices, experiences and narratives that I encountered at the Festival. I’m very happy to return,” she commented. Leading the conversation on equality and inclusivity in publishing is Indonesian Singaporean writer Clarissa Goenawan, who will be joined by acclaimed British author Geoff Dyer.

The nation’s extraordinary cultural and creative diversity is embodied by the Festival’s first round of Indonesian speakers. UWRF is thrilled to welcome Kamila Andini, director of Sekala Niskala (The Seen and Unseen). One of Indonesia’s most celebrated recent films, it premiered at Toronto International Film Festival 2017 and received the Grand Jury Prize at Tokyo Filmex, and the Generation Kplus Grand Prix at Berlinale.

As screenings of independent Indonesian films remain rare both internationally and locally, celebrating independent Indonesian cinema has grown into a core component of the Festival. This year’s UWRF also sees the return of experimental filmmaker Richard Oh for the premiere of his fifth film Love is a Bird.

One of the frontrunners of Indonesia’s modern literature landscape, Dee Lestari, will be joined by bestselling poet and rising star Aan Mansyur, award-winning author, poet, and architect Avianti Armand, and esteemed editor and author Putu Fajar Arcana.

From 17 August 2018, Indonesian Independence Day, Bali will be home to the world’s tallest statue. The Festival is excited to welcome its creator, the legendary sculpture artist Nyoman Nuarta, alongside author, entrepreneur and philanthropist Haidar Bagir, who recently received the Global Business & Interfaith Peace Award for promoting pluralism and progressive Islamic thought through interfaith dialogue.

“We are so proud to reveal the first round of outstanding Indonesian writers and artists alongside our diverse group of international guests,” commented UWRF Founder & Director Janet DeNeefe. “From humble beginnings 15 years ago, we have grown into the most prominent platform for showcasing the nation’s emerging and established writers and artists, and one of the world’s leading literary and artistic events,” she concluded.

“I invite you all to join us in celebrating our 15^th year as Southeast Asia’s leading festival of words and ideas.”

Early Bird tickets are on sale now. Save 20% on the 4-Day Pass with your Early Bird ticket, and receive a copy of the UWRF17 Bilingual Anthology of Emerging Indonesian Writing available until the full program is announced from mid-August. What are you waiting for? Pick up your Early Bird now.