With an office bookshelf positively groaning with the works of 150+ speakers set to descend on the UWRF17, Festival staff have no shortage of literary inspiration. So what’s keeping them up at night, page by page, in the lead up to this year’s event? In our latest series, #UWRFBookClub, we chat to the Festival team about their highlight authors and artists. This week, we chat to Marketing & Media Intern, Monica Prescelia.
Kan Lumé is an award-winning filmmaker who has recently collaborated with Indonesian director Djenar Maesa Ayu. Their collaboration is hUSh: what looks to be a great feminist take on the seemingly diary-like portrayal of a woman. It’s caught my attention because its central theme really seems to challenge the way we judge each other, and shows its viewers that what we make of our time on Earth is much better when paired with open-mindedness toward others. I also hope the film’s reflections on women’s traditional place in society influences those who may be more old-fashioned in their ways of thinking, as I think our broader society has a lot to catch up on when it comes to women’s rights. I’m looking forward to sitting in at the Q&A with the directors, who will both be at UWRF17 for the film screening.
This year’s Festival brings Yogyakartan designer Lulu Lutfi Labibi to Ubud, where he will share his insights as a young fashion designer. His garments are unique and beautiful; they incorporate aspects of traditional Tetun weaving with modern design. This is one of the reasons why Lulu is a highly anticipated speaker for me at this year’s UWRF: his mission to bring local Indonesian products and design to the international fore makes me proud, especially considering he has achieved so many of these feats at such a young age. What are the stories he has to tell, what challenges has he faced along his journey toward breaking through to the international arena? The Festival is a great platform for Lulu to share his experience as a renowned young designer, and for us to find out about it, too.
Timor is a word which evokes so much for me – it really seems like a corner of the archipelago which is rich and diverse in its culture, dance, art and food. Dicky Senda is a proud Timorese writer and food activist, who will be bringing along his homeland with him through recollections, writings and home-cooked food. Because I’ve never tried Timorese cuisine before, I’m excited to dig right into Dicky’s stories during his Kitchen Program session at UWRF17, and invite other food lovers from around the Festival to join in and discover these dishes, too.