Program Category: Main Program

From intimate in-conversations among leading authors, artists, thinkers, and performers, to fiery debates on some of the region’s most pressing concerns, the 20th Anniversary Main Program occurs across three stages: Alang-Alang and Valley Stage, as well as Indus Restaurant.


Main Program | Unveiling ‘Tri Semaya’: Exploring the Essence of Time

19 Oct 2023 12:45 /

The Festival theme draws inspiration from the profound Balinese concept of ‘Tri Semaya,’ a philosophical view of time as non-linear, circular, and collective. Embodying the essence of Atita, Wartamana, and …

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Main Program | Leila S. Chudori Unravels Words

19 Oct 2023 14:00 /

Sacrifice, student revolution, love story, New Order. Pulang has been translated into various languages, its Laut Bercerita has been reprinted 58 times, translated into English as The Sea Speaks His …

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Main Program | Transformation through Literature with Putu Wijaya

19 Oct 2023 14:00 /

Putu Wijaya’s life is a testament to the transformative power of literature. Hailing from Tabanan, Bali, he is considered one of Indonesia’s foremost literary figures, having crafted numerous novels, scripts, …

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Main Program | Yan Lianke: Heart Sutra

19 Oct 2023 14:00 /

Join us for a captivating conversation with Yan Lianke. With his uncanny ability to shed light on the complexities of contemporary China, Lianke has become a voice of dissent in …

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Main Program | Shattering Boundaries through Writing and Activism

19 Oct 2023 15:15 /

Velia Vidal and Galuh Wandita are two compelling voices merging the power of words with a call for social change. Velia Vidal, a fearless storyteller, juxtaposes narratives of struggle and …

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Main Program | Leigh Sales – Storytellers

19 Oct 2023 15:15 /

Respected ABC anchor and journalist, bestselling author, and hit podcaster Leigh Sales interviews Australian journalists about their craft in her recent book Storytellers, moderated by Michael Williams. Leigh takes us …

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Main Program | Beyond Bahasa: Regional Languages in Indonesian Literature

19 Oct 2023 15:15 /

How does the emergence of new writing in regional languages impact the definition of Indonesia’s national culture? Can literary works in Javanese, Balinese, Sundanese, and other regional tongues be integrated …

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Main Program | Bernardine Evaristo’s Writing Journey

20 Oct 2023 09:00 /

Bernardine Evaristo is a prolific writer and the first Black woman and Black British person to win the Booker Prize for her novel Girl, Woman, Other. With Jenny Niven, Evaristo …

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Main Program | A Tapestry of Words: Conversations with Shehan Karunatilaka and Leila S. Chudori

20 Oct 2023 09:00 /

Leila S. Chudori, a masterful storyteller who explores the complexities of human relationships, politics, and history, while intertwining themes of love, loss, and resilience, meets Sri Lankan writer Shehan Karunatilaka, …

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Main Program | Rebecca Makkai – I Have Some Questions for You

20 Oct 2023 09:00 /

In her highly anticipated book, I Have Some Questions for You, acclaimed author Rebecca Makkai captivates us with a dark and multilayered story encompassing murder, racism, sexual abuse, grief, the …

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