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Inside the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Award

Festival Club

30 October 2025 | 16:30 - 17:30

As one of Indonesia’s most prestigious literary awards, Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa has been central to spotlighting contemporary voices and shaping the nation’s literary landscape for over two decades. This session brings together the programme director of Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa and two Indonesian writers to reflect on regeneration in literature: how new voices emerge, how traditions and innovations intersect, and how Indonesian writing continues to evolve across generations.

Sebagai salah satu penghargaan sastra paling bergengsi di Indonesia, Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa telah memainkan peran penting dalam menyoroti suara-suara kontemporer dan membentuk wajah sastra nasional selama lebih dari dua dekade. Sesi ini menghadirkan direktur program Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa bersama dua penulis Indonesia untuk merefleksikan regenerasi dalam dunia sastra: bagaimana suara-suara baru lahir, bagaimana tradisi dan inovasi saling bertemu, serta bagaimana sastra Indonesia terus tumbuh lintas generasi.

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Featuring

Ida Fitri is an Indonesian writer who currently works in East Aceh. Her short stories have appeared in national media. Neraka yang Turun ke Kebun Kelapa, a collection of her short stories published in 2023, was nominated for a literary award by the Ministry of Education and Culture. Her novel Paya Nie, published in 2024, won third place in the 2023 Jakarta Arts Council Novel Competition and was also shortlisted for the 2025 Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa.

Ida Fitri adalah penulis asal Indonesia yang saat ini bekerja di Aceh Timur. Cerita pendeknya telah dimuat di berbagai media nasional. Neraka yang Turun ke Kebun Kelapa, kumpulan cerpennya yang diterbitkan pada 2023, dinominasikan untuk penghargaan sastra oleh Kementerian Pendidikan dan Kebudayaan. Novel Paya Nie, yang terbit pada 2024, meraih juara ketiga dalam Lomba Novel Dewan Kesenian Jakarta 2023 dan juga masuk daftar finalis Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025.

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Sasti Gotama is an Indonesian writer who received the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025 award, first place in the 2022 Hadiah Sastra Rasa, was among the top three in Tempo’s 2024 Selected Literary Books, and won second place in the 2024 DKJ Theater Script Competition. Her novel, Korpus Uterus, also attracted the interest of the judges in the 2023 DKJ Competition.

Sasti Gotama adalah penulis asal Indonesia yang meraih penghargaan Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025, juara pertama Hadiah Sastra Rasa 2022, masuk tiga besar Buku Sastra Pilihan Tempo 2024, dan meraih juara dua dalam Sayembara Naskah Skenario Teater DKJ 2024. Novelnya yang berjudul Korpus Uterus juga menarik perhatian dewan juri dalam Sayembara DKJ 2023.

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moderator

Gema Laksmi Mawardi is the Programme Director of Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa, one of Indonesia’s most prominent literary awards. With a background in literature and cultural management, he curates programmes that highlight diverse voices and foster dialogue in the literary community. Beyond his role at Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa, he also works independently on various arts and cultural projects. Through these initiatives, he focuses on collaboration and building connections among writers, artists, and communities.

Gema Laksmi Mawardi adalah Direktur Program Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa, salah satu penghargaan sastra paling bergengsi di Indonesia. Berbekal latar belakang di bidang sastra dan manajemen kebudayaan, ia merancang berbagai program yang menyoroti keberagaman suara sekaligus mendorong dialog dalam komunitas sastra. Di luar perannya di Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa, ia juga bekerja secara independen dalam sejumlah proyek seni dan budaya. Melalui inisiatif tersebut, ia berfokus pada kolaborasi serta membangun hubungan antara penulis, seniman, dan komunitas.

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