Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF)
This year Hong Kong’s premier literary event includes two 2020 Booker Prize longlisted authors, Colum McCann and C Pam Zhang; Irish Fiction Laureate, Sebastian Barry; Crazy Rich Asians author Kevin Kwan, Vice-Chairman of Ogilvy, Rory Sutherland; Pulitzer Prize winners Jhumpa Lahiri and Jonathan Kaufman; Vera and Shetland crime series author Ann Cleeves; poets Marilyn Chin and Mary Jean Chan, editor of The Atlantic David Frum; historians Thant Myint-U, and William Dalrymple; and journalists Ananth Krishnan, Bob Davis and Lingling Wei. Additionally, there will be a vibrant group of Hong Kong and regional writers and speakers including Chan Koonchung, Dorothy Tse, Kai-Yin Lo, Christine Loh, Elizabeth Sinn and many more.
Platt, who has previously managed literary festivals in the USA and China, joined HKILF in April 2020. Her belief is that arts organisations can serve as “second responders” during the COVID-19 pandemic, providing fun and engaging events that promote mental health, while first responders tend to our physical health. She explains: “The Festival brings writers and book lovers together to talk, share ideas and start conversations. Our 20th edition theme ‘Present Tense/Future Perfect’ explores in fiction and non-fiction how the world is responding to issues such as health, inequality and climate change, as well as possible future directions for humanity and the planet. Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott will discuss their latest book, The New Long Life: A Framework for Flourishing in a Changing World, and discussion panels will examine issues such as the future of US politics and US-China relations, racism in Asia, the world post-COVID-19, and the future of food. We will be releasing information about authors and books featured in the festival over the coming weeks, building up to a full programme launch in late September.”
Other highlights include a series of book talks and film screenings at the Asia Society, featuring Kevin Kwan, Benjamin Law, and Bruce Lee’s daughter Shannon Lee discussing her book, Be Water My Friend: The Teachings of Bruce Lee. Novelist Romesh Guneskera who took part in the first festival in 2001 will join again, and Hong Kong born poet Marilyn Chin and her iconic work, Urban Love Poem, will close the festival, with Chin and other local and international poets reading their own urban love poetry about Hong Kong.
“Since starting in 2001, HKILF has brought literary luminaries to Hong Kong and provided a platform for established and emerging voices,” says Julia Kuehn, board co-chair and Head of the School of English at Hong Kong University. “Our 20th edition reflects past achievements, celebrates how books bring people together and looks ahead to a range of issues that affect our everyday lives. We hope as many people as possible will join the conversation.”
Visit festival.org.hk for more information about HKILF and this year’s festival.