site.btaRene Karabash among Authors Opening Third Black Sea International Literary Festival in Burgas

Six established authors from Bulgaria, Romania, Georgia, Turkiye and Ukraine will open the third edition of the Black Sea International Literary Festival in Burgas on Friday.

Following a professional forum on St Anastasia Island during the day, dedicated to the development of book markets in the Black Sea region, the festival's official opening will take place in the evening at the Centre for Contemporary Art and Library with a discussion and literary reading.

Among the participants in the opening event is Bulgarian writer, poet and actress Rene Karabash, whose novel She Who Remains was among the titles nominated for the International Booker Prize this year.

Also appearing before the Burgas audience will be one of the most prominent voices in contemporary Romanian poetry, Elena Vladareanu; Georgian poet and journalist Eka Kevanishvili; Turkish writer and diplomat Firat Sunel; Ukrainian author Roman Budanov; and Bulgarian writer Vladimir Poleganov.

The festival will continue until June 7 with an international professional programme featuring literary readings, meetings with authors and discussions devoted to book markets in the Black Sea region, the international promotion of literature, and opportunities for adapting literary works for film, theatre and audio formats.

Special guests at this year's edition include two of the most influential figures in European publishing, Koukla MacLehose and Katharina Raabe, who will deliver lectures for participants and professional audiences.

The programme also includes meetings with writers such as Andrey Kurkov, Teodora Dimova, Ahmet Umit, Elizabeth Kostova, Nikolay Terziyski and Galin Nikiforov. Visitors will have the opportunity to attend literary readings, professional panels and discussions with authors from Bulgaria, Ukraine, Romania, Turkiye, Georgia and other countries.

According to the organisers, the Black Sea International Literary Festival aims to foster literary dialogue and cultural exchange across the region while supporting Burgas's bid to become a European Capital of Culture in 2032.

Most festival events will take place at the Peyo K. Yavorov Regional Library and the Writers' House in Burgas.