EMIRATES AIRLINE FESTIVAL OF LITERATURE 2023

ELF’S PICKS – HEADLINE AUTHORS AND SPEAKERS

The following document covers categories listed below:

• Old Friends and New (returning and new headline authors)
• Emirati Spotlight
• World Literature (tales from around the world)
• Something wicked this way comes (Crime/ Thrillers)
• Perfect #Pop Culture (Animation, Illustration, Film, TV)
• You Only Live Once (One-off events, Special events)
• Rhythm of Life (Poetry and performance)
• Arab World
• Current Affairs
• Live Your Best Life (Lifestyle, Health and Wellness)
• History and Culture
• Fantastic Getaways (Adventure, Travel)
• Science
• Building a Better World
• Business and Publishing
• Family Fun (Children’s and YA Literature)
• Workshops

Old Friends and New

Movie, TV and theatre legend Brian Cox, the patriarch Logan Roy from HBO’s critically lauded series Succession, tells of his rags-to-riches life-story, crammed with anecdotes about showbiz and the stars he’s worked with. Also bringing a taste of Hollywood virtually is American film director and prolific screenwriter David Koepp, known for writing Jurassic Park amongst many others, to talk about writing movie blockbusters and best-selling novels.

Multi-million selling international authors taking part include superstar Cecelia Ahern, award-winning Mohsin Hamid, festival ‘old friends’ Jeffrey Archer and Alexander McCall Smith, plus dazzling debut writers Bonnie Garmus (Lessons in Chemistry), Bolu Babalola (Honey and Spice), Jo Browning Wroe, (A Terrible Kindness) and Greg Mosse (The Coming Darkness).

Emirati Spotlight

This year’s Emirati strand, sponsored by Dubai Culture, runs right throughout the programme, celebrating the culture of the country and providing an opportunity for Emirati and international authors to share stage and ideas and have meaningful conversations on a range of topics that appeal to the multicultural audiences that fill the sessions.

Highlights include HH Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum discussing her literary tribute to her late father, HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Portraits from the UAE, bringing together 50 portraits of the country’s people, flora and fauna, through the UAE’s history and memories, painting an intimate picture of life in the Emirates, the transformation it has witnessed and its ambitions for the future.

Hailing from the hub of travel, Ali Al Saloom will be regaling audiences with tales of his travels across 100 countries. While actor Habib Al Attar will be participating in an experiment with Qatari body language experts Hajar and Sarah Abdulrahman.

World Literature

Taking world literature to centre stage will be winner of the 2022 International Booker, Geetanjali Shree who made history as the first Hindi, Indian and South Asian novel to win the prestigious award for Tomb of Sand.  The session will be inEnglish with a reading in Hindi.Award-winning author M. Mukundan’s session will also be dual language, English and Malayalam, as heexplores the Malayali migrant experience within India and beyond. The children’s author Reem Al Gurg will bring usTales from the Sidra Honey Tree, told in Arabic and Italian.  As always, many sessions in English will have simultaneous Arabic translation and vice-versa.

There’s also Jamil Jan Kochai, following up on his acclaimed debut, examining the living history of the Afghan diaspora, popular historian Ambeth Ocampo taking a look at how Filipino culture has been influenced by its food,and social anthropologist Dr Ali Khan with insights into the social, cultural and political changes that Pakistan has experienced since its birth in 1947, viewed through its national obsession with cricket.

Something wicked this way comes

Best-selling author of the Dark Iceland series, Ragnar Jónasson and one of the top Scandi-writers, will be confounding us with his latest whodunit, while gothic horror scream queen Catriona Ward, author of the chilling The Last House on Needless Street will thrill us with her latest nerve-tingling novel. Taking a more academic approach is cultural expert Roger Luckhurst, tracing the wide-ranging history of Gothic and how it has become synonymous with the dark and melancholy, the weird and feared, while forensic psychologist Kerry Daynes, an expert on real-life serial killers, explores our obsession with humanity’s darker side, exemplified by the trend for ‘True Crime’ documentaries, examining why we love to be entertained by something we should abhor.

Perfect #Pop Culture

For fans of pop culture there is American cartoonist and creator of the popular webcomic Strange Planet Nathan Pyle; American comic book and science fiction/fantasy poetry and prose writer, Saladin Ahmed; Renowned video game writer and journalist Rhianna Pratchett, who has worked on Tomb Raider, amongst others; and horror Komiks creators Budjette Tan & Kajo Baldisimo.  Hogwart enthusiasts can immerse themselves in the art of the Wizarding World with the graphic designers who brought to life the imaginative universe of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies, MinaLima.

You Only Live Once

This year’s special events include a magical evening of music, poetry and performance topped off with a Lebanese feast in celebration of Gibran Kahlil Gibran, marking 100years since the publication of his inspirational book The Prophet, and the 140th anniversary of his birth. 

There is also an atmospheric retelling of indigenous folklore and legend as authorsgather under the moonlight for Fables Around the Fire revisiting tales from Europe, the Philippines, Arabia and the Yoruba people of Nigeria.

Competitive wordsmiths can pit their skills against their favourite authors in the Festival’s first ever Scrabble Tournament, or show off their literary know-how in the ‘Big Fat LitFest Quiz’, with Quizmaster Catboy from Dubai 92.

No EmiratesLitFest would be complete without the iconic Desert Stanzas, the Festival’s signature event transporting poets from around the world to perform amongst the sand dunes, under a starlit sky. This year the evening will mark the opening of the Festival, with international voices interpreting and celebrating a narrative that defines the theme, Old Friends, through performance, music and feasting.

The Festival’s Curator-in-Residence, Lemn SIssay has been instrumental in putting together several Festival sessions including a celebration of friendship with his fellow poets Mookie Katigbak-Lacuesta and Tishani Doshi, plus an unmissable heart-wrenching conversation with novelist Kit de Waal as they discuss their   dysfunctional childhoods and what gave them the power to triumph over this.

The festival programme also features a screening of the acclaimed adaptation of de Waal’s award-winning novel, My Name is Leon.

Rhythm of Life

Poetry and performance are always among the most popular elements of the festival programme and 2023 will be no exception. In addition to Desert Stanzas, there will be an evening of comedy-rap-jazz music from Harry Baker and Chris Read, internationally acclaimed musicians Mariela Shaker and Riyad Nicolas in a magical night where lyrical Arabic compositions meet classical Western harmonies; a showcase of the newest and best home-grown spoken word talent in Fresh Air Fresh Lyrics; and as proof that poetry is food for the soul, a tantalising fusion of cookery and poetry from Afra Atiq and Danabelle Gutierrez.

Arab World

Top Arab authors appearing this year include father of Emirati poetry Ahmed Eisa Al Asam and several award-winners of International Prize for Arabic Fiction such as Mohammed Alnaas, Jalal Bargas, Shahad Alrawi, and Tareq Imam. Inaam Kachachi and Yasmina Khadra will lead the conversation around the magic of narrative Arab fiction. And Ahmad Fakhouri and Mona Alturief will share their perspective on two different sides of the media and journalism coin.

Current affairs

As always, there will be riveting discussions that get right to the heart of the matter, including the ‘Past, Present and Future of Islam’ with UAE diplomat HE Omar Saif Ghobash in conversation with leading expert on world religions Reza Aslan and Malaysian socio-political activist Marina Mahathir; Indian politician, writer and intellectual  Shashi Tharoor will provide incisive commentary on the future prospects of the sub-continent in a rapidly changing world, and one of India’s best-known broadcast journalists and columnist Barkha Dutt will examine ‘India on the Fault Lines’.

Live Your Best Life

A range of sessions show how to be happier, healthier, and live longer with BBC 1 ‘Doctor in the House’ Dr Rangan Chatterjee, leading expert on how to age proof yourself Professor Rose Anne Kenny and relationship and mind coach Vex King, while top fitness trainer Simon Waterson, who transformed Daniel Craig into 007 for five James Bond films, shows the secrets to sculpting a Hollywood physique.

The festival also welcomes fashion royalty Alexandra Shulman, Vogue’s longest serving editor,along with fashion and beauty bloggers and entrepreneurs Kat Farmer, Rissa Manaquil-Trillo and Kaushal toshow how to wow like a fashionista, no matter your look, age, or style.

History and Culture

A kaleidoscope of historical perspectives considers how the past has influenced the present, including a unique investigation by art-historian and BAFTA nominated broadcaster James Fox into humankind’s relationship with colours.

There is also the award-winning and bestselling historian William Dalrymple, placing a particular focus on India and the brutal regime of the East India Company, and Shrabani Basu, Indian journalist, historian, and the author of books including Victoria & Abdul: The True Story of the Queen’s Closest Confidant, subsequently adapted into a film starring Judi Dench.

Lucy Worsley has written biographies of many influential women including Queen Victoria and Jane Austen. She joins us with her most recent work, a study of the Queen of Crime, Agatha Christie. Meanwhile the unsung women of history are brought into the spotlight by Kate Mosse, the influential best-selling British historical novelist, who is joined in conversation by Indian author and popular historian Manu S. Pillai.

Fantastic Getaways

One of the world’s leading modern-day explorers, Benedict Allen, looks back on a life spent on the edge of civilisation,immersing himself among indigenous people and embarking on hazardous journeys through unfamiliar and unforgiving terrain.

Santhosh George Kulungara, media entrepreneur and founder of Safari TV takes a more non-conformist and contemporary approach with a look at how to make a living out of travel, despite the modern day realities of digital divides and border bureaucracy.

Science

Celebrated mathematician and author of popular mathematics and science books Marcus du Sautoy will explain how to master the art of the shortcut and reveal how thinking better is often more successful than working faster.

Space scientist Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock, presenter of the BBC’s The Sky at Night and Jo Marchant, author of Cure; Decoding the Heavens and The Human Cosmos will be showing the sky’s not the limit with their respective approaches to   understanding the wonders of the universe and the power of the night sky.

Building a Better World

A sustainable world is always a main theme of the Festival. This year   environmental journalist Anna Turns warns of the chemical pollutants we may be unaware of that are damaging our planet, showing how to reduce our toxic burden. A panel of environmental experts will take an in-depth look at marine conservation while HE Mariam Almheiri, UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment, leads a discussion on the vital issue of food security and sustainability, a challenge exacerbated by climate change, conflict and the global pandemic.

TV chef Bobby Chin will teach us how to live a more sustainable life with a cooking demo and lunch based on healthy sustainable plant-based and locally sourced produce.

Taking a more personal approach to building a better world is one of the UK’s leading authorities on disaster response, Lucy Easthope who discusses the stories that appear in the news when something has gone tragically wrong, looking at the impact on the people affected and challenging others to think differently about what comes next after devastating events.

Also inspiring is the story of Kuwaiti-Palestinian writer Shahd Alshammari, a sufferer of multiple sclerosis, on how literature saved her life as she came to terms with this unpredictable condition.

Top documentary filmmaker Anthony Geffen, pioneer in multiplatform storytelling, tells of the great innovative opportunities ahead in immersive storytelling incorporating virtual reality and AI, from promoting conservation and unlocking new business opportunities to empowering disabled and neurodivergent people.

Business and Publishing

The secrets of Silicon Valley success will be revealed by leadership coach Ann Hiatt, who has worked side-by-side with the world’s top tech CEOs, including Amazon’s Jeff Bezos. The issues working woman face on today’s corporate ladder will be dissected by entrepreneurs Ghizlan Guenez and Rissa Mananquil-Trillo,   and there’ll also be cutting edge business insightsshared by Piyush Pandey, Chairman of Global Creative and executive chairman of Ogilvy India.

The future of publishing is assessed in a number of sessions throughout publishing day. Experts also take a look at challenges facing the industry, plus the unexpected and astounding influence of BookTok on book sales with Head of Business Marketing at TikTok MENA, Annie Arsane Mattar

Family Fun

The children’s programme is brimming over with fun, frolics, and unforgettable characters.

David Walliams is back and there is more mischief afoot with his latest hero Spaceboy, while the multi-talented Ben Miller entertains with his latest adventure The Day I Fell Into a Story.

Onjali Q Rauf brings the moving story of The Lion Above the Door, a tale of missing histories and the power of friendships. The magnificent Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock takes us on an epic journey into space with mind-blowing insights and big questions for young scientists.

Oliver Jeffers returns to the LitFest exploring the history of the world and our place in the universe through story in a fun, accessible way. Also returning is author, illustrator and draw-along superstar Rob Biddulph helping us channel our inner artist in an interactive event sure to spark young imaginations.

Youngsters can help author Flavia Z Drago solve the problems of Gustavo the Shy Ghost and Leila the Perfect Witch; meet Kevin, the Roly-Poly Flying Pony, the latest wonderful creation of Philip Reeve and Sarah McIntyre; or join a world of adventure with larger-than-life character Geronimo Stilton.

Festival favourites Julia Johnson and Maitha Al Khayat make their return with the story of Aisha and her grandfather who want to make Grandma’s date cake – but they can’t remember the special ingredient that made it taste so good.

There is also Lemn Sissay and illustrator Greg Stobbs in their first collaboration, the warm-hearted storyDon’t Ask the Dragon, with an interactive session which has party hats, games and drawing.

Workshops

As always there are workshops galore for all ages, covering poetry, creative writing and storytelling, drawing, illustration, and getting your book published, plus the return of the popular quick pitches and masterclasses with literary agents Luigi and Alison Bonomi as well as Curtis Brown’s Felicity Blunt.

A highlight of every Festival is the announcement of the winner of the Emirates LitFest Writing Prize for adults which has seen nine first-time novelists become successfully published. Also announced will be the selected writers for First Chapter – The ELF Seddiqi Writers Fellowship, which places ten talented people on the path to success through an international standard mentorship programme.

Education is at the heart of the Festival and the Festival is thrilled to be able to return to full strength for its in-person Education Days, Student Sessions and School Visits.

The winners of the student competitions will be announced in special ceremonies for the Chevron Readers’ Cup, Emirates NBD Poetry For All,the Royal Grammar School Guildford Dubai Children’s Letter Writing Competition and the Oxford University Press Story Writing Competition. The winners of the School Librarian of the Year award held in partnership with The Executive Council Dubai will also be honoured at a special event.

The Voices of Future Generations competition will host a special book launch at the Festival featuring the third round of winning sustainability-themed stories.

For the third year in a row, virtual sessions will be made available to watch online from the week after the Festival through the Month of Reading, starting from 10 February – 31 March 2023. During this time, students will be able to watch the sessions at their own convenience.  Virtual LitFest packages can be purchased   from elfdubai.org

The Emirates Airline Festival of Literature is held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

For the full list of authors, visit https://tickets.emirateslitfest.com/authors.aspx?locale=en-GB