The 5th International Izmir Literature Festival Has Started

Organized for the fifth time this year by the Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the International Izmir Literature Festival has started. At the opening of the festival, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Prof. Dr. Suat Çağlayan said, “Not only flowers bloom in the mountains of İzmir, there is an artistic activity in every corner of İzmir.”

Bringing together the important names of the literary world in the Mediterranean basin in İzmir, the International İzmir Literature Festival started with a ceremony held at the Mustafa Necati Cultural Center. İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Prof. Dr. Suat Çağlayan, honored guests of the festival Nedim Gürsel and Ahmet Ümit, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Secretary General Ertuğrul Tugay, International İzmir Literature Festival Director Haydar Ergülen, bureaucrats, writers, artists, representatives of political parties, non-governmental organizations, chambers, heads and representatives of associations, art lovers and citizens attended. The surprise of the opening evening was the Ezginin Günlüğü concert.

"Flower means freedom, love"

Speaking at the opening of the festival, İzmir Metropolitan Municipality Deputy Mayor Prof. Dr. Suat Çağlayan said, “Flowers are constantly blooming in the mountains of İzmir. Both with its lifestyle and climate, flowers have always bloomed in the mountains and will continue to bloom. Flowers bloom here in winter, too. When you say the flowers have faded, you will see that the daffodils bloom in Karaburun, and the hyacinths come right after. Flower means freedom, love. All of them came together in Izmir. Freedom suits Izmir very well, because there is freedom in Izmir's worldview,” he said.

“An artistic activity happens in every corner of İzmir”

Emphasizing the importance of the International Izmir Literature Festival, Çağlayan said, “It doesn't just bloom in the mountains, there is an artistic event in every corner of Izmir. Literature and poetry festivals are held to enrich the cultural texture of the city. We are working for this too. We are trying to get people to read more poetry and books. We believe that in the near future, İzmir will be a city where more people read books and more libraries and bookstores will be opened.”

“There is no better way to make people human than literature”

Nedim Gürsel, one of the honor guests, said, “I welcome you all, because I see such authority in myself. I am also your fellow countryman. I saw the sea for the first time in İnciraltı, İzmir. Who would have said that years later my little girl will be born in this city and when she starts to speak she will say 'Daddy, look at the sea'. The name of my last book is 'Daddy Look Deniz'. I am very happy to meet with my fellow citizens from Izmir”.

Ahmet Ümit, one of the guests of honor, said: “I would like to thank the International İzmir Literature Festival, which made literature a flag. Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Tunç SoyerI would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the festival. Regardless, it is necessary to keep hope alive. Because there is no better way to make people human than literature.”
Festival Director Haydar Ergülen gave information about the International Izmir Literature Festival.

The festival will end on November 7

This year, literary figures from Germany, Morocco, France, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia and Greece will take part in the International Izmir Literature Festival, which hosts many writers and poets from abroad every year. Interview events will be held with important writers and poets, especially Ercan Kesal, Latife Tekin, Sunay Akın. The Fairy Tale Chair and Short Story Chair will be set up at different points of the city as part of the festival, providing an opportunity for those who want to share their tales and stories with the audience. The festival will end with a Fide Köksal concert at the Ahmed Adnan Saygun Art Center on Sunday, November 7 at 21.00.