Writing festival celebrates Greek work

The very first Antipodes Writers Festival kicks off on Friday 15 June with award-winning author Christos Tsiolkas in conversation with Professor of Cultural Studies at the University of Melbourne, Nikos Papastergiadis, where they will be exploring Writing, Multiculturalism and Cosmopolitanism.
The Festival, convened by Melbourne writers and academics Helen Nickas and Konstandina Dounis, presents one solid weekend of back-to-back sessions by some of Melbourne's favourite writers within the Greek and wider community, with a sprinkling of interstate guests.
"The inaugural Antipodes Writers Festival has been met with much enthusiasm from Melbourne's literary community. In a heartening sign of their support for the event, some of Melbourne's best loved Greek-Australian writers will be coming together in June, and we urge all Melburnians to head to The Wheeler Centre for a weekend of inspiring and captivating sessions covering a wide array of topics," said Leonidas Vlahakis and Tammy Iliou, co-chairs of the Antipodes Festival.
The program of fifteen sessions will be covered by over fifty writers from different generations, and is guaranteed to appeal to a diverse audience. Prominent names include: writer and academic Vrasidas Karalis (Recollections of Mr Manoly Lascaris, A History of Greek Cinema); journalist and writer Angela Pippos (The Goddess Advantage); novelists Dmetri Kakmi (Mother Land) and John Charalambous (Two Greeks); poets Angela Costi, Tom Petsinis, and Tina Giannoukos; actor and playwright Victoria Haralabidou (Blessed, Brides); senior journalist with The Australian and author, George Megalogenis (The Australian Moment), and many more.
Special events will include; a special tribute to one of Australia's best-loved storytellers, Arnold Zable (Sea of Many Returns, Cafe Scheherazade, The Fig Tree) for his memorable portrayals of aspects of Hellenism in his novels, and a concluding event showcasing writers Dina Amanatides, Nikos Nomikos and Antigone Kefala who have portrayed the immigrant experience in all its rich and diverse manifestations.
Official bookstore for the festival, Readings will be setting up a pop-up bookstore at The Wheeler Centre across the weekend for people to purchase any work from the writer's featured.
"Readings are thrilled to be the booksellers at the inaugural Antipodes Writers Festival. We look forward to supporting and celebrating over fifty established and emerging writers within the Greek community at this exciting literary event," said Mark Rubbo (OAM), MD, Readings.
All sessions are in English unless otherwise stated and all are free, with only two ticketed events in the program.
The Antipodes Writers Festival will be held 15-17 June at The Wheeler Centre, 176 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne. For tickets and more information visit www.antipodesfestival.com.au/writers and www.trybooking.com/BKGC

Antipodes Writer’s Festival program