Bringing together more than 160 of the world’s leading authors, artists and performers, the festival will feature programs in open-air in-conversations, lavish literary lunches, inspiring workshops, captivating live performances, lively markets, exhibitions, food tours, cooking demonstrations and much more. 

“I’m really excited to have so many extraordinary writers in the program this year — activists and compassionate people from all corners of the world. I don’t think you can hear this many impressive, diverse and new voices anywhere under one roof,” festival founder and director Janet DeNeefe said on Tuesday.  

“And when the world is becoming more divided, we need the inspiration to be gleaned from this sort of gathering. Writer’s festivals are the new coffee houses, where the issues that concern us all are dissected and discussed,” she added. 

Read also: The illusion of ASEAN and how literature can help

Among leading literary luminaries headlining this year’s festival are much-celebrated author of The Mandibles, Lionel Shriver, acclaimed Indian novelist Amit Chaudhuri, multi-award-winning Pakistani writer Kamila Shamsie, Indonesian author of the beloved Supernova series Dewi Lestari, contemporary Australian author of Burial Rites and forthcoming publication The Good People, Hannah Kent, and journalist and first-time memoirist of AnAbbreviated Life, Ariel Leve. 

The program will also pay tribute to the recent boom in Indonesian cinema, with the industry experiencing a significant revival over the past two years. Appearing alongside a special contemporary Indonesian film program will be film-maker Wregas Bhanuteja, who won the 2016 Cannes Film Festival’s top prize, the Leica Cine Discovery Prize for his short movie Prenjak/In The Year of Monkey, iconic Indonesian actor and director Slamet Rahardjo, screenwriter of the newly released Nay, Djenar Maesa Ayu, and director of the HBO TV-seriesHalfWorld, Joko Anwar.

 

Our #UWRF16 Press Call begins!

A photo posted by Ubud Writers & Readers Fest (@ubudwritersfest) on Oct 26, 2016 at 12:30am PDT

The theme for this year’s UWRF is the Bali-Hindu philosophy of “Tat Tvam Asi” or “I am you; You are me.” 

With this theme, the festival seeks to explore the deeper meaning of the philosophy and to challenge the existing cultural limits through discussions on issues like identity, migration and extremism.  

This year’s festival will also introduce fun evening activities that include a number of after-dark events with an array of arts, live music, performances and poetry to choose from to challenge Ubud’s long reputation as a quiet hub.  

Highlights include a live-music program, Pecha Kucha; Poetry Slam featuring Muslim hip-hop group the Brothahood; a musical performance by classical pianist and composer Ananda Sukarlan and soprano singer Mariska Setiawan, who will chronicle Spanish author Miguel Cervantes’ 400-year legacy. 

Read also: Exhibition explores visual arts in Indonesian literature

Meanwhile, for something totally different, the festival will showcase a lyrical, multi-layered performance where writers and musicians will interact to create a poetry-meets-electronica experience.

Another eclectic mix can be found at the festival’s closing night party, which will bring together singers, songwriters, dancers and fire-twirlers including Scottish avant-garde noise-makers Neu!Reekie! and Indonesian percussion group Svara Samsara.