UWRF 2019 First Line-Up of Speakers
Credit: Anggara Mahendra
Behrouz Boochani and Laksmi Pamuntjak Among Many Speakers for UWRF 2019

The biggest literary festival in the archipelago, Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2019 is just around the corner. Yayasan Saraswati as the organizer has finally announced the first speakers’ line-up that will light up the celebration of literature in Bali this October. Bringing the theme “Karma” that resides within Hindu philosophy, the term has evolved into a universal belief that is interpreted as the impacts of our personal and collective actions on our social and physical environments. The tickets for this festival has been on sale for Early Bird category until 2 August before the full program is unveiled on August 13th. To spice things up, the first line-up has been nothing but amazing. First up, Behrouz Boochani, a Kurdish-Iranian journalist, scholar, cultural advocate, writer, and filmmaker, will tell you his insights and perspective. The activist is currently being incarcerated by the Australian Government in the Manus Island Regional Processing Centre in Papua New Guinea, so his appearance will be shown via WhatsApp. Laksmi Pamuntjak, an award-winning novelist from our country will headline the festival. Laksmi will bring food as the center of the attention on her program as she believes that food is vital for self-discovery.

Headlining this year’s cinematic offerings is Rayya Makarim, the screenwriter and producer behind some of Indonesia’s most breathtaking films. She is known for her scriptwriting on the critically acclaimed movie “27 Steps of May”. Chinese American writer and poet, Jenny Zhang, who is known for her novel “Sour Heart” will make an appearance in the festival. A global strategy advisor and bestselling author named Parag Khanna will join the rest of the line-up in UWRF 2019. Those who love indigenous culture must be thrilled with the news of Tara June Winch‘s coming. The “Wiradjuri” novelist will be there alongside Zimbabwean-American novelist, Rosa Tshuma. Richard Fidler from the Australian Broadcasting Commission’s most popular podcast will be joined by Susan Orlean who wrote the best-selling “The Library Book” and “The Orchid Thief”.

UWRF 2019 First Line-Up of Speakers Laksmi PamuntjakIndonesia’s Human Rights Watch very own Andreas Harsono will shed a spotlight on the archipelago’s minorities and marginalized communities. While author and visual artist Lala Bohang will be experimenting with matters deemed invisible, forbidden and imaginary in Indonesian society. Last but not least, food writers Yotam Ottolenghi from Great Britain will entertain you with his knowledge about food, as seen on his best-selling cookbooks “Ottolenghi”, “Plenty”, and “Jerusalem”. You should not wait any longer to obtain the tickets for this festival this October as it has been on sale on UWRF’s official website.