Literary Festival in Istanbul

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The third annual Istanbul Literary Festival, which is being organized with the support of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Directorate of Cultural Affairs, kicked off yesterday at Kızlarağası Madrasah in Sultanahmet.

Turkish Writers’ Union General Chairman İbrahim Ulvi Yılmaz said at the opening of the festival that making the Istanbul Literary Festival a yearly tradition was one of the important efforts of the union.

Following the opening speeches, exhibitions displaying photos, personal belongings, letters and works of Mehmet Akif Ersoy and Oğuz Atay were opened.

During the festival there will also be 20 different events including open sessions, panels, films screenings, and concerts along with the exhibitions. The festival, which is hosting 44 literary figures, academics, experts and artists, will end Dec. 10 with a ceremony during which four writers who have made contributions to novels, poetry, stories and essays will be presented with awards.