Day 1: July 4, 2012<\/b><\/p>\n
18:00 \u2013 19:00
Mathias Enard and Hyam Yared in conversation with Nayla Tamraz<\/p>\n
French writer Mathias Enard is one of the most celebrated contemporary European novelists. He won the Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie and the Prix Edm\u00e9e de La Rochefoucauld for his first novel, La perfection du tir. His book Zone has won several prizes including the Prix du Livre Inter and the Prix D\u00e9cembre, and his book Parle-leur de batailles, de rois et d\u2019\u00e9l\u00e9phants won the 2010 Prix Goncourt des Lyc\u00e9ens. His latest book is L\u2019alcool et la nostalgie. Hyam Yared is a poet and novelist from Beirut. She has published two books of poetry with Dar An-Nahar, and two novels, L\u2019armoire des ombres and Sous la tonnelle. Her books have received several awards, such as the Prix France-Liban, and she was selected as one of the best young Arab writers under forty by Beirut39. Chaired by Nayla Tamraz, Head of French Literature at Saint Joseph University.
(Event in French)<\/b><\/p>\n
19:15 \u2013 20:15
The checkpoints of memory in a post-war city.<\/p>\n
Monika Borgmann, Abir Saksouk-Sasso \u2028and Walid Sadek with Fadi Shayya
The panel investigates the possibility of critical and discursive notions of spatial production in post-war Beirut against the city\u2019s disrupted collective memory. It discusses why and how the reproduction of urban design and architecture conforms to dominant socio-political dogmas \u2028of division, whilst art searches (and sometimes finds) freedom in expressing critical stances for and about memory, using different media.
With Monika Borgmann, filmmaker and co-director of UMAM, \u2028Abir Saksouk-Sasso, architect and activist, and Walid Sadek, artist \u2028and assistant professor at AUB, chaired by Fadi Shayya, urban \u2028designer and architect.
(Event in English)<\/b><\/p>\n
20:30 \u2013 21:30
Graphic stories.<\/p>\n
Zeina Abirached, Judith Vanistendael and \u2028Mazen Kerbaj in conversation with Nadine Touma.
Three accomplished artists discuss graphic storytelling and the relationship between words, images and autobiographical content. Zeina AbiRached is an illustrator, graphic novelist and filmmaker from Beirut. Her titles include Beyrouth-catharsis; 38, Rue Youssef Semaani and Mourir, partir, revenir – Le jeu des hirondelles. Judith Vanistendael (Belgium) creates comics that depict daily life in a realistic way. Author of the semi-autobiographical Dance by the Light of the Moon, her latest graphic novel is When David Lost his Voice, a moving story about cancer and its effect on one ordinary family. Mazen Kerbaj is a Lebanese artist, musician and comic cartoonist. His comic strip diary Journal 1999 was published in 2000 and he has published eleven books and several short stories since then. Chaired by the artist and writer Nadine Touma, founder of the \u2028Dar Onboz publishing house.
(Event in French)<\/b> <\/p>\n
Day 2: July 5, 2012<\/b><\/p>\n
18:00 \u2013 19:00
From war to words.<\/p>\n
Jon Lee Anderson, Robin Yassin-Kassab and \u2028\u00c5sne Seierstad in conversation with Benedict Brogan
Journalists face the challenge of witnessing conflict and violence and having to transform often harrowing first-hand experience into suitable journalism. How do you put war into words? Jon Lee Anderson is a writer for The New Yorker who has worked extensively in conflict zones across the world. He is also the author of Che, a Revolutionary Life, a biography of Che Guevara, and The Fall of Baghdad. Robin Yassin-Kassab is co-editor of and a regular contributor to PULSE Media, recently listed by Le Monde diplomatique as one of its top five websites, and the author of The Road from Damascus. \u00c5sne Seierstad is a Norwegian freelance journalist and writer, best known for her accounts of everyday life in war zones: Kabul after 2001, Baghdad in 2003 and the ruined Grozny in 2007. She is the author of the international bestseller The Bookseller of Kabul. Chaired by Benedict Brogan, Deputy Editor of The Daily Telegraph.
(Event in English)<\/b><\/p>\n
19:15 \u2013 20:15
Let\u2019s talk about Human Rights.<\/p>\n
Chetan Bhatt, \u00d3scar Guardiola-Rivera and \u2028Nizar Saghieh in conversation with John Kampfner
Three experts from different corners of the world discuss a universal issue: how to ensure that human rights are respected and protected. Professor Chetan Bhatt is Director of the Centre for the Study of Human Rights at the London School of Economics. \u00d3scar Guardiola-Rivera teaches International Law and International Affairs at Birkbeck College, University of London; he also served as an aid to the Colombian Congress and as a consultant for a United Nations unit in the region. Nizar Saghieh is a leading lawyer, legal researcher and human rights activist. He is currently a legal consultant for the International Labour Organization and one of the founders of the Legal Agenda. John Kampfner is Adviser to Google on freedom of expression and culture. He is an author, broadcaster and commentator specialising in UK politics, international affairs, media and human rights issues.
(Event in English)<\/b><\/p>\n
20:30 \u2013 21:30
Janne Teller and Kamila Shamsie \u2028in conversation with John Kampfner<\/p>\n
Two acclaimed international writers discuss their recent works with John Kampfner. Janne Teller (Denmark) is an author who has worked in conflict resolution for many years. Her much-lauded, multi award-winning children\u2019s novel Nothing tackles the meaning of life and the limits of tolerance and has provoked vigorous debate in Europe since its publication in 2000. Teller will also discuss If Scandinavia Were at War a thrilling, chilling depiction of life as a refugee. Kamila Shamsie (Pakistan) is the author of five novels, including Burnt Shadows, which was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and translated into more than 20 languages. She has also written a book of non-fiction, Offence: The Muslim Case. She is a trustee of the English PEN, and writes for the International Herald Tribune and The Guardian.
(Event in English)<\/b><\/p>\n
Day 3: July 6, 2012<\/b><\/p>\n
18:00 \u2013 19:00
Writers and witnesses. <\/p>\n
Mansoura Ez Eldin, Habib Selmi and \u2028Khaled Khalifa in conversation with Fadi Tofeili
These three finalists of the International Prize for Arabic Fiction are living through remarkable changes in their own countries. They join us to share thoughts about literature, social change and the role of writers, and to tell us about their recent work. Mansoura Ez Eldin (Egypt) was shortlisted for the 2010 Arabic Booker Prize for her acclaimed second novel Beyond Paradise. She also runs the book review section of the distinguished Egyptian literary magazine Akhbar al-Adab. Habib Selmi (Tunisia) has published eight novels, four of which have been translated into French with Actes Sud, and two into German. His novel The Scents of Marie-Claire was shortlisted for the 2009 IPAF, with an English translation published by Arabia Books in 2010; his book The Women of al-Basateen was also shortlisted for the IPAF in 2012. Khaled Khalifa (Syria) attracted worldwide media attention with his 2006 novel In Praise of Hatred (Madih al-Karahiya) which was shortlisted for the International Prize for Arabic Fiction. Chaired by Fadi Tofeili, editor \u2028of Portal 9.
(Event in Arabic)<\/b><\/p>\n
19:15 \u2013 20:15
Books and other stories<\/p>\n
Miguel Syjuco and Paolo Giordano \u2028in conversation with Joumana Haddad
Journalists face the challenge of witnessing conflict and violence \u2028Good fiction writing could be defined by its universal appeal and its capacity to engage readers from all over the world. Two successful young authors tell us the secrets of their writing. Miguel Syjuco (Canada\/Philippines) is the author of Ilustrado, his debut novel which won the 2008 Man Asian Literary Prize as well as the Palanca Award, the Philippines\u2019 highest literary honour. Miguel\u2019s writing pushes the boundaries of narrative fiction and explores the hopeful progress of a decaying third world society. Young novelist Paolo Giordano (Italy) \u2028has impressed critics and readers alike with The Solitude of Prime Numbers, 2008 Premio Strega. He will talk about his novel, his journalistic work and upcoming projects. Chaired by Lebanese \u2028author and poet Joumana Haddad.
(Event in Arabic)<\/b><\/p>\n
20:30-21:30
The Role of Writers in a Sectarian Society. <\/p>\n
Abbas Baydoun, Abdo Wazen and Najwa Barakat \u2028in conversation with Hala Kawatharani.
The acclaimed Lebanese writers Abbas Baydoun, Abdo Wazen and \u2028Najwa Barakat, discuss with Hala Kawatharani the challenges writers \u2028face in a deeply divided society.
(Event in Arabic)<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Day 1: July 4, 2012<\/b><\/p>\n
18:00 \u2013 19:00
\nMathias Enard and Hyam Yared in conversation with Nayla Tamraz<\/p>\n
French writer Mathias Enard is one of the most celebrated contemporary European novelists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":556195,"template":"","tags":[],"class_list":["post-16426","directory","type-directory","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seminars-and-lectures"],"yoast_head":"\n