# Bookstan

Bookstan is an annual international literary festival held in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, celebrating literature, culture, and intellectual exchange. Launched in 2016, the festival attracts authors, publishers, critics, translators, and literary enthusiasts from around the world, with a focus on authors and themes relevant to the Balkan region and Southeast Europe. Bookstan has established itself as a central event for literary dialogue in Bosnia and Herzegovina, promoting the values of literature as a unifying and transformative force.

## History

Bookstan was founded by the Sarajevo-based publishing house Buybook in 2016, with the goal of creating a space for literary exchange and cultural dialogue. Inspired by Sarajevo's rich history as a meeting point for diverse cultures and intellectual traditions, Bookstan was conceived as a literary “crossroads” where readers and writers could come together to discuss pressing social and political themes through the lens of literature. The festival's founders aimed to counteract social fragmentation by bringing people together around books, fostering understanding and mutual respect.
Since its inception, Bookstan has garnered acclaim for its thoughtful programming and its role in Sarajevo's cultural life. Each year, the festival attracts prominent authors from Bosnia and Herzegovina and abroad, making it one of the most significant literary events in the region.

## Mission

Bookstan's mission centers on promoting literary excellence, intellectual engagement, and cross-cultural dialogue. The festival features a diverse array of events aimed at supporting both Balkan and world literature by hosting writers from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans, and beyond, thereby providing a platform for regional and international literary voices. It fosters intercultural dialogue by encouraging discussions on social, political, and historical topics that resonate with audiences across cultures, enhancing understanding through literature. Additionally, Bookstan emphasizes the importance of literary translation in broadening readership and facilitating cultural exchange, actively supporting translators, and incorporating discussions on the complexities of translating literature. Through thematic discussions and book presentations, the festival also engages with pressing social issues such as migration, identity, memory, and human rights, prompting audiences to contemplate the role of literature in shaping society.

## Festival Program

Bookstan takes place over several days in July and includes a variety of events such as book launches, panel discussions, workshops, and film screenings. The program typically features a central theme that informs the choice of books, discussions, and invited speakers.
1. Book Presentations and Readings
* The festival includes book launches and readings from authors, both emerging and established. Each year, the program highlights significant works in contemporary literature and allows authors to connect with audiences through readings and discussions.
2. Panel Discussions
* Panel discussions are a key part of Bookstan, focusing on themes that are socially and culturally relevant. Recent topics have included “Writing and Identity,” “Memory and Trauma,” “Borders and Belonging,” and “The Future of Literature.” These panels bring together authors, critics, and scholars to engage in in-depth dialogue on literature's power to address complex social issues.
3. Workshops and Masterclasses
* Bookstan organizes workshops for writers, translators, and literary critics, often led by visiting authors and professionals in the literary field. These sessions offer participants the chance to hone their skills and learn more about the craft of writing, the art of translation, and the nuances of literary criticism.
4. Film Screenings
* In partnership with Sarajevo's local cinemas and cultural organizations, Bookstan occasionally hosts film screenings that complement the festival's literary theme, highlighting adaptations of literary works or films that engage with similar themes explored in the festival.
5. Translation Focus
* Emphasizing the importance of translation in literature, Bookstan often invites prominent translators and hosts discussions on the challenges of translating works from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. This focus reflects the festival's commitment to making literature accessible and fostering international understanding.

## Venues

Bookstan events are held in multiple venues around Sarajevo, allowing attendees to experience the city's cultural and historic atmosphere. Key venues include:
* Buybook Bookstore and Gallery: The primary venue for Bookstan, hosting readings, presentations, and discussions in an intimate bookstore setting.
* Historical Museum of Bosnia and Herzegovina: This museum often hosts larger panels and events, lending a historical and cultural context to the discussions.
* Vijećnica: An iconic landmark in Sarajevo, the City Hall occasionally hosts major festival events, including opening ceremonies and high-profile talks.
* Academy of Fine Arts: The Academy provides a space for workshops and visual exhibitions that connect literature with other forms of artistic expression.

## Cultural and Social Impact

Bookstan has had a notable impact on Sarajevo's cultural life, attracting local and international visitors and strengthening Sarajevo's reputation as a center of literary culture in the Balkans. The festival has provided a platform for writers and intellectuals from the region to discuss issues that resonate with local audiences, while also connecting Sarajevo with broader international literary networks.
In a post-conflict society, Bookstan's focus on themes like memory, identity, and reconciliation has helped create a space for reflection and dialogue. By encouraging discussion on difficult social and political issues, the festival fosters empathy and understanding across different communities and cultural backgrounds. The festival's emphasis on translation further supports Sarajevo's vision of being a crossroads of cultures, allowing books from various languages to reach new audiences and promoting Bosnia and Herzegovina's literary output on an international stage.

## Notable Guests and Participants

Bookstan has hosted a variety of notable writers, scholars, and intellectuals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Balkans, and the wider world. Notable past guests have included:
* Dubravka Ugrešić, acclaimed Croatian author known for her works on identity and displacement.
* Aleksandar Hemon, internationally recognized Bosnian-American writer known for his reflections on identity, war, and migration.
* Orhan Pamuk, Turkish novelist, screenwriter, academic, and recipient of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Literature.
* Isabelle Wéry, Belgian novelist and performer whose work has explored diverse themes and earned critical acclaim.
* Ivana Bodrožić, Croatian novelist and poet whose work engages with themes of war and trauma in the Balkans.
* Olga Tokarczuk, Polish writer, activist, public intellectual and recipient of the 2018 Nobel Prize in Literature.
* Maria Todorova, distinguished Bulgarian historian who is best known for her influential book, Imagining the Balkans.
* Benjamin Moser, American Pulitzer Prize-winning author and translator.
* John Freeman, American writer, literary critic, former editor of the literary magazine Granta and executive editor at Knopf.
* Geert Mak, acclaimed Dutch journalist and non-fiction writer.
* Rabih Alameddine, acclaimed Lebanese-American author, known for his rich storytelling that often explores themes of identity.
* Colm Tóibín, Irish novelist, short story writer, essayist, journalist, critic, playwright and poet.
* Miljenko Jergović, prominent Bosnian novelist, short story writer, essayist and public intellectual.
* Bora Ćosić, distinguished Serbian novelist, essayist, translator, public intellectual, and dissident.
* Mona Eltahawy, notable freelance Egyptian-American journalist and social commentator based in New York City.
* Xiaolu Guo, notable Chinese-born British author, filmmaker and academic.
* Hervé Le Tellier, renowned French author and linguist, and a member of the international literary group Oulipo.
Other participants have included translators, academics, and critics, as well as emerging voices from the region's literary scene. Each year, Bookstan's program introduces new writers to Sarajevo audiences and fosters connections among artists from different backgrounds.