Event Postponed:

HKILF Illustrated 2024

Due to unforeseen circumstances our event scheduled for Nov 14-17 2024 will be postponed until late February. We apologise for the inconvenience and very much look forward to hosting all who are able to join us for what promises to be a vibrant and exciting lineup of visual storytelling events. Exact date will be confirmed later, please stay tuned!

HKILF Summertime Recap

HKILF Summertime 2024, a five-day event, showcased three rising literary stars: Mirinae Lee, Pim Wangtechawat, and Sheung-King. The authors discussed their acclaimed new works and publishing journeys at the Hong Kong Book Fair. A vibrant Lunch Panel with Hong Kong Shifts and a cozy Literary Lounge enabled book lovers to mingle and network. In two motivating workshops, aspiring writers learned about the craft of autofiction and character development.

Mirinae Lee kicked off our summer events with a fascinating conversation about the making of her debut novel 8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster. We were happy to partner with the Hong Kong Book Fair once again.

Our Literary Lounge featuring Pim Wangtechawat, at Eaton House, was a highlight as it gathered so many friends and supporters. All our speakers were available to sign books and the room was abuzz with book talk and ideas for future events and collaborations.

Writers looking for support were happy to join our workshops, Sheung-King shared his in-depth knowledge on auto-fiction and Pim Wangtechawat helped with character building.

Our lunch panel included all our speakers and was a great way to spend the afternoon, full of reading recommendations. Cynthia Cheng and Maxime Vanhollebeke also introduced their recently published book, HK Shifts: Stories From the Streets of Hong Kong.

View the reel for the exciting details about Lunch Panel Event: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9zPHm_Ps6p/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

HK Shifts Book Launch

From sampan ladies and bamboo scaffolders to street cleaners, fishermen, security guards and market vendors – these workers form the backbone of the fast-paced metropolis of Hong Kong, yet they are often overlooked or taken for granted. Looking beyond the glamorous harbourfront, neon-lit shopping districts and dramatic skyline, Hong Kong Shifts explores the back alleys to meet and learn from the individuals who work tirelessly to keep the city ticking. These are stories and portraits of resilience, wisdom, positivity and strength from the streets of Hong Kong. 

Published in July 2024 by Blacksmith Books, the hardcover book is bilingual (English and Cantonese) and presents a selection of colourful human stories from across Hong Kong. These stories have been collected since 2019 throughout the pandemic and document a unique chapter of Hong Kong’s history – paying tribute to this city and its people. The book is now available in bookstores across Hong Kong. More information about the book and where to get a copy here.

India by the Bay
“WORDS ON WATER”

India by the Bay is the only annual, week-long showcase of Indian arts, culture and heritage in Hong Kong. Each year, the festival captures the essence of India and its diversity, presenting an array of music, dance, theater, film, literature, wellness, fashion, and cuisine. For almost ten years, India by the Bay has acted as a cultural conduit, captivating and engaging the people of Hong Kong, while encouraging dialogue and partnerships. The festival is co-presented by the Asia Society Hong Kong Center. Now in its ninth edition, India by the Bay continues to emphasize the arts as a vibrant medium for fostering connections. A notable feature this year is a collaboration with the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, marking the first occasion that HKILF and India by the Bay have united to introduce esteemed authors and storytellers from across the globe to Hong Kong. Stay tuned for further updates!

Communication is Key

A special thank you to our PR partner, Amara Communications, who work tirelessly to reach as many people as possible with news of our events. In the 3 years we’ve been working with them, we have increased our coverage and our media contacts to bring the joy of reading to a wider audience and we look forward to many more years of successful collaboration.

The HKILF Summertime Events will be held from 19 – 23 July. This year we will partner with the Hong Kong Book Fair, bringing together two of the biggest literary events in our city. Join us to browse books, hear from authors and meet others in the literary community! 

Speakers List

✏️Pim Wangtechawat is a Thai-Chinese writer from Bangkok, Thailand. Her debut novel, “The Moon Represents My Heart” follows a Chinese-British family of time travelers as they seek connections over borders―both national borders and those created by time. Television rights sold after a competitive auction to 21 Laps and Netflix, with actress Gemma Chan set to star and produce.
✏️Mirinae Lee was born and grew up in Seoul. Inspired by Mirinae’s great aunt, one of the oldest women to escape alone from North Korea, her novel “8 Lives of a Century-Old Trickster” has been longlisted for the 2024 Women’s Prize for Fiction and the 2024 Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize.
✏️Sheung-King was born in Vancouver and grew up in Hong Kong. His work examines the interior lives of the transnational Asian diaspora. Sheung-King’s debut novel, “You are Eating an Orange. You are Naked” is named one of the best book debuts of 2020 by the Globe and Mail, and is optioned to be developed into a feature-length film by Fluent Films (Montreal). His latest novel “Batshit Seven” is an experimental piece of digital literature that features QR codes and hashtags, published by Penguin Random House.

Tickets for the Summertime Events are now on sale at Eventbrite. 

All events will be conducted in English.

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival 2024 has created an abundance of extraordinary memories with an impressive lineup of 190 events, a total attendance of 1927, and 65 speakers, which included over 20 international guests. Let’s revisit a selection of the captivating events that encapsulated the joyous moments shared together!

TALKS 

 Opening Event 

“Working It” podcast host Isabel Berwick introduced her recent book The Future-Proof Career. She shared insights on how we can navigate the ever-evolving landscape of work to ensure long-term success in one’s career.

 Going Down-Under 

Australian authors Diana Reid and Ronnie Scott entertained us at breakfast with a lively discussion about writing complex women characters. The special IWD event explored the nuances of portraying multi-dimensional women in literature. At a separate lunch event Diana shared how she came to write her first novel during the pandemic and delved into the themes that emerge in her writing: self-actualisation, selfishness, desire, consent, love and family.

The Artistic Director of the Australian Ballet David McAllister explored life behind the curtain with Hong Kong Ballet’s own Septime Weber. His book Ballet Confidential dishes the dirt on wardrobe malfunctions, the pain of jockstraps and midshow injuries. During the weekend event moderated by Karen Kho, David dived further into his career as an internationally acclaimed dancer.

 Local Heroes 

Author Ritu Hemnani shared the inspiration behind her recently published story in verse Lion of the Sky. From her beginnings as a secondary English teacher through her involvement in TEDxTinHauWomen, we followed her exciting journey from amateur to author.

Artist, culturalist and storyteller Dylan Kwok delved into the fascinating world of traditional craftsmanship. As well as sharing the stories from his latest project Open Birdcages, Dylan showcased various birdcages and tools, allowing attendees to witness the artistry firsthand. Dylan also hosted a walk along Yuen Po Street Garden to meet some of the artists in the community.

 Culinary Delights 

Renowned food writer and cook Fuchsia Dunlop shared her knowledge of the world’s most sophisticated gastronomic culture. From her training as a chef at the Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine to publication of her latest book Invitation to a Banquet: The Story of Chinese Food she took guests on an epic journey of China’s culinary traditions.

Hong Kong media professional and author of Eat Well and The Taste of Hong Kong, Lui Ka Chun, shared his passion for the culture and traditions of the cha chaan teng. Participants gathered at Tai On Tea House to hear various stories about  the food, operations and architectural style of these cafes which are essential to the daily lives of many Hong Kongers, all while enjoying a coffee and an egg tart!

WORKSHOPS 

 Feathered Friends 

Kids aged 3-10 joined palaeontologist and professor at the University of Edinburgh, Steve Brusatte to explore what dinosaurs actually looked like. They enjoyed creating their own visions of dinosaurs using templates and feathers.

 The Ink Trail 

Hong Kong-based Swedish artist Andreas Von Buddenbrock enthralled participants with his nature drawing using pencil and ink pens. Everyone walked away with their very own masterpiece!

 Write the Future 

Aspiring writers joined author Tristan Bancks and founder of Press Start Academy Vince Siu to explore how to create worlds of  science-fiction and fantasy using technology. Budding authors also learned how to write for children and get it published from four established female writers: Siobhan McDermott, Jessixa Bagley, Ritu Hemnani, and Dora Tsang.

 Collaborations 

HKILF celebrated International Women’s Day alongside Room to Read with a special lunch with Vietnamese author Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai. The author of 12 books of poetry, fiction and non-fiction had the audience mesmerised with her writing process and creative mission, as well as entertaining with traditional Vietnamese singing.

It’s a Wrap! 

Local and international artists celebrated a successful festival with everyone involved–much fun was had, useful contacts were shared and many lasting friendships were made. Thanks to all who helped to keep the spirit of reading alive in Hong Kong!