Writers / Speakers

Concert by the music ensemble Vamos: “Musical Impressions”
A musical journey, produced by Nikos Kazantzakis Museum, that delves into the era when Nikos Kazantzakis lived. Greece, France, Germany, Russia, Italy, and Spain—countries where the author lived or visited—contribute through timeless hits of the period (from Greek composer, lyricist and performer Attic, Kurt Vail, Edith Piaf, Greek composer of contemporary classical music Nikos Skalkotas, operettas, arias, etc.) in a program of elevated aesthetics. The performers include Tasos Apostolou (bass) and Anna Koti (mezzo). Orchestration and orchestral conducting by Thanassis Papathanassiou.

Organized by Nikos Kazantzakis Museum

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

“I defteri zoi tou Eleftheriou Venizelou” (“The Second Life of Eleftherios Venizelos”) by Christos Triantafyllou
Historian Christos Triantafyllou discusses his book “I defteri zoi tou Eleftheriou Venizelou” (“The Second Life of Eleftherios Venizelos”) with historian and professor of Modern and Contemporary History at NKUA, Vangelis Karamanolakis, Giorgos Koukourakis, political scientist, Associate Director of the National Foundation for Research and Studies “Eleftherios K. Venizelos”, and Elia Vardaki, PhD in Social Anthropology, researcher at the Technical University of Crete.

COORDINATION: National Foundation for Research and Studies “Eleftherios K. Venizelos” / Themelio Publishing 

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“Eleftherios Venizelos. Akolouthontas ta vimata tou stin Istoria” (“Eleftherios Venizelos. Following his footsteps in History”) by Maro Vasiliadou
The author Maro Vasiliadou talks to the Ottoman History Professor at the University of Crete, Ilias Kolovos, regarding her new book.

Co-organized by Dioptra Publishing, in collaboration with the National Research Foundation “Eleftherios K. Venizelos”.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

Routes and identities
The writer, president of the Hellenic Authors’ Society, Iosif Ventouras talks to the journalist Alexandra Christakaki about his literary and poetic work, how it was influenced by his Jewish identity, the Jewish community of Chania where he was born, and the role of the Hellenic Authors’ Society in Greek literature and its prospects.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

Theatrical reading: Constantine P. Cavafy

The director and actor Michalis Virvidakis, on the occasion of Dimitris Asteriou’s exhibition at the Yali Mosque, inspired by the personality and work of Constantine P. Cavafy, reads erotic poems by the Alexandrian poet.

Organized by the Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

Poetic voices of Crete: Creating Poetry, Crossing Boundaries
Three poets, Eleni Marinaki, Marinella Vlachaki and Katerina Vlachaki, who live and create in Crete today, discuss the limits they are called upon to overcome, the recording of their physical and psychological traumas and the redemptive power of poetry. Moderation: Angeliki Karathanassi-Manousaki, Philologist and writer.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

“Athoryva to ‘strone” (“Silently, He Spread It”) by Marinella Vlachaki
Author Marinella Vlachaki discusses her book “Athoryva to ‘strone” (“Silently, He Spread It”), which includes short stories and theatrical monologues written between 2006 and 2022, with director-actor Kostis Kapelonis and Associate Professor of Modern Greek Philology at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Anastasia Markomichelaki.

Moderation: Matthaios Frantzeskakis, Director of the Chania Film Festival, publisher.

Co-organized by: Pyxida tis Polis Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

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Poetic voices of Crete: Creating Poetry, Crossing Boundaries
Three poets, Eleni Marinaki, Marinella Vlachaki and Katerina Vlachaki, who live and create in Crete today, discuss the limits they are called upon to overcome, the recording of their physical and psychological traumas and the redemptive power of poetry. Moderation: Angeliki Karathanassi-Manousaki, Philologist and writer.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

“Ston Lavyrintho: O Theodoros Terzopoulos synanta ton Heiner Müller” (“In the Labyrinth: Theodoros Terzopoulos meets Heiner Müller”)
First presentation of the new book “In the Labyrinth: Theodoros Terzopoulos meets Heiner Müller” (Keimena Publishing) by the award-winning, internationally renowned theatre director Theodoros Terzopoulos, in conversation with his publisher, Foivos Vlachos.

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

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1st Chania Book Festival 2022

European Literature and R-evolution
Antigoni Vlavianou, Associate Professor of History of European Literature (Hellenic Academy of Sciences) and Titika Dimitroulia, Professor of Theory and Practice in Translation (University of Athens), discuss about: “European Literature and the R-evolution”, commenting on it in the context of an individual or collective attempt to distance and release literary creation towards a political, ethical and aesthetic crisis. They discuss European literary/artistic movements and authors who opposed the established order with bold disbelief, caustic irony and a more or less radical theory. Moderated by Poli Krimnioti, journalist.

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

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“Whatever language I write in, I write in Greek”
Antigone Vlavianou, Associate Professor of European Literature at the Hellenic Open University, discusses the poetry book of the French-speaking Greek poet Dimitris T. Analis (1938-2012) with journalist Dimitris Doulgeridis. The book is titled “Ta diakena tou chronou & Preloudio sto neo kosmiko psychos” (“The Gaps of Time & Prelude to the New World Chill”), translated by Antigone Vlavianou and Spyros Moskovou (Afterword: Titika Dimitroulia) published by Iolkos Publishing.

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

“Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete – 50 Years of Theatre – A Living Archive”
Presentation of the album showcasing 131 productions from the rich archive of the Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete (DIPETHEK), featuring 800 exhibits including costumes, sets, models, designs, sculptures, directorial and translation notes, posters, programs, photographs, videos, and audio documents. The discussion will be led by Adonis Volanakis, curator of the edition, visual artist, and assistant professor at the Department of Theatre Studies, University of Patras, and Manolis Seiragakis, assistant professor at the University of Crete.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

Book Festivals in the Modern World
Discussion on the challenges, the impact of international book festivals and their networking, will be held by: Adriana Martinez from Colombia, director of the LEA Festival; Claudia Neira from Nicaragua, director of the Centroamérica Cuenta Festival; Pilar Reyes, literary director of Penguin Random House; Mexican author and essayist Jorge Volpi; Spanish journalist Juan Cruz Ruíz, founding member of El Pais newspaper, author, and literary critic; and Manolis Pimplis, Chania Book Festival director.

Co-organized by the Greek Ibero-American LEA Festival

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

“Tamangur” by Leta Semadeni
The distinguished Swiss poet and prose writer Leta Semadeni (Swiss Literature Prize 2016, Swiss Grand Prix for Literature 2023) talks about her book with Theo Votsos, her translator in Greek. Moderated by journalist Kyriaki Tsolaki.

Co-organized by Loggia Publishing

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

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3rd Greek-German translation workshop ViceVersa & “Vater und ich” (“Father and I”) by Dilek Güngör
Announcement of the results of the 3rd ViceVersa Greek-German translation workshop (23-30 June) by translators Michaela Prinzinger and Theo Votsos and the participants. Presentation of the book “Vater und ich” (“Father and I”) by the German journalist and writer of Turkish origin, Dilek Güngör, and her translator in Greek, Theo Votsos.

Organized by the German Translators’ Fund/DÜF-Toledo Programme, Commissioner for Culture and Media of the German Federal Government

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

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“O nomos 2870/1922 kai i “eftaktos apochorisis” apo tin Mikra Asia” (“Law 2870/1922 and the “speedy withdrawal” from Asia Minor”) by Christos Machairidis
The author Christos Machairidis talks about his new book with the philologist and writer Roula Vouraki and the philologist Sophia Stathaki.

Co-organized by Erisma Publishing.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

Libraries and Democracy
Speakers: Paraskevi Choudalaki, Head of Libraries of the Municipality of Chania: “Libraries of the Municipality of Chania: Dormitories of knowledge, democracy, culture” / Dr Anthi Katsirikou, President of the Association of Greek Librarians and Information Scientists, Head of the Library of the University of Piraeus: “A brief theoretical introduction” / Maria Chetzaki and Katerina Voutiraki, Librarian and Head of the Library & Information Centre of the Hellenic Mediterranean University: “Libraries and services for students with print disabilities (visually impaired)” / Maria Daoudaki, Head of Department at the Library & Information Centre of the Technical University of Crete: “Academic libraries and the Open Access movement” / Dr Manolis Koukourakis, Library & Information Centre of the Technical University of Crete: “Academic libraries and cultural resources” / Irini Dragasaki: Koundourios Public Library of the Municipality of Agios Nikolaos: “Cultural events for reading culture”.

Co-organised by the Association of Greek Librarians and Information Scientists

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

Éric Vuillard: from Nazi Germany to Leopold‘s Congo
The 2017 Goncourt Prize-winning French author Éric Vuillard, for his book “The Order of the Day”, discusses with the journalist and translator Manolis Piblis about his four books-“narratives” of the author that are published in Greek: ” The Order of the Day”, “14 juillet” (“July 14”), “Congo” and “The War of the Poor”.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

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The Everyday Man in Literature and History
The writers Éric Vuillard, Maro Doukas, Michalis Modinos and the Assistant Professor of Modern Greek Literature at the University of Crete, Yannis Dimitrakakis, discuss the use of History in literature, how literature turns the lens towards the everyday person, whether he is a victim of History or becomes its driving force.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022