Writers / Speakers

The levitation between the local and the global
The practical relationship of poetry with history and with current affairs. The relationship of poetry to other arts and forms of expression. With poets: Yannis Doukas, Haris Psarras, Orfeas Apergis, Lenia Safiropoulou, Krystalli Glyniadaki.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

The working class is going to hell

The Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete, at the invitation of the Chania Book Festival, presents a musical reading based on the book by Didier Eribon, “Returning to Reims”. The book is brought to life with words and music by actor, director and acting teacher Akyllas Karazisis and British musician, composer and producer Gary Salomon. 

Co-organized by the Municipal Regional Theatre of Crete

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

Crete as a (meta)border: three historians discuss with a writer
The writer Nikos Psilakis, with the literary depiction of Crete as a starting point, discusses with the historians Ilias Kolovos, Associate Professor of Ottoman History at the Department of History and Archaeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Crete, Marinos Sarigiannis, researcher at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and Yannis Skalidakis, lecturer at the University of Crete, on the modern history of Crete as a border island in the wider context of the Eastern Mediterranean. We will start from the years of the Ottoman conquest of Crete, and then discuss the relations between Christians and Muslims on the island until the years of the Greek Revolution, with particular reference to the history of Gramvousa as a pirate centre.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

The experience of translation and its importance for literature and language
Translators Kostas Athanasiou (Spanish), Rita Kolaiti (French), David Connolly (English), Katerina Schina (English) discuss the adventure of translation and its importance for the dissemination of literature and the dialogue between cultures. Moderated by Kostas Athanasiou.

3rd Chania Book Ferstival 2024

The depiction of racial discrimination in the literature of Paulo Scott & Louis-Philippe Dalembert
Brazilian novelist, poet, and short story writer Paulo Scott and Haitian novelist, poet, and essayist Louis-Philippe Dalembert (2024 Goncourt Prize for Poetry) discuss the depiction of racial discrimination and social injustice in their books “Marrom e Amarelo”/ “Phenotypes” and “Milwaukee Blues”, respectively. Moderated by Kostas Athanasiou, translator.

CO-ORGANIZED BY:  Hellenic Ibero-American Literature Festival in Athens LEA / Gutenberg Publishing / Kastaniotis Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“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

“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

Literature at the Crossroads of Two Eras: Literary and Democratic Culture during the Dictatorship and the Metapolitefsi. Cultural Transitions.
Speakers: Andreas Apostolidis, author (“Romantica”) and director, Yannis Baskozos, journalist, director of the e-journal “O Anagnostis”, author (“I balanta ton anideon kai kalon” / “The ballad of the ignorant and good”), Nikolas A. Sevastakis, professor of Contemporary Political and Social Philosophy at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, author (“Katagogi i oi istories ton allon” / “Origin or the stories of others”), Niki Troullinou, author (“Odos Solonos” / “Solonos Street”).

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

“A Dog’s life”  / “Vida de Perros” by Ana María Shua
Author Ana María Shua discusses her anthology of short stories (published by Vakhikon Publishing) with the Head of Communication of the Chania Book Festival and translator Vassilis Kimoulis. 

Organized by the Greek-Ibero-American Literatura en/em Atenas – LEA Festival

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

Tribute to poet Giogia Siokou-Komatsoulaki
The philologist and president of the Centre for Cretan Literature Costas Moutzouris converses with poet Giogia Siokou and discusses her work.

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

“The Palace on the Higher Hill” by Karim Kattan
The award-winning Palestinian author, born in Jerusalem, and PhD in Comparative Literature, Karim Kattan, discusses the relationship between literature, society, and politics with poet Danai Sioziou.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Estia Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

Crete as a (meta)border: three historians discuss with a writer

The writer Nikos Psilakis, with the literary depiction of Crete as a starting point, discusses with the historians Ilias Kolovos, Associate Professor of Ottoman History at the Department of History and Archaeology of the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of Crete, Marinos Sarigiannis, researcher at the Foundation for Research and Technology – Hellas (FORTH) and Yannis Skalidakis, lecturer at the University of Crete, on the modern history of Crete as a border island in the wider context of the Eastern Mediterranean. We will start from the years of the Ottoman conquest of Crete, and then discuss the relations between Christians and Muslims on the island until the years of the Greek Revolution, with particular reference to the history of Gramvousa as a pirate centre.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

From great to “Little Dangerous Ones”: a landmark book on the thinking of a whole generation
“Mikres epikindynes” (“Little Dangerous Ones”) (Key Books Publishing) is about 100 girls, from 13-22 years old, who shared their stories fearlessly, honestly and bravely. Member of Parliament for Chania Sevi Amanatidou-Voloudaki, Emmanouela Katzouraki, World Shooting Champion and Marianna Skylakaki, CEO of AtheNEAs, discuss the book.

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

“Tyrinos. O Kleftis Fovon (“Tyrinos. The Thief of Fears”) by Nicolas Smyrnakis
Nicolas Smyrnakis presents his fairy tale “Tyrinos. O Kleftis Fovon (“Tyrinos. The Thief of Fears”), a story that helps children to deconstruct the feeling of fear and encourages them to transform it into a friend.

Co-organized by Dioptra Publishing

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

“The Paradox of Svalbard” by Zdenka Sokolíčková
On the occasion of her book “The Paradox of Svalbard”, Czech social anthropologist and writer Zdenka Sokolíčková discusses with the poet, translator and philologist Yiannis Doukas about what it’s like to live and work in the northernmost inhabited point of the planet, the Archipelago’s transition from coal mining to Arctic tourism, the alarming -and perhaps hopeless- depiction of climate change, and the strained boundaries of globalization, in terms of class, language, and economy.

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

*

Documentary Screening: “The Visitors” / Zdenka Sokolíčková
Duration: 83 min. With English subtitles.
The film follows Zdenka, a young anthropologist who moves with her family to Svalbard, Norway, to study how life is changing in the polar regions. She falls in love with her new home, but discovers that in the Arctic Circle, it’s not only the icebergs that disappear. Her research uncovers the impact of globalization, as well as underground tensions within a small, diverse community. What she intended to do was simply observe, but now she must decide how much she can – and should – become involved.

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

Monica Aasprong & Hanne Ørstavik: Aspects of Norwegian Literature
The Norwegian poet, prose writer and translator Monica Aasprong and the Norwegian prose writer Hanne Ørstavik (“Love”), one of the most important voices of contemporary Scandinavian prose, discuss with translator Sotiris Souliotis their recent work and their influences.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Norwegian Literature Abroad / Kastaniotis Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

Literary genres in dialogue: The play of writing and boundaries in the field of literature
Authors Ioanna Bourazopoulou, Pela Soultatou and Niki Troullinou discuss how elements such as fiction, satire, poetry and essays are mixed in contemporary literature and whether there are borders in literature, literally and figuratively. Moderation: Spyros Giannaras, author, translator.

1st Chania Book Festival 2022

“Kangelo” by Dimitris Maniatis
Is there a Hawaii in Metaxourgeio? A hearse on Patision Street. Prime minister Andreas Papandreou at Kotta’s, and… twelve more short stories of very short form. Twelve hard moments. Journalist and writer Dimitris Maniatis talks about his new book (Metronomos Publishing) with Anna Lampardaki, philologist, Dimitris Maridakis, journalist and Maria Souroukidou, radio producer.

3rd Chania Book Festival 2024

“I istoria mias mataiosis” (“The Story of a Disillusionment”) by Stratis Bournazos
Author and journalist Stratis Bournazos discusses his recent book “I istoria mias mataiosis” (“The Story of a Disillusionment”) with publisher Kostas Spatharakis.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Antipodes Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

*

“The Charm of Book Covers”
A discussion on the importance of book covers and the aesthetics of books in modern publishing. Participants: Christos Kourtoglou, graphic designer, Yannis Palavos, author, Kostas Spatharakis, publisher.

Moderation: Marilena Astrapellou, journalist.

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“Grammata apo ta Kapetaniana” (“Letters from Kapetaniana”) by Giorgos Gr. Stamatakis
The author Giorgos Gr. Stamatakis discusses his book “Grammata apo ta Kapetaniana” (“Letters from Kapetaniana”), surreal short stories in the Cretan dialect, with translator Klairi Mitsotaki and author Maria Papagianni. Moderation: Giorgos Patroudakis, journalist and photographer.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Selouda Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

Loss and Mourning: Individual and Collective Traumas in Literature
Discussants: Voula Antoniadou (author), Maria Katsikandaraki (author and educator), Michalis Paterakis (poet), Katerina Stamatelatou (author), Andromachi Chourdaki (author). Moderated by: Anna Kallivretaki (author).

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Radamanthis Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

Festive opening of the 4th CBF: “Unforgettable”
The deep-voiced Christophoros Stamboglis with the pianist Miltos Loyadis on piano, will perform great hits of the American musical and some of the most famous jazz songs.

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“Notturno Francese” / “Nighttime in France” by Fabio Stassi
Italian novelist, short story writer, and essayist Fabio Stassi converses with translator Dimitra Dotsi about his new book. Moderated by Kiriaki Beioglou, journalist and member of the organizing team of the Chania Book Festival.

CO-ORGANIZED BY: Ikaros Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“Minotavros” (“Minotaur”) by Dimitris C. Stefanakis
Author Dimitris C. Stefanakis discusses his recent book with philologist Maria Vayonaki.

Co-organized by Metaixmio Publishing

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

“Literature’s Refuge” by William Stroebel
On the occasion of his book “Literature’s Refuge” (Princeton University Press), William Stroebel, professor at the University of Michigan, talks with poet Yiannis Doukas about diaspora, mutual refuge, the uprooting not only of populations but also of narratives, of contemporary divisions and their methodological imprinting, of the lost and missing voices that captured the fluid and complex identities of the Eastern Mediterranean until about a century ago.

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

“The future of reading: children”
In discussion are Mariza Decastro, writer, Eleni Svoronou, writer, creative writing teacher and critic, the writer Yannis Baskozos and Vassiliki Vassiloudi, Assistant Professor of Children’s Literature, Department of Primary Education, University of Crete, Greece.

Organized by “O Anagnostis” online magazine

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

*

“The book in the classroom”
Adult workshop by Eleni Svoronou, writer, creative writing teacher and critic and Marisa Decastro, writer.

2nd Chania Book Festival 2023

“Mikis Theodorakis: To chroniko mias epanastasis 1960-1967. I istoria tis genias tou 1-1-4 kai ton “Lamprakidon” (“Mikis Theodorakis: The Chronicle of a Revolution 1960-1967. The Story of the 1-1-4 Generation and the ‘Lamprakides’”) by Fontas Ladis
For the book by author Fontas Ladis, Matthaios Frantzeskakis, Director of the Chania Film Festival and Board Member of the Pan-Cretan Association of Mikis Theodorakis’ Friends, and Thanasis Sylivos, publisher, will discuss the work. The author will intervene via a pre-recorded message, and the 20-minute documentary “Mia epanastasi arxizei” (“A Revolution Begins”) (directed by Vangelis Dimitriou), based on the first chapter of the book, will be screened.

Co-organized by: Pancretan Association of Mikis Theodorakis’ Friends / Metronomos Publishing

4th Chania Book Festival 2025

*

The publishing landscape: crises and prospects
The editors Foivos Vlachos (Keimena Publishing), George H. Efstathiou and Katerina Thanopoulou (Aparsis Publishing) and Thanasis Sylivos (Metronomos Publishing) discuss with journalist Poly Krimnioti about the publishing landscape during the period of repeated crises and the prospects of small and medium-sized publishing houses in the near future.

Co-organized by Keimena Publishing / Aparsis Publishing / Metronomos Publishing

1st Chania Book Festival 2022