The FIL attracts some 200 international authors per year for its readings, round tables, performances, concerts, and exhibitions. From its inception, more than 4,500 writers and artists have participated in more than 1,000 events that have drawn around 200,000 visitors. In its latest editions, the FIL has featured literatures from Geneva, Port-au-Prince and Paris as guests of honor.
Though this year Catalan literature comes as the guest of honor, Institut Ramon Llull and the festival have undertaken numerous collaborations in the past. Last year, author Miquel de Palol presented his novel El jardí dels set crepuscles at the festival, and in 2016, Sebastià Alzamora also attended as a guest author.
This year, the IRL and FIL collaboration has borne fruit: an artistic program with twelve platforms for dialogue between Catalan and Quebuecer literature, showcasing the wealth and breadth of Catalan expression in numerous disciplines.
The authors Xavier Bosch, Ramon Erra, Lluís Llach, and Imma Monsó will read their works, meet with authors from Quebec, lecture at the University of Montreal, and read their works to the beat of Catalan music and dance.
Indeed, besides the authors, musicians Muchacho y los Sobrinos and Barba Corsini, dancer Sol Picó, and the Mille Lucioles theater company, which will read a selection of works by Mercè Rodoreda, have also been invited to the festival.
Friday, September 21:
5:30-7:00 p.m. - ‘Journée européene des langues’ at the University of Montreal
The author Xavier Bosch will highlight Europe's cultural wealth as well as the importance of learning new languages.
5:30 p.m. - Concert at l’Scène des Jardins Gamalin
Rumba Catalana music will take center stage at Muchacho y los Sobrinos’ musical performance on the festival's inauguration day.
Saturday, September 22
3:00-4:00 p.m. - Writer meet-up ‘Regards croisés Catalogne-Québec’ at the Maison des Écrivains
Writer Xavier Bosch and Canadian novelist Chrystine Brouillet will share their points of view on their works and literary worlds.
4:00 p.m. - Musical reading of Far West Gitano at l’Scène des Jardins Gamalin
Catalan author Ramon Erra will read alongside musicians Jack Jean Tarradellas and Muchacho y los Sobrinos, as well as Quebecer actor Michel Vézina, performing a musical reading of novel Far West Gitano (Edicions Asphalte, 2017) in both Catalan and French.
7:00 p.m. - Screening of Incerta Glòria at the Cinémathèque Québécoise
Singer and writer Lluís Llach and historian Bernard Dionne will briefly chat about the film in a discussion moderated by Èric Viladrich.
Sunday, September 23
1:00-2:00 p.m. - Writer meet-up ‘Regards croisés Catalogne-Québec’ at the Maison des Écrivains
Writer Ramon Erra in conversation with Quebecer author Stanley Péan.
5:30-7:00 p.m. - ‘Lluís Llach, la veu de Catalunya’ at Café de l’Usine theater
Lluís Llach, the iconic Catalan artist and writer, will chat with journalist Lisa-Marie Gervais and read excerpts of his novel.
7:30 p.m. - Barba Corsini concert at Café de l’Usine theater
Poet Eduard Escoffet and musician Pope mix poetry with electronic music.
Monday, September 24
7:00 p.m. - Homage to Mercè Rodoreda by Mille Lucioles theater company at Claude-Léveillée theater
This performance conceived by the emerging Quebecer theater company Mille Lucioles features excerpts from three novels by Rodoreda that have been translated to the French: Carrer de les camèlies, Viatges i flors and La mort i la primavera.
Wednesday, September 26
5:00-7:00 p.m. - Writer meet-up ‘Regards croisés Catalogne-Québec’ at the Maison des Écrivains
Writer Imma Monsó in conversation with Quebecer journalist Claudia Larochelle.
Thursday, September 27
3:00-4:00 p.m. - Conference by Imma Monsó at the University of Montreal
Saturday, September 29
4:00 p.m. - Sol Picó will dance to Imma Monsó's words at the Café de l’Usine theater
Dancer Sol Picó and saxophone player Mireia Tejero will perform while Imma Monsó reads excerpts from her works, in Catalan and French. This performance was created by all three artists especially for the occasion.
