TIFA TAKES FLIGHT

 Running from September 21 to October 1, the Toronto International Festival of Authors (TIFA) explores the theme of “taking flight” – from the remarkable flights of imagination books and stories offer, to the serious human need to find safety and freedom of expression.

The Festival will bring together hundreds of authors from diverse cultures, communities and perspectives to celebrate the joy of creativity.

Over 11 days of literary excitement, attendees can experience innovative new events and programmes as well as the return of TIFA’s signature interviews, readings, masterclasses, critical conversations, poetry slams and much more.

Special appearances include journalist and freedom of speech advocate Kamel Riahi, whose latest book, Tunisian Frankenstein, was banned by the Tunisian government, in a new programme called Taking Flight – Dreams of Democracy.

Theater of War Productions will return with lead actors to present dramatic readings of seminal texts; PEN Canada will present the annual Graeme Gibson Talk, offering insightful conversation on the moral power of writing; and, on September 28, enjoy a night of great prose, music, food and drink at a free Literary Kitchen Party with acclaimed novelist Michael Crummey as he launches his new novel, The Adversary.

TIFA Kids events will also be back with lots of free family fun to introduce celebrated story creators to young readers. This will include the TIFA debut of CBC Kids popular musical duo Jeremy & Jazzy!

This year’s Festival invites children and youth of all ages to a vibrant programme the entire family can enjoy for free! From superheroes to graphic novels, whimsical adventures to spooky stories, in addition to arts and crafts, sing-alongs and baking, there are plenty of fun activities for the young and the young at heart.

Plus, as a special Festival kick-off, The Moth Mainstage will perform one night only, on September 19, at Koerner Hall. Through live and virtual shows, storytelling workshops, a podcast, Peabody Award-winning radio show, and New York Times bestselling books, the internationally renowned storytelling phenomenon brings the power of personal storytelling to millions of people each year, creating community and building empathy around the world. The Mainstage is the quintessential Moth experience, a two-act show – featuring a musical act – where the storytellers and a notable host share true personal stories, without notes. 

This year’s TIFA headliners include Margaret Atwood (Old Babes in the Wood: Stories), Emma Donoghue (Learned by Heart), Makoto Yukimura (Vinland Saga), Richard Ford (Be Mine), Charlotte Gray (Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons) and Patrick deWitt (The Librarianist).

Also Ian and Will Ferguson and Jamaluddin Aram (Nothing Good Happens in Wazirabad on Wednesday).

South Asian authors at the festival this year include:

Akil Kumarasamy (Meet us by the Roaring Sea)

Anuja Varghese (Chrysalis)

Chantal Braganza (What We Talk About When We Talk About Dumplings)

Farah Heron (Jana Goes Wild)

Hana Shafi (People You Know, Places You’ve Been)

Janika Oza (A History of Burning)

M.G. Vassanji (Everything There Is)

Moez Surani (The Legend of Baraffo)

Omer Aziz (Brown Boy)

Priya Guns (Your Driver Is Waiting)

Shyam Selvadurai (Mansions of the Moon)

Siddartha Deb (The Light at the End of the World)

Uzma Jalaluddin (Much Ado About Nada)

V.V. Ganeshananthan (Brotherless Night)

Vivek Shraya (How To Fail As A Popstar)

Bengali authors participating:

Anjuman Rosy

Arif Anwar

Diptendu Chakraborty

K. Gandhar Chakravarty

Kazi Helal

Laboni Islam

Roksana Lais

Shekhor Gomes

Sheuli Jahan

Subrata Kumar Das

Sudhir Saha

Check out fesitvalofauthors.ca for detailed listings, event timings, tickets, passes and more.