Please join us at the beautiful Ottoman Court in Ramallah for the opening night of the Palestine Festival of Literature.

After three years of forced absence due to Covid-19 we’re thrilled to be returning with our biggest program ever. Over the week the festival will be thinking about the question of Palestine & the Global South through a range of conversations, screenings, readings and more. With over 40 authors participating, 20 flying in from abroad, and our first ever film program, it’s our great excitement to be back with PalFest 2023.

Our first speaker will be Toufic Haddad, Director of the Kenyon Institute in Jerusalem, who will set out the key questions of the theme: what are the dynamics at play when we talk about Palestine & the Global South, how have they shifted over the past 75 years, where is popular solidarity today?

Next we’re thrilled to present the Palestinian book launch of Isabella Hammad’s new novel: Enter Ghost. Hosted by Dr Yara Hawari, the conversation will introduce us to Hammad’s eagerly anticipated follow-up to critical smash, The Parisian.

After a short intermission, we will be given a exclusive preview reading of Khawla Ibrahim’s new work-in-progress A Knock on the Roof. In a dramatic personal monology, Ibrahim takes us deep into the moments leading up to an airstrike on Gaza.

There will some juice and light snacks at the back of the auditorium, as well as our annual Book Stand.

All PalFest events are free and open to the public.

Simultaneous translation between English-Arabic / Arabic-English will be provided at all events.