The 9th Imperativ Regional Literature Festival will take place from May 30 to June 3 at the Banski Dvor Cultural Centre in Banja Luka, organised by the Association for the Promotion and Popularisation of Literature “Imperativ.” This year’s edition is being held under the slogan “Turn The Page” – which festival director Sanela Babić described as a call to reject superficiality and restore dignity to knowledge, culture and critical thinking.
The festival officially began earlier this year through the introductory “Imperativ Intro” programme, including a workshop on adapting prose into drama and screenwriting led by dramaturges Katarina Mitrović and Vida Davidović. Ahead of the main programme, audiences will also have the opportunity to attend poetry events featuring writers Tanja Stupar Trifunović and Mihaela Šumić, as well as a discussion with Macedonian author Rumena Bužarovska.
This year’s programme will include literary discussions, poetry readings, documentary film screenings, music and cultural panels, as well as a newly introduced “Night Conversations” format offering more intimate discussions with regional authors. Featured participants include Miljenko Jergović, Damir Karakaš, Monika Herceg and Darko Cvijetić, among many others.
Free tickets for all events will be available at the box office of Banski Dvor Cultural Centre on weekdays from 12 pm to 6 pm. The festival will also host a book fair featuring regional publishers and a special children’s programme aimed at encouraging reading, empathy and cultural engagement among younger audiences.
