CUENTENTO is an international event dedicated to short stories and their authors – from Spain, Latin America and other countries – where readers of this genre can listen to storytellers talk about their work, the world and characters they create, as well as the work of those who came before them.
The festival was organized by Spanish author Nicolás Melini and brought together writers from Spain and Latin America. This year, publishers and representatives of the literary field from Italy, France, Spain, and Georgia were also present.
IPA President Gvantsa Jobava joined the panel about literary activism (Activistas de la literatura) moderated by Spanish journalist and writer Carlos Santos. Featured participants in this panel also included: Margherita Cannavacciulo (Hispanic Americanist and researcher), Jean-Marie Desbois (editor), Lana Kalandia (translator), Natasha Lomouri (executive director of PEN Georgia), and Danilo Manera (Hispanic scholar, translator, and writer).
During the panel, Jobava discussed multiple topics. Among them, she discussed how literature and books can be used as tools of resistance in the struggle for freedom of speech. Then, she shed light on banned books and freedom to publish in general and on the importance of translation as a voice to reach new audiences and readers. Finally, she spoke on how literary managers and publishers can continue, even under conditions of autocracy, to fight for freedom and democratic values through literature.
More information about the festival here.
