Wordfest Reveals 2014 Lineup
“Wordfest celebrates the power of story in more ways than ever this year. We are bringing back popular events that redefine literary programming and are introducing new formats and partnerships,” says Jo Steffens, Executive Director for Wordfest.
An exciting partnership this year is between Wordfest and Theatre Junction GRAND, a gorgeous historical building and the Festival’s new hub in Calgary. The space will not only house most of Wordfest’s main stage events, but patrons will have more opportunities to mingle with other festivalgoers and connect with their favourite authors in the mezzanine bar, restaurant and Festival bookstore.
Emma Donoghue and Bruce McCulloch officially kick off the Festival at separate main stage events on October 14, setting the pace for a packed week that includes Divergent‘s Veronica Roth in conversation with Tahereh Mafi on YA fiction along with themed celebrations such as Circling the North, Women in Clothes, Calgary Reads Big Book Club with Nicholas Carr and a dialogue on death with writer Caitlin Doughty.
The weekend heats up in Calgary with a new “one-on-one” series of on-stage interviews with writers including Nancy Huston, Michael Crummey, Christos Tsiolkas, Thomas King, Kathleen Winter, Sjón and Tim Winton. And The Banff Centre is delighted to welcome the 2014 Wordfest Banff Distinguished Author Ann-Marie MacDonald as she reveals the “story behind the storyteller” from her new novel, Adult Onset. Events with Thomas King, Joshua Ferris, Elyse Friedman, Kate Pullinger and Adam Sternbergh among others round off the Wordfest weekend at The Banff Centre.
The Festival’s popular Page Breaks series of alt-lit content returns with favourites including off-the-cuff storytelling at This Really Happened, Literary Death Match and Ryeberg Live in which writers curate online video. Other unique Page Breaks this year include a live illustration event with Argentinian cartoonist Ricardo Liniers, late-night performances by C.R. Avery and guests at the Ironwood Stage & Grill, and ear-pleasing performances and readings by Sean Michaels.
From October 14 to 17, Wordfest offers an afternoon Bookmarks series that includes a Writers Book Club event led by Arun Lakra, Mark Lavorato, Natalie Simpson and Ian Williams who is the U of C’s 2014-15 Calgary Distinguished Writer in Residence. Other mid-day Bookmark events cover themes ranging from empire and men in love to avalanche survival. The new Readers Choice event features books that received rave reviews by the Festival’s team of volunteer readers.
The Festival has more than doubled the number of workshops available this year for writers at all levels and for anyone curious about the creative process from a writer’s perspective. Calgary workshops with Ted Bishop, Elyse Friedman, Kathleen Winter, Michael Robotham, Michael Cho and Scott Chantler are all held within the intimate space of Inglewood’s new Loft 112 venue. Ivan Coyote offers a workshop on performance writing at the The Banff Centre on Saturday, October 18.
Multilingual programming is always an important part of the Festival, with events in French and Spanish for adults, plus dedicated language programming geared for schools and youth.
The Festival offers events for children and teens in French and English, and in 2013 Wordfest engaged over 10,000 students across Calgary and the Bow Valley through these programs. For more information on the First Calgary Financial Book Rapport program, please visit wordfest.com/bookrapport.
Families can discover a number of free interactive events throughout the Festival including the TD Family Literacy series featuring beloved author Dennis Lee, who is celebrating the 40th Anniversary of Alligator Pie, and story-time activities with Ruth Ohi and other children’s writers from the lineup.
Novel Supper Club on October 15 is the Festival’s signature fundraiser, offering a chance to dine with Wordfest 2014 author and former restaurateur Kim Thúy. Proceeds from the event support Wordfest, a non-profit organization and registered charity, as it prepares for its 20th year in 2015.
Ushering in Wordfest this year is a special Pre-Festival event with Amanda Lindhout on September 11 at the Glenbow ConocoPhilips Theatre (Sold Out). After the Festival, Wordfest looks forward to welcoming Naomi Klein, author of the bestselling Shock Doctrine and No Logo, on October 21 at Knox United Church where she will present her new book, This Changes Everything.
Tickets for Wordfest events are now on sale. Please visit wordfest.com for more information on the writers, events and where to buy tickets.
Wordfest would like to thank the following Platinum and Gold sponsors for their support of the Festival: Bennett Jones LLP, Calgary Herald, Calgary Public Library, CBC, CJSW, FFWD Weekly, First Calgary Financial, Radio Canada, SWERVE, Talisman Energy, TD, WAX Partnership Inc. and The Westin Calgary (official hotel for Wordfest 2014).
Wordfest wishes to thank public sector partners: Alberta Foundation for the Arts, Calgary Arts Development, The City of Calgary, Canada Council for the Arts, Canadian Heritage and the Government of Canada.
The Festival is also thankful for continuing support from its Founding Partners: The Banff Centre, the Calgary Public Library, Mount Royal University and the Writers Guild of Alberta.
All events in Banff are presented in partnership with The Banff Centre.
WORDFEST is a not-for-profit arts organization that brings readers and writers together through a premier international writers festival and year-round events in Calgary, Banff and the Bow Valley. The 19th annual Wordfest runs from October 14-19, 201.
