The festival features a total of 464 cultural initiatives until the 19th, highlighted by the presence of two Nobel Prize in Literature laureates: Belarusian author Svetlana Alexievich and South African writer J. M. Coetzee.
Over a hundred discussions between authors and the public will bring around 800 writers and artists to the village in the Leiria district. They will participate in 15 author panels, informal gatherings, seminars, book launches, concerts, and award ceremonies.
The Literary Tent will host American writers Anne Applebaum and Lionel Shriver, Israeli Avi Shlaim, Spaniard Fernando Aramburu, Irishman Paul Murray, and Frenchman Pierre Singaravélou.
In its second year under the curatorship of Candela Varas, Fólio Mais will showcase works by writers such as Samanta Schweblin (Argentina), Natalia García Freire (Ecuador), Micheliny Verunschk (Brazil), Fernanda García Lao (Argentina), María Fernanda Ampuero (Ecuador), Gabriela Wiener (Peru), Marta Sanz (Spain), and Abdellah Taïa (Morocco).
Curated by the Inatel Foundation, Folia will feature performances by Expresso Transatlântico, the Leiria Jazz Orchestra, A Cantadeira, Hélder Moutinho, O Gajo, Xuxu Kalhus, and the Óbidos Philharmonic Band.
Of the 21 planned exhibitions, “PIM! — Illustration Exhibition to Imagine the World” stands out, featuring guest João Francisco Vilhena and special participation by Jorge Silva.
In what will be the first season of “an enigmatic project,” Nastya Varlamova will transform the Nova Ogiva gallery into “a sketchbook, climbing the walls, descending the stairs, hanging narratives from the balconies” that merge with the architecture of the space. According to curator Mafalda Milhões, it will include texts by Gonçalo M. Tavares.
New to this edition is Folio Cinema, which includes the world premiere of “Nora Helmer,” a work by João Lourenço and Nuno Neves, and the screening of films adapted from literary works. Additionally, in collaboration with Audiogest, ‘play talks’ will be organized—a dialogue space between music and literature featuring conversations with Miguel Carretas, Pedro Abrunhosa, Rui Miguel Abreu, Bárbara Tinoco, and Tiago Bettencourt.
The festival will also host the presentation of the PNI – National Illustration Prize and the Fernando Leite Couto Literary Prize, as well as the launch of a commemorative book marking its 10 editions.
Organized by the municipality of Óbidos in partnership with the municipal company Óbidos Criativa, Ler Devagar, and the Inatel Foundation, Fólio has been held since 2015 in the village designated as a Creative City of Literature by UNESCO.
