Festival of German-Language Literature - Ingeborg Bachmann Prize goes Europe

The Festival of German-Language Literature was held for the first time in 1977, and has since become one of the most important festivals of literature in Europe.  It is a platform which enables authors of german literature to present their works, and may even be the catalyst that jump starts a successful carreer. During a reading which lasts about 30 minutes, 14 authors get the opportunity to present a text of theirs. Their work is then discussed by a distinguished jury of literary critics, journalists and literary scholars. The jury chooses five texts, and these authors get a prize sponsored by various institutions. The readings as well as the discussions by the jury are broadcast on live television. The most prestigious and best endowed prize is the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, named after the famous Austrian author. This year, the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize was awarded to the swiss author Jens Petersen for an extract of his novel "Til death do us".

In 2009, the Festival of German-Language Literature started to broaden its horizons by translating the contributed text into eight languages, thus making it possible for non-German speakers to read the texts and presenting the participating authors to a wider audience. This way, the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize truly became a comeptition in front of a European wide audience.

The engtlish translations of the 2009 texts can be found here:
http://bachmannpreis.eu/en/texte


Live opera on the square

Starting on 24 May 2009, selected performances at the Vienna State Opera are
being broadcast live on an LED videowall on Herbert von Karajan Platz during
the months of May, June, September and October.

www.staatsoper.at

Bollywood

The ImPulsTanz festival lounge has boarded on a trip and finally arrived in Bollywood. And yet, its tents won't be pitched on a different continent, but simply in a brand new venue: the totally redone former Verkehrsbüro building now Novomatic Forum (situated handily across the befamed Vienna Secession). And these glitzy premises will open its doors to Shah Rukh Khan (on screen), pakora (on plates) and chai (in cups) - an Indian traffic island in the heart of the city.

Enjoy the simultaneity of a multitude of flavours - also musically - in the ImPulsTanz festival lounge. Total masala, so to say. Namaste!

www.impulstanz.com/festival09/extras/lounge/