On Tuesday, October 23, the Iași International Festival of Literature and Translation (FILIT) began, one of the largest and most popular festivals in Europe, which brings together numerous top writers, translators, editors and literary critics from all over the globe.
Bogdan O. Popescu and Matei Vișniec in dialogue with high school students in Iasi PHOTO Denis Grigorescu
For five days, as part of FILIT, dozens of cultural activities take place throughout the city of Iași, as well as other localities in Iași county. Practically, during this period, the city has an impressive cultural effervescence, Iași becoming a cultural capital of Romania, living and breathing literature. And, beyond the list of famous guests, led by famous writers such as Abdulrazak Gurnah – Nobel Prize laureate, Pascal Bruckner, Ilja Leonard Pfeijffer or Colm Tóibín, it is absolutely remarkable that at FILIT there are many young volunteers, attached to culture, of literature.
One of the first events organized at this year’s edition of FILIT was at the Iași National College, one of the most prestigious in Romania, established in 1828. Under the aegis of “Writers among high school students”, the event invited two first-rate writers. We are talking about the poet and playwright Matei Vișniec and the poet Bogdan O. Popescu. The interest in this special meeting was gratifying, with hundreds of high school students in the festive hall of the Iași National College. And some of them asked numerous questions full of substance to the two guests.
As teacher Lavinia Ungureanu inspiredly said, who was also the very inspired moderator of the meeting, FILIT is “a literary celebration, with five days full of essential meetings for literature lovers”.
“Someone puts the talent in us. It is important in life that you go in the direction of your inclination. I was lucky enough to quickly discover that I liked words. For you, the most important thing will be to become yourself. And it will be when you discover your inclinations, when you identify your vocations. It is also important in life to look for the essential meetings. Don’t get brainwashed in any way, especially by the consumer society. No matter where you go, keep a debt towards Romania in your soul”Matei Vișniec told the high school students.
“Hold on to the most beautiful people you meet”
The poet Bogdan O. Popescu’s dialogue with the students of the Iași National College was also appreciated and captivating.
“Poetry doesn’t necessarily need words. I first encountered literature when I fell in love for the first time, at the age of 11. Then I found myself writing in a rather classic style. To reach yourself, hold close to the most beautiful people you meet”declared, among others, Bogdan O. Popescu.
A highly acclaimed playwright, Matei Vișniec went to France in 1987, where he was initially politically exiled. Since then his name has been on posters in over 40 countries. Since 1990, he has been working as a journalist in Paris, at Radio France Internationale. Matei Vişniec is the author of six volumes of poetry, an impressive number of plays written in Romanian, but also in French, five novels and a volume of short stories. Matei Vişniec is one of the most played authors at the Avignon Theater Festival. In Romania, his books were rewarded with numerous awards, including the Romanian Academy Award and, on several occasions, the Writers’ Union Award for dramaturgy.
A valuable neurologist, Bogdan O. Popescu is one of the best-known contemporary Romanian poets. He debuted in the literary press in 1987, in the Literary-Artistic Supplement of the Spark of Youth (SLAST) and published after that in numerous literary magazines. His volumes of published verse have been published successfully. The volume “Goodbye, princess” (Vinea Publishing House, 1995) was awarded the “Ion Vinea” Grand Prize for literary debut. In 2012, he benefited from a literary residency granted by ICR New York at Ledig House, Omi Art Residence, New York.
