Tabouk Festival 2024: celebrating 'Identity' in Taormina

  ROME -- From June 20 to 24, hundreds of guests from around the world will meet at the international Taobuk festival in Taormina.

  The five-day event, led by President and Artistic Director Antonella Ferrara, will see a range of guests from writers, artists, scientists, intellectuals, politicians and economists unite to discuss this year’s theme of Identityand explore its complicated and varied definitions. The event is being supported by the patronage of the Sicilian region: the Department of Tourism, Sport and Entertainment and other public and private institutions and organisations.

  “In continuity with past editions, particularly the last one, which focused on respect for fundamental freedoms, this year's theme reaffirms Taobuk's vocation to forge ideas, giving voice to authoritative maître a penser that the festival is honoured to host,” explained Antonella Ferrara when discussing the theme. 

  On Saturday 22 June, the Ancient Theatre of the city will host the Taobuk Award and Gala. The award will be assigned to those who have contributed to literature, the arts, or science and will be nominated by the festival’s Scientific Committee, in line with the festival’s mission to become an “observatory of society” through though their permant diaglouges with these cultural protagonists. 

  The Taobuk award for literary excellence will be presented to three writers: The Norwegian Jon Fosse, winner of the 2023 Nobel Prize for Literature; the American Jonathan Safran Foer; and Fernando Aramburu from Spain. The Spanish writer, is expected to receive the Taobuk Award at an event on Sunday from the Ambassador of Spain in Italy, Miguel Ángel Fernández-Palacios Martínez, in collaboration with the Embassy of Spain in Italy and the Instituto Cervantes of Palermo. Saturday evening’s gala will then be broadcast on Rai 1 on Monday 8 July. 

  Other categories include the visual arts, for which Serbian born artist Marina Abramović has been nominated, and cinema, with director Ferzan Özpetek and actress Kasia Smutniak expected to receive prizes. 

  The festival will also give the opportunity for in depth interviews and discussions to further explore the expertise of the guests. Spanish writer of Basque origin, Fernando Aramburu, will discuss the international success of his work Patria. Italy’s Minister of the Interior, Matteo Piantendosi is also set to discuss the changes that societies and cities are undergoing with AdnKronos journalist, Elvira Terranova. The interview is expected to touch upon organised crime, petty crime, and widespread illegality which affects the economic development and social welfare of the territory.

  Guests will enjoy a variety of performances, including a dance by Nicoletta Manni and Prima ballet dancer Timofej Andrijashenko, and the Momix company’s interpretation of Moses Pendleton's creations "Acqua Flora" and "Man Fan" at the Ancient Theatre on Saturday. On Sunday, actresses Stefania Rocca and Valeria Solarino will perform in "Thucydides. Athens versus Melo," accompanied by a cellist ensemble of 100 musicians, directed by Enrico Melozzi and Giovanni Sollima, who composed the original music for the show. 

 

lw

 © COPYRIGHT ITALIAN INSIDER
UNAUTHORISED REPRODUCTION FORBIDDEN