The 13th edition of the George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) is currently happening from November 23 - 26 with the theme "Terra Incognita". GTLF2023 embarks on a literary exploration into the unknown. The opening ceremony took place on 24 November 2023 at Loft29, which is one of the festival's main sites.

The festival was officiated by YAB Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang. Also present were YB Wong Hon Wai, Penang State Executive Councilor for Tourism and Creative Economy, and Mr Ashwin Gunasekeran, Chief Executive Officer, Penang Convention and Exhibition Bureau (PCEB).

This year's programmes will concentrate on navigating the uncertain, and crossing borders, focusing on Southeast Asian writers and multisensory approaches to storytelling. The festival is graced by a formidable lineup of over 70 writers from 17 countries, including Vietnam, Australia, Taiwan, Thailand, France, India, and more.

To date, GTLF has hosted 500 over speakers from 51 countries across the globe. Continuing with its tradition by offering a diverse range of programs, including one-on-one conversations, panel discussions, readings, book launches, exhibitions, and screenings, GTLF2023 promises an enriching literary experience for all attendees.

The festival kicked off with a book launch- A Spoonful of Malaysian Magic. On 23rd November, the panel session "Translations Across Borders," featured translators working across English, Arabic, Spanish, and Vietnamese. This echoes with Penang's historical role as a translation hub in the 1930s. Another memorable session on the first day included a translation project by World Poetry Movement which featured poems translated from Malay, Mandarin, Tamil and Telugu had 6 translators and 3 poets who presented their work followed by a discussion.

On 24th November, students and journalists had the opportunity to delve into the complexities of journalism through a lecture by Janet Steele, an esteemed American Professor of Journalism and International Affairs. Crime fiction aficionados also congregated at Crime and Punishment, a panel discussion consisting of crime writers Johan Theorin, Nat Sario, and Rueben Dass.
This weekend promises to pack a punch. For rock music fans, there will be a lecture on Malaysia's forgotten rock music trails by Dr. Muhammad Takiyuddin on Nov 25. Comic book and graphic novel fans can look forward to The Visual's a Vibe, spotlighting the magic of illustrations and visual storytelling.

Sessions conducted in Tamil include a book launch and a conversation with Yuvan Chandrasekar, as well as Between Two Lands: A Tamil Literary Journey that will discuss Tamil literature in Singapore and Malaysia. Heart of Darkness: Colonialism and its Legacies is an impactful session to look forward to as it will feature the historical experience of colonialism, its darkness and how the writer wielded the power of language to make sense of the past in the present. 

For enthusiasts who would like to hear the raw thought process on writing, may it be on subject, form, style and even procrastination and distractions during writing, Experiment With Truth: A Conversation with Geoff Dyer is a must-attend session.

Prominent Japanese bookstore Kinokuniya returns as the festival's official bookstore for the fifth consecutive year. Kinokuniya will offer an extensive collection of titles by GTLF2023's esteemed lineup of writers and speakers at their pop-up store in Loft29 from November 23 to 26. Also present are
various other local bookstores and independent publishers.

The full programme has been released on the website and various social media channels. GTLF is funded by the State Government of Penang and is produced by the Penang Convention & Exhibition Bureau (PCEB) for the eighth (8th) consecutive year. GTLF remains free for all members of the public.