Meeting with Latvian writer Andris Kalnozols
Tuesday, 6th May
17:00
Hall of Tartu Public Library
The guest will be in conversation with Contra. Kalnozols’ book, “Call Me Calendar”, will be available for purchase at a special price.
The event will be in Latvian with consecutive translation into Estonian.
Curator’s Tour of the “Estonian Book 500” Wall Installation
Tuesday, 6th May
17:15
Estonian National Museum
500 years ago, the story of the Estonian language book began. To celebrate the Estonian Book Year, a wall installation has been created in the shape of a primer rooster’s head in the foyer of the A-section of the Estonian National Museum. Using a witty visual language, artist Siiri Taimla-Rannala has depicted the entire vibrant narrative, thereby revealing the history of the Estonian literary language, reading, education and literature.
As part of the Prima Vista program, the panel curator, literary scholar, and poet Sirel Heinloo invites you to a tour of the Estonian National Museum (ERM) and will present a substantial Estonian book and cultural history within the rooster-shaped exhibit. Together, you will also take a brief look at the permanent exhibition.
Please Note: Registration in advance through the museum’s website https://www.erm.ee/ is required to join the curator’s tour. Participation with a “Meetings” permanent exhibition ticket or a museum card (free of charge).
NB! This tour is in Estonian; a tour in English will take place on Saturday, May 10th
See also: https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/program/curators-tour-in-english-estonian-book-500-wall-installation/
Literary Tuesday: Patron’s Evening “The Map of Tartu”
Tuesday, 6th May
18:30
Tartu Literature House
A discussion on places, place-based literature, and echoes of locations with Jan Kaus and this year’s Prima Vista patron, Kai Aareleid. Musical performance by Villu Veski.
Jan Kaus has written the collection “The Map of Tallinn”, while Kai Aareleid’s Tartu novel “Burning Cities” unfolds one possible map of Tartu. Saxophone virtuoso Villu Veski, together with accordionist Tiit Kalluste, has created the albums “Voices of the Northern Isles I–III”, inspired by places and their resonances. And so, we set off.
Concert: “When the World Stands Still”
Tuesday, 6th May
20:00
Cultural Club Salong, Tartu Literature House
Songs based on the poetry of Polish poet Zbigniew Herbert and Estonian poets.
Performers:
Tõnis Mägi (vocals)
Kärt Johanson (vocals)
Ain Agan (guitar)
Andre Maaker (guitar)
“Living Library” for schoolchildren
Wednesday, 7th May
11:00–12:00
Annelinn Library
“Living Library” for schoolchildren at Annelinn Library.
See also:
Monday, May 5th
12.00–13.00
Karlova-Ropka library
https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/program/living-library-for-school-children-2/
Friday, 9th May
10.15–11.15
Tammelinn Library
https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/program/the-living-library-for-schoolchildren-2/
Friday, 9th May
11.15–12.00
Ilmatsalu Library
https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/program/the-living-library-for-schoolchildren/
Meeting with Marius Marcinkevičius (Lithuania) and Lina Itagaki (Lithuania)
Wednesday, 7th May
12:00
Hall of Tartu Public Library
ANNOUNCEMENT: Unfortunately Marius Marcinkevičius is ill and cannot come to Tartu, but the event will take place and illustrator Lina Itagaki will be present.
Lithuanian writer Marius Marcinkevičius and illustrator Lina Itagaki will meet readers of all ages. The event is especially aimed at children in Years 4–5. The discussion will be moderated by Tiina Kattel.
The event will be in Lithuanian with consecutive interpretation into Estonian.
Presentation of Angela Soop’s artist’s book “The Four Seasons”
Wednesday, 7th May
15.00
Luts Room of Tartu Public Library
Angela Soop’s (Kaili-Angela Konno) artist’s book contains material from the four-part solo exhibition series “War and Peace”. The publication includes texts by various authors and photographs of the artworks and exhibition views.
Contributors:
part I – Margot Kase’s interview with Angela Soop,
part II – Anti Saar,
part III – Jan Kaus,
part IV – Eero Epner.
The photographs in the publication were taken by Stanislav Stepashko, with some also taken by Martin Ivask.
Discussion at the Micro Library: “The Physical Properties of Books”
Wednesday, 7th May
15.30
Tartu Old Observatory (Uppsala 8)
Speakers: Eik Hermann, Ulla Väljaste, and Tõnis Tootsen.
Moderated by Andrus Laansalu.
See page: https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/micro-library-a-library-of-physical-impact/
Evening with German writer Markus Thielemann
Wednesday, 7th May
16:00
Tartu Public Library
The guest will be in conversation with Hella Liira, lecturer at the University of Tartu. The discussion will focus on Thielemann’s recently translated novel “Thunder Rolls in the Northern Sky” (Eesti Raamat, translated into Estonian by Piret Pääsuke), which brings the Lüneburg Heath onto the literary map. Thielemann’s 2024 novel, originally titled “Von Norden rollt ein Donner”, was shortlisted for the German Book Prize, ranking among the six most notable German-language novels of the year. Books will be available for purchase at the event.
The conversation will be held in German with simultaneous interpretation into Estonian.
The event is supported by the Goethe-Institut Estonia.
Presentation of Susanna Veevo’s book “My Turkey” (Petrone Print)
Wednesday, 7th May
17:00
Apollo bookshop of Tartu Kaubamaja shopping centre
Why and how did the author fall in love with Turkish culture? What challenges and personal growth did she experience while studying at a university there? And why does she now love Turkey “passionately, but from a distance”?
The live broadcast of the event can be followed on Petrone Print’s Facebook page.
Opening of the book illustration exhibition “Ummakumma”
Wednesday, 7th May
17:00
Culture Club Salong, Tartu Literature House
Writer Kaspar Jassa will discuss the creation of the vignettes for his book “Ummakumma” (2002) and read excerpts from the text. The exhibition features enlargements of the small shadow illustrations, offering visitors a journey through aesthetic delight. The exhibition is supported by the Tartu Cultural Endowment.
Presentation of Eva Koff’s novel “Õhuskõndija” (“Air Walker”)
Wednesday, 7th May
17:30
Great Hall of Tartu City Museum
Early 20th century, Tartu, Ülejõe. Beasts in the backyards, winding gutters, the floodplains of the Emajõgi River. The restless buzz of the Electric Theatre, the first people in the skies of Livonia. Two young women – Nora and Magdalena. The power of imagination, the call of the air. Must one choose between the earth and the sky? Between the stomach and the heart? “Air Walker” is the story of Nora and Magdalena growing into themselves—a tale of the freedom to be oneself, of love, its transformations, and its boundlessness. The author will be in conversation with Jaak Tomberg, and excerpts will be read by Maria Ehrenberg.
Evening with Cuban writer Leonardo Padura
Wednesday, 7th May
18.00
Hall of Tartu Public Library
The guest will be in conversation with Anneli Ramos Põder, who is of Estonian-Cuban heritage and the author of “Cuba in One Breath”.
The discussion will take place in Spanish with simultaneous interpretation into Estonian.
The writer’s visit to Estonia is supported by the Embassy of Spain in Tallinn.
Discussion: “Stories of Cultural Conflicts and Roots” – based on the “Minu…” series by Petrone Print
Wednesday, 7th May
18.00
Apollo Bookstore at Tartu Kaubamaja
Epp Petrone and Annela Laaneots, who have together published five books in the “Minu…” series, will be in conversation. Petrone authored the series’ opening books, the classic cultural conflict stories “Minu Ameerika” 1, 2, and 3. Laaneots has written “Minu Setomaa”, a story of personal roots, and “Minu Tai saared”, which explores a foreign culture. Several other authors from the “Minu…” series will also join in to share their insights.
The live broadcast of the event can be followed on Petrone Print’s Facebook page.
Presentation of Toomas Kiho’s poetry collection “Pundinuiad”
Wednesday, 7th May
19:00
Tartu Literature House
“Toomas Kiho is truly unique in Estonia’s poetry landscape. With the mind of a mathematician, a deep commitment to Estonia’s cultural affairs, an understanding of academia like no other, a witness to many governments—yet not broken by the abundance of foolishness, but rather transforming it into words, with sorrow, intellectual depth, and an unwavering embrace of love. His poetry is rich in insight, carrying a rare ethical power. Deeply connected to Estonia.”
—Kalevi Kull
Cinema Theatre Tartu Elektriteater presents: “Wings of Desire”
Wednesday, 7th May
20.00
Cinema Theatre Elektriteater
Cinema Theatre Tartu Elektriteater presents: “Wings of Desire” (West Germany, France, 1987; director: Wim Wenders, Screenplay: Wim Wenders, Peter Handke, Richard Reitinger).
The screening will be introduced by film journalist and critic Tristan Priimägi.
Ticket: €7, see elektriteater.ee for details.
A Stroll Along Vanemuine Cultural Street
Thursday, 8th May
15.00
Starting at the Jakob Hurt Memorial
During the walk, Ants Siim from the City Museum and Ülo Treikelder from Tartu Public Library will share stories and read excerpts. The stroll concludes in Central Park.
“Walking with Mother River” – a psycho-geographical journey and performance in motion with Andy Willoughby (UK) and Joanna Ellmann (Estonia)
Thursday, 8th May
16.00
Meeting point at the Arch Bridge (Town Hall Square side)
Andy and Joanna invite you to take a walk with them by the beloved Emajõgi river, taking part in some meditative/magical interactive moments with the river, its history and ecology and hear some of their collaborative work they have been developing since 2023 (Andy’s last visit to Tartu) in a new sequence entitled When Rivers Entwine seeks to link Tartu’s river with the River Wear in Andy’s town of residence Durham in the North East of England through the mixed consciousness of the two poets. Some of your response on the walk will be collected at the end so Andy and Joanna can respond to/weave them into a new end piece for their bi-lingual sequence. They will perform one or two poems along the way and a few at the end of this original journey.
In English and Estonian.
The walk is part of the project “Tartu Revisited” – Walks with Former Writers-in-Residence.
See also: https://kirjandusfestival.tartu.ee/en/tartu-revisited-walks-with-former-writers-in-residence/
An Evening with Finnish Author Kjell Westö
Thursday, 8th May
17.30
Tartu Public Library
The distinguished author of Finnish-Swedish literature will be in conversation with literary scholar Esbjörn Nyström. Westö’s novels vividly depict his hometown, Helsinki, across various decades of the 20th century. His latest novel, “Twilight 41” (“Skymning 41”), explores World War II, particularly the end of the Winter War and the brief peace period of 1940–1941. The book remains eerily relevant even in 2025. Published by Eesti Raamat, translated by Tõnis Arnover. Copies will be available for purchase on-site.
The discussion will be in Swedish, with simultaneous translation into Estonian.
Supported by the Finnish Institute and the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI).
“Literature with Spark” – An Evening of Emerging Writers
Thursday, 8th May
18.00
Culture Club Salong, Tartu Literature House
Featuring readings by Helena Aadli, Triinu Kree, Talvike Mändla, Gustav Nikopensius, Heneliis Notton, and Joosep Vesselov.