In Other Words, OzAsia Festival‘s writing and ideas program, has today revealed its three day line-up, with more than 60 Asian writers and thinkers heading up an exciting array of panels and special events.
Running from Friday 3rd November to Sunday 5th November at Adelaide Festival Centre, In Other Words is the perfect way to close out OzAsia Festival. Writer, comedian, and presenter of ABCs Chopsticks or Forks Jennifer Wong has curated the program, alongside guest curators Durkhanai Ayubi (author and restaurateur) and Sami Shah (author, comedian and broadcaster). Wong said:
“I’m so excited for the audience at this year’s In Other Words, who will soon meet more than 60 writers from Australia and around the world for a weekend of riveting conversations about everything from love and politics, to identity and tiger parenting.
“I hope you’ll join us for big conversations about big ideas, which proudly place Asian Australian perspectives at the centre.”
There’s no shortage of highlights this year, with 22 books making their debut, a huge selection of free events, and visiting authors including Chai Time at Cinnamon Gardens‘ Shankari Chandran, Anam‘s Andre Dao, and Tell Her She’s Dreamin‘s Simone Amelia Jordan.
Foodies will love seeing Masterchef favourites Sarah Tiong and Poh Ling Yeow in conversation with broadcaster Benjamin Law, while there’s dual 50th birthday celebrations to be enjoyed, with both Adelaide Festival Centre and Adelaide’s sister-city relationship with Penang both turning the big 5-0 this year. To mark this occasion, In Other Words will be exchanging authors with Penang’s George Town Literary Festival and welcoming Malaysian writers Shih-Li Kow, Wan Phing Lim, and Saras Manickam to Adelaide.
Other huge events include the free Opening Night Gala, hosted by Jennifer Wang, with the theme A Moment of Outspokenness, while BTS fans won’t want to miss the conversation with Beyond the Story author Myeongseok Kang, streamed live from Seoul. On Friday 4th November, Asian Australian Studies Research Network will bring the eighth Asian Australian Identities Conference to In Other Words, while ABC Radio National show Stop Everything will take over Adelaide Festival Centre’s Banquet Room on the Saturday. And the much-loved Closing Night Debate will wrap up proceedings on Sunday 5th, with Jason Chong (comedian and broadcaster), Shirley Le (writer and creative producer), Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa (writer and performer) and more debating the topic Australia Needs More Tiger Parents.
There’s also a great selection of events for younger audiences, including story time sessions and the YA-focused Young Adult Characters Who Will Steal Your Heart.
And, of course, running alongside it all is OzAsia festival, with its own huge program of events taking place from October 19th right the way to November 5th.
OzAsia Festival Artistic Director Annette Shun Wah said:
“In Other Words has become THE meeting place for great Asian and Asian Australian minds, engaging in conversations that are rarely aired anywhere else. From the profoundly moving to the outrageously funny, this program reaps the riches of a diverse range of perspectives and experiences.”
Full program details for both OzAsia Festival and In Other Words can be found HERE. Some events are free but will still require registration to secure tickets.
Header image: In Other Words curator and host Jennifer Wong
