IR: What are some of the interesting segments that you have added in this year’s festival? With our diverse programmes where local and international writers have come together to reflect and rethink our relationships, loneliness and human connections, we hope to inspire discussions on how we can engage digitally and connect with one another despite being apart. Hence, the festival is adopting a digital format for the first time to reach audiences in Singapore and beyond. As a result, we were inspired to explore the theme of ‘Intimacy’, and we hope to harness the power of literature in capturing this shared human need.ĭue to the ongoing COVID-19 situation, we also had to relook the formats through which we deliver our programmes. PN: This has been a whirlwind year! In a time of quarantine and social distancing, the festival team noticed that the pandemic has transformed communal experiences and interactions, which are now mostly taking place online due to the need for social distancing for the safety of all participants. IR: The festival’s theme is Intimacy, can you share more about the theme?

(IR) caught up with Pooja Nansi (PN, above), the festival director who recently took up the role: It is for the first time in the history of SWF that the festival will be presented online and the organisers hope to inspire discussions on how we can engage with each other digitally and connect despite being apart. Organised by the National Arts Council (NAC), the multi-lingual literary festival celebrates thoughtful discussion, a love for stories and encourages intercultural dialogue by bringing together writers, thinkers and participants from Singapore and overseas.

Apart from a new theme ‘Intimacy’, the festival will be launching a radio station, Night Spin 182.7. The 23rd edition of the Singapore Writers’ Festival (SWF) will begin from 30 October to 8 November 2020 and has a diverse line-up of programmes.

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