Following its success in 2016, the Emerging Writers’ Festival (EWF) is coming back to Melbourne this June with more than ten days of jam-packed programs.
Its celebration and support of new voices in writing — whether literary, personal or everything in between — makes EWF one of Australia’s most unique creative arts festivals and under the new artistic direction of Izzy Roberts-Orr, EWF looks to continue the festival’s tradition of giving budding authors and storytellers the means to explore, network, gain insight and pitch directly to publishers.
The festival will feature more than 200 emerging writers this year — including names like Sukhjit Kaur Kalsa, Brodie Lancaster, Omar Sakr, Nayuka Gorrie, Alison Whittaker, Hannah Donnelley, Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen and many more — and festival attendees can expect parties, performances, poetry slams, panels and plenty of networking opportunities.
Which of the key events should you be looking out for?
25 years of Looking For Alibrandi: In celebration of the iconic coming-of-age Australian novel and film, Looking for Alibrandi, look no further than both the EWF Formal and free Looking for Alibrandi film screening.
If you never went to prom or want to experience what an Aussie high school formal is like, the EWF Formal is the perfect place to be. Bring along your dancing shoes, your awesome/awkward formal wear and pretend like you’re in high school all over again at the EWF Formal. Mingle with others and reminisce about your yesteryears and have one ball of a time.
Meanwhile, the free screening of Looking for Alibrandi at 1000 £ Bend will be followed by a panel of three writers discussing what the film meant to them.
Amazing Babes: If you want to revel in the positivity within sisterhood, check out this event where a deep pool of diverse and incredible female writers perform odes to the amazing women who’ve inspired them!
Quippings presents LOVE SHOW: A performance of love in all its beauty, delicacy and power, which will be presented by Quippings: Disability Unleashed, a performance troupe based in Melbourne.
The festival will also support and provide professional development for writers through the National Writers’ Conference, industry insider events, discussions on podcasting and master-classes on pitching, freelancing, young adult fiction and self-publishing.
The Emerging Writers’ Festival will be held in various venues across Melbourne’s CBD, Footscray and Dandenong from June 14 – 23. General fees and concession fees will vary for each event. For more information on time, venues and admission, visit EWF official website.