ABOUT US
Književna karika, or the Lit Link Festival, connects the Croatian literary scene with literary communities around the world.
Alongside the regular participation of Croatian and regional authors, each edition of the festival features guests from another country or language area.
A distinctive feature of the festival is that it hosts not only writers, but also editors and publishers. In this way, the festival seeks to build long-term international relationships and encourage translation between different literary cultures.
Alongside readings by international and Croatian authors, accompanied by short conversations and projected translations into Croatian or the guest language, Lit Link is dedicated to connecting the Croatian literary scene with international editors and publishers, who are equally important guests of the festival.
The festival gives equal space to established and award-winning names in Croatian literature and to authors at the beginning of their careers. It encourages the decentralisation of the literary field and fosters a relaxed atmosphere by holding its events primarily in independent and alternative cultural venues.
Književna karika, or the Lit Link Festival, promotes exchange and communication in multiple directions. On the one hand, its aim is to introduce audiences in several Croatian cities (Zagreb, Rijeka, Labin/Pula and others) to new and interesting literary voices from abroad. It is equally important, however, that communication also flows in the other direction: international guests, particularly editors and publishers, have an opportunity to discover as-yet-untranslated voices from the contemporary Croatian literary scene and, through accompanying programme materials, learn more about its literary context and heritage.
In many respects, the festival works against cultural stereotyping and expected or established notions about other cultures: discovering something new in literature also means changing one’s perspective and moving beyond common assumptions about others.
The festival’s goals are long-term. Its impact is not limited to one-off events but is directed towards initiating further professional collaborations.
The festival was founded in 2013 and takes place annually.
To date, the festival has hosted guests from the following countries or language areas: 2013 – USA; 2014 – Canada; 2015 – France; 2016 – Italy; 2017 – United Kingdom; 2018 – USA; 2019 – German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); 2020 – Slovenia; 2021 – German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); 2022 – French-speaking countries (France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada); 2023 – English-language guests (USA and UK); 2024 – Spanish-language guests (Spain, Argentina and Mexico); 2025 – guests from Sweden and Norway; 2026 – the Netherlands.
In addition to its events in Croatia, the Lit Link Festival has on several occasions organised additional programmes in Ljubljana and Vienna, in cooperation with Slovenian and Austrian partners and featuring Croatian writers.
The festival continued to hold its events in person during the years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival is organised by Hrvatsko društvo pisaca (Croatian Writers Society).
The festival is supported by: the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Zagreb’s Office for Education, Culture and Sport, the City of Rijeka and the City of Labin.
Alongside the regular participation of Croatian and regional authors, each edition of the festival features guests from another country or language area.
A distinctive feature of the festival is that it hosts not only writers, but also editors and publishers. In this way, the festival seeks to build long-term international relationships and encourage translation between different literary cultures.
Alongside readings by international and Croatian authors, accompanied by short conversations and projected translations into Croatian or the guest language, Lit Link is dedicated to connecting the Croatian literary scene with international editors and publishers, who are equally important guests of the festival.
The festival gives equal space to established and award-winning names in Croatian literature and to authors at the beginning of their careers. It encourages the decentralisation of the literary field and fosters a relaxed atmosphere by holding its events primarily in independent and alternative cultural venues.
Književna karika, or the Lit Link Festival, promotes exchange and communication in multiple directions. On the one hand, its aim is to introduce audiences in several Croatian cities (Zagreb, Rijeka, Labin/Pula and others) to new and interesting literary voices from abroad. It is equally important, however, that communication also flows in the other direction: international guests, particularly editors and publishers, have an opportunity to discover as-yet-untranslated voices from the contemporary Croatian literary scene and, through accompanying programme materials, learn more about its literary context and heritage.
In many respects, the festival works against cultural stereotyping and expected or established notions about other cultures: discovering something new in literature also means changing one’s perspective and moving beyond common assumptions about others.
The festival’s goals are long-term. Its impact is not limited to one-off events but is directed towards initiating further professional collaborations.
The festival was founded in 2013 and takes place annually.
To date, the festival has hosted guests from the following countries or language areas: 2013 – USA; 2014 – Canada; 2015 – France; 2016 – Italy; 2017 – United Kingdom; 2018 – USA; 2019 – German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); 2020 – Slovenia; 2021 – German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria and Switzerland); 2022 – French-speaking countries (France, Belgium, Switzerland and Canada); 2023 – English-language guests (USA and UK); 2024 – Spanish-language guests (Spain, Argentina and Mexico); 2025 – guests from Sweden and Norway; 2026 – the Netherlands.
In addition to its events in Croatia, the Lit Link Festival has on several occasions organised additional programmes in Ljubljana and Vienna, in cooperation with Slovenian and Austrian partners and featuring Croatian writers.
The festival continued to hold its events in person during the years affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The festival is organised by Hrvatsko društvo pisaca (Croatian Writers Society).
The festival is supported by: the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Croatia, the City of Zagreb’s Office for Education, Culture and Sport, the City of Rijeka and the City of Labin.
Organizer: Hrvatsko društvo pisaca (Croatian Writers’ Society, HDP)
Project Manager and Producer: Ivan Sršen
Festival Concept: Robert Perišić
Programme Editors: Ivan Sršen and Robert Perišić, in collaboration with the programme assistants for individual languages
Editorial Board: Ana Fazekaš, Chloé Billon, Buzz Poole, Ivan Sršen, Robert Perišić
International Coordinator: Buzz Poole
Programme Assistants: Lena van Tijen (Dutch), Chloé Billon (French), Ana Badurina (Italian), Željka Černok (Swedish), Stipe Ćurković (German), Buzz Poole (English), Miguel Roán (Spanish), Muanis Sinanović (Slovenian)
Assistant Producer and Programme Associate: Ana Fazekaš
Marketing and Public Relations: Ivan Sršen and Marija Dejanović
Festival Logo: Barbara Blasin
Contacts
Project Manager and Producer: Ivan Sršen
Festival Concept: Robert Perišić
Programme Editors: Ivan Sršen and Robert Perišić, in collaboration with the programme assistants for individual languages
Editorial Board: Ana Fazekaš, Chloé Billon, Buzz Poole, Ivan Sršen, Robert Perišić
International Coordinator: Buzz Poole
Programme Assistants: Lena van Tijen (Dutch), Chloé Billon (French), Ana Badurina (Italian), Željka Černok (Swedish), Stipe Ćurković (German), Buzz Poole (English), Miguel Roán (Spanish), Muanis Sinanović (Slovenian)
Assistant Producer and Programme Associate: Ana Fazekaš
Marketing and Public Relations: Ivan Sršen and Marija Dejanović
Festival Logo: Barbara Blasin
Contacts