Festival Culmination: Andrey Kurkov and Maria Bakalova
The Black Sea International Literary Festival in Burgas concluded with exciting new partnerships. The highlight of the second day was the first meeting between the world-renowned Ukrainian writer Andrey Kurkov and Hollywood star Maria Bakalova. The actress, who will play the lead role in the upcoming film adaptation of his novel, delighted readers with her presence.
The two presented the special, unedited "Burgas festival" edition of the novel "Grey Bees," provided by Colibri Publishers in a translation by Asya Grigorova.
The Black Sea Literary Scene
From June 5th to 7th, Burgas once again became a center for literature. The third edition of the forum brought together leading authors from Georgia, Ukraine, Turkey, Romania, Germany, and Bulgaria. The program included:
- Professional panels on the book market on St. Anastasia Island
- Inspiring lectures by Quercus MacLehose
- Evening readings at the "Peyo Yavorov" Regional Library
Star Presence and New Talents
Among the prominent participants was Rene Karabash, one of the strongest voices of the new generation, whose works have been nominated for prestigious awards such as the Booker Prize. Other participants in the meetings with the Burgas public included Galin Nikiforov, Nikolay Terziyski, Teodora Dimova, Elena Vlădăreanu, Eka Kevanishvili, and Maria Kasimova-Moase.
The event solidified the status of Burgas as a key destination for cultural dialogue and international creative collaboration.