International Literary Festival Vilenica – Icarus 2.0

The central event of the festival is the awarding of the Vilenica International Literary Prize, which the Slovenian Writers’ Association bestows on an author from Central Europe for outstanding achievements in literature and essay writing, in accordance with the Vilenica Statute. The laureate is chosen by the Vilenica jury, and the prestigious award ceremony takes place in the evocative setting of the karst cave that lends its name to the prize. In addition to the main Vilenica award, the festival also presents the Crystal Vilenica Award.

Brave New World

From 2024 to 2027, the festival will explore numerous questions related to the challenges that artificial intelligence, sociological and technological changes, global languages, and climate change pose to humanity and literature.

This year's festival under the motto, Icarus 2.0, is dedicated to the issue of artificial intelligence.

 New technology always represents the unknown, often evoking discomfort or even fear, but it also signifies a necessary and characteristic step forward for humanity.

Art and literature are certainly among the activities that make us human and distinguish us from other intelligent animals. Therefore, the potential development of artificial intelligence, created by human hands through programming, which could be capable of artistic and literary creation, inevitably stirs us on a deep, fundamental level. Is this truly art? What kind of art is it? 

Texts generated by artificial intelligence lack rich imagination, subtlety, and the ability to combine various texts. No artificial intelligence could ever replace the works of Slovenia's greatest poet, France Prešeren.

Endless Possibilities for Discussion

Foreign and domestic authors, selected by the Vilenica jury based on consultant recommendations, present their work at one of the literary readings and in the Vilenica anthology. The professional program offers many opportunities for in-depth discussion on contemporary literary, cultural, and broader social topics, while social events create a space for relaxed gatherings and networking.

This year's international guests include Lamija Begagić from Bosnia and Herzegovina, who writes prose for adults and youth; from the Czech Republic, Lenka Kuhar Daňhelová, a poet, prose writer, publicist, and translator, Peter Hruška, a poet, prose writer, literary historian, university lecturer, collaborator at the Institute of Czech Literature of the Academy of Sciences in Brno, and organizer and initiator of literary events; Dora Kaprálová, a literary critic, publicist, prose writer, documentarian, and screenwriter; from Malta, Ryan Falzon, a visual artist and art educator; from Greece, Efstatia Paliodzika, a poet, literary editor, and translator; from Italy, Paolo Rumiz, a journalist and writer; and from Romania, Robert Șerban, a poet, writer, cultural journalist, television editor, and president of the International Literature Festival in Timișoara.

Pandora’s Box

Participants will delve into a topic that those working in artificial intelligence may not have considered: What does it bring us, how does it enrich us, and how does it impoverish us?

Will human thoughts, soul, and intellect continue to inspire words and writings, or will artificial intelligence take over expression?

Should we fear this, or should we embrace the challenge? You can share your thoughts at Vilenica!