On stage

André Aciman

André Aciman

André Aciman is the author behind the international best seller Call Me By Your Name, which has been adapted to a Oscar-winning movie. For the first time, he is now published in Finnish translation.

Hassan Blasim

Hassan Blasim

Hassan Blasim is an Iraqi-born author who writes in Arabic. Since 2004, he has lived in Finland. After his successful short story collections, he is now publishing his first novel.

Rachel Cusk

Rachel Cusk

Rachel Cusk turns the novel inside out with her “Faye trilogy”, a series of novels where the narrator tells the stories of the people she meets.

Pascal Engman

Pascal Engman

The Swedish journalist Pascal Engman writes about modern day threats to the Nordic welfare state in his debut novel The Patriots.

Malin Lindroth

Malin Lindroth

Malin Lindroth’s essay-like memoir The Spinster has been a hit in Sweden and it has started fresh debates about the norms of life.

Nina Lykke

Nina Lykke

Nina Lykkes breakthrough book about a marriage in decline is both funny and unsettling. 

Sjón

Sjón

The unique mastermind from Iceland, Sjón, has put three of his books in one and is showing us his true colours as a classic storyteller.

Kim Thúy

Kim Thúy

Kim Thúy is a Vietnamese-born author living in Montreal, Canada. Thúy’s debut novel Ru is read like an autobiography but is written as the fictional tale of migrant experiences.

Joakim Zander

Joakim Zander

In his books, Joakim Zander deals with large topics such as terrorism, migration and the Swedish welfare state. The latest one is Vännen, The Friend.

Kai Aareleid

Kai Aareleid

Kai Aareleid has been translating major authors for the Estonian markets. She is also a writer and journalist. Her novel Burning Cities is now also available in Finnish.

Li Andersson

Li Andersson

Finnish politician Li Andersson meets the Swedish crime novelist Pascal Engman in a talk about the extreme right.

Joel Haahtela

Joel Haahtela

Joel Haahtela is an unique author in Finland with his dream-like novels. At the festival he will have a chat with the Estonian author and poet Kai Aareleid.

Kaisa Haatanen

Kaisa Haatanen

Kaisa Haatanen meets Malin Lindroth in a discussion about spinsterhood, freedom and social norms in society.

Silvia Hosseini

Silvia Hosseini

Sivia Hosseini is a writer, critic and teacher based in Helsinki. Her debut book, an essay collection called Pölyn ylistys (Praise to Dust) was awarded with the Kalevi Jäntti Prize in 2018. She will talk to Kim Thúy at the festival.

Boodi Kabbani

Boodi Kabbani

Boodi Kabbani (b.1989) is a Syrian actor who has been based in Helsinki for the past four years. At Helsinki Lit, he will meet André Aciman on stage.

Kätlin Kaldmaa

Kätlin Kaldmaa

Estonian poet, writer, translator and literary critic Kätlin Kaldmaa is the International Secretary of PEN International. She has lived in various countries, amongst Iceland. She will talk to Sjón.

Laura Saarikoski

Laura Saarikoski

Laura Saarikoski will meet author Hassan Blasim in a talk about seeing Finland from a new perspective.

Philip Teir

Philip Teir

The director of Helsinki Lit, and an author himself, Philip Teir will meet Rachel Cusk on stage.

Saara Turunen

Saara Turunen


An award-winning author, playwright and director, Saara Turunen will talk to Nina Lykke about the woes and worries of the middle class.
Astrid Swan

Astrid Swan

Astrid Swan is a award-winning Finnish musician, who will publishing her first book in the spring of 2019. She will talk about her book and perform some of her songs.

Satu Vasantola

Satu Vasantola

Satu Vasantola is a Finnish journalist working for the largest newspaper in Finland, Helsingin Sanomat. Her debut novel was published last year, and she will interview Joakim Zander.

Programme

Friday May 17th

Savoy Theatre
Doors open at 16.30
Hosted by Jani Toivola

17.00

Welcoming words!

17.10

Pascal Engman – Li Andersson (in Swedish)

17.50

Kim Thuy – Silvia Hosseini (in English)

18.50

Nina Lykke – Saara Turunen (in English)

19.30

André Aciman – Boodi Kabbani (in English)

20.10

Jarl Hellemann Award (in Finnish)

20.30

Astrid Swan

Interview (in Finnish) + Concert

Saturday May 18th

Savoy Theatre
Doors open at 12.30
Hosted by Jani Toivola

13.00

Joakim Zander – Satu Vasantola (in English)

13.40

Hassan Blasim – Laura Saarikoski (in Arabic/Finnish)

14.20

Malin Lindroth – Kaisa Haatanen (in English)

15.50

Rachel Cusk – Philip Teir (in English)

16.30

Sjón – Kätlin Kaldmaa (in English)

17.10

Kai Aareleid – Joel Haahtela (in Finnish)

News

Helsinki Central Library Oodi (Töölönlahdenkatu 4, Helsinki, 3 floor) hosts FILI’s panel discussion on translated literature and literature export on Friday 17 May at 10.00–12.00pm. The event launches FILI’s Finnland. Cool & Happy. project and it belongs to the satellite programme of Helsinki Lit. The......

Unfortunately, our guest Sally Rooney has had to cancel her participation at Helsinki LIt. We are very sorry about this. Sally Rooney also sends her regrets. Rooney will however be replaced by the Norwegian author Nina Lykke. Lykke will be interviewed by Finnish author Saara......

The international literary festival Helsinki Lit is celebrating its fifth anniversary this year, and, as always, the Savoy Theatre stage is set for a list of great writers from all over the world. This year we will see: André Aciman and Boodi Kabbani Sally Rooney......