The event shouts out the region’s growing cultural synergy amid geopolitical tensions.

A Bridge for Regional Publishing Collaboration

The Black Sea International Literary Festival, hosted in Burgas, Bulgaria 5 through 8 June, has emerged as a pivotal forum for literary exchange among Black Sea nations. With over 50 writers, translators, and publishers from Bulgaria, Turkey, Georgia, Ukraine, and Romania, the event shouts out the region’s growing cultural synergy amid geopolitical tensions.

Key Themes and Opportunities for Publishing Professionals

Regional Networking: The festival facilitates rights negotiations and translation partnerships, particularly for underrepresented languages like Georgian and Crimean Tatar. Publishers can leverage this to diversify catalogues with regional voices.

Spotlight on Marginalised Narratives: Panels addressing post-war Ukrainian literature and Bulgarian Jewish heritage (linked to Alef’s student competition on Holocaust rescue stories) highlight untapped markets for historical and trauma narratives.

Infrastructure Challenges: Unlike established EU fairs, the festival lacks a dedicated trade hall. However, its intimate scale and atmosphere potentially fosters deeper editorial relationships.

Lessons from Parallel Initiatives

The Elizabeth Kostova Foundation’s residency (1-10 August) demonstrates how targeted support for women writers – especially from conflict zones – can yield translatable works.

Alef’s youth competition (award winners to be announced at Burgas) merges literary and video storytelling, a model for publishers to engage Gen Z audiences.

The View From The Beach

For publishers, the festival offers:

Acquisition Potential: Emerging authors from Georgia/Ukraine, whose works align with rising global interest in regional histories.

Collaborative Models: Partnering with NGOs like Alef or Kostova Foundation to scout talent and co-fund translations.

Advocacy: Lobbying for EU creative funds to expand the festival’s trade capacity, mirroring Burgas’ UNESCO City of Literature bid.

“This isn’t just about books – it’s about rebuilding bridges through stories,” remarked a Bulgarian translator at the event . For publishers, that bridge could lead to the next literary wave.

Per Georgia Today, International Publishers Association – IPA president Gvantsa Jobava 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 heads a large Georgian presence at the event, which this year has the theme Speak Freedom

This post first appeared in the TNPS LinkedIn newsletter.