5th International Literary Festival “Frontera” opens in Lutsk
On August 2, the 5th International Literary Festival Frontera opened in the museum space Okolnyi Castle. This major cultural event, now a tradition in Lutsk, brings together writers, translators, media professionals, diplomats, and literary scholars from Ukraine and around the world to discuss key new works of literature and promote cultural diplomacy.
The 2025 festival in Lutsk features participants from Ukraine, Spain, the United States, Colombia, and the United Kingdom. Writers, media representatives, and public and cultural figures from these countries will spend August 2-3 examining important works of Ukrainian wartime literature, pressing contemporary issues, and European works about and for Ukraine.
Among the festival participants are Catalina Gómez Ángel (Colombia), Krzysztof Czyżewski (Poland), Kapka Kassabova (Scotland–Bulgaria, online), as well as prominent Ukrainian figures such as Pavlo Kazarin, Andrii Liubka, Iryna Tsilyk, Volodymyr Viatrovych, Yurko Prokhasko, Marichka Paplauskaite, Tetiana Troshchynska, Anastasia Yevdokymova, Tania Kasian, and many others.
The festival is organized by the Frontera literary platform, the creative event agency FeelGood, and the Algorithm of Action platform, with support from the Embassy of Spain in Ukraine, the British Council, and the Lutsk City Council.
Lutsk City Mayor Ihor Polishchuk addressed the guests, first thanking Ukraine’s Defense Forces for making it possible to once again hold such a remarkable event in Lutsk, an event that has become one of the city’s symbols:
“Ukraine has many different festivals: music, food, but literary festivals are rare. For us, it’s especially valuable that Frontera takes place here in Lutsk. I thank the organizers for the tremendous effort they put into this, and I thank all participants, especially those who had the courage to come from abroad to Ukraine during such a challenging time,” the Mayor said.
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Ukraine Ricardo López-Aranda Jagu also addressed the audience:
“It’s a great honor for me to be at this festival, which operates on four different levels. First, it is a celebration of culture. Second, it is an act of strong resistance, repelling the enemy’s cultural offensive. Third, it is a time of rest – Ukraine is under immense pressure, and literature is a therapy that gives us strength to endure. Fourth, literature unites us. The presence here of Ukrainian and foreign writers cements our society,” the Ambassador said.
On August 2-3, the festival features literary, musical, and theatrical programs, as well as underground readings, installations, guided tours of Okolnyi Castle dungeons, cocktails, a children’s stage, and autograph sessions.
A key focus of Frontera 2025 is its charitable mission. Together with the festival’s partner, the charitable foundation Hangar, literature lovers are raising funds to purchase fiber-optic drones.
Throughout the two days, participants will explore the meaning of the word “Community”, seeking answers to the questions: What keeps us together? Where do we come from? What were we? How are we changing today? What gives us hope?
The word “Community” was the central theme of the festival’s opening speech, which traditionally sets the tone for the event. This year, it was delivered by Lutsk writer, volunteer, and serviceman Pavlo Korobchuk. After his remarks, in the spirit of a local host, he treated festival guests to pies baked by his mother and grandmother.
Department of informational work,
Department of International Cooperation and Project Activities