International Poetry Salon

Filip Klega (1992) is a Czech poet born in Ostrava, a city known for its industrial history, which is also reflecte

Filip Klega (1992) is a Czech poet born in Ostrava, a city known for its industrial history, which is also reflected in his poetry, describing the complexities and nuances of contemporary life in a post-industrial society. He is a member of the underground artistic group Vítrholc where he recites poetry and plays bass guitar. He is co-organisator of author’s reading series called Omlatina. His poems were published in anthology Pandezie and in the international anthology Lines from Visegrad. His debut Andrstán (edition Mlat, Větrné mlýny, Brno, 2022) was awarded Jiří Orten Prize in 2023. His work combines keen observation with rhythm and energy, drawing inspiration from the underground scene, and highlights the voices of people on the margins of society.

Massimo Morasso (Genoa, 1964) is an Italian poet, essayist, and journalist. He lives and works in Genoa and is cons

Massimo Morasso (Genoa, 1964) is an Italian poet, essayist, and journalist. He lives and works in Genoa and is considered one of the most original voices in contemporary literary essay writing. He has published around twenty books, including, in poetry, the extensive cycle Il portavoce (1997–2012). His writing combines a critical perspective, inner exploration, and attention to the European tradition, with a particular focus on the relationship between art, spirituality, and modernity. Among his most well-known works are La caccia spirituale (The Spiritual Quest, 2012), Il mondo senza Benjamin (The World without Benjamin, 2014), L’opera in rosso (The Work in Red, 2015), and Frammenti di nobili cose (Fragments of Noble Things, 2023, Flaiano Poetry Prize 2024).

Sasja Janssen (1968) is dichter en docente schrijven aan de Schrijversvakschool in Amsterdam. Ze publiceerde twee r

Sasja Janssen (1968) is dichter en docente schrijven aan de Schrijversvakschool in Amsterdam. Ze publiceerde twee romans en zes dichtbundels, die meerdere nominaties ontvingen. Voor de bundel Virgula (2021) kreeg ze de Awater Poëzieprijs 2021 en de eerste, prestigieuze Johan Polak Poëzieprijs 2024. Haar meest recente bundel Mijn vader zegt entropie, mijn moeder logica (2024) ontving de Awater Poëzieprijs. Haar oeuvre kreeg in 2024 de Adriaan Roland Holst- Penning toegekend. Haar bundels verschenen in Engelse en Spaanse vertalingen.

Priya Bains (b. 1995) lives in Norway and is a poet, essayist, translator, and editor of the literary journal <em>V

Priya Bains (b. 1995) lives in Norway and is a poet, essayist, translator, and editor of the literary journal Vinduet. She made her debut with the poetry collection Med restene av mine hender ("With the Remains of My Hands") at Forlaget October in 2021, for which she was nominated for Tarjei Vesaas’ Debutant Prize, awarded the Olav H. Hauge grant 2022 and received Festspilldikterens grant at Dei litterære festspela in Bergen. She has translated Aya Kanbar and Fatimah Asghar into Norwegian, and in 2023 she edited the anthology Alltid samme snø, alltid samme grense (“Always the same snow, always the same border”) with Burcu Sahin. Priya Bains explores memories and traumas of family and migration in her work, highlighting the silences, rituals, and political events that connect past and present.

Carmien Michels (1990) is een schrijver en performer. Ze is de oprichter en creatief inspirator van het Watlab. Ze

Carmien Michels (1990) is een schrijver en performer. Ze is de oprichter en creatief inspirator van het Watlab. Ze danst tussen pen en podium, tussen urban en klassiek. Met scherpe observaties schept ze een vaak duistere wereld, ritmisch, krachtig en diep persoonlijk. In 2016 won ze het Nederlands en Europees Kampioenschap Poetry Slam en haalde ze brons op het Wereldkampioenschap in Parijs. Sindsdien toert ze de wereld rond en werkt ze samen met tal van artiesten. Van 2017 tot 2019 was ze een van de jonge auteurs in het Europese talentontwikkelingsprogramma CELA: Connecting Emerging Literary Artists. Fragmenten van haar romans, kortverhalen en gedichten verschenen in 10 talen. Haar verhalenbundel Vaders die rouwen verscheen in november 2021 bij Uitgeverij Querido. Het boek won de BNG Bank Literatuurprijs en staat op de shortlist van de Boekenbon Literatuurprijs