Kampot Readers and Writers Festival 2017 is scheduled to take place in Kampot from 1-5 November.
Details here: http://www.kampotwritersfestival.com/



Write up from the Guardian.
Kampot literary festival hopes to revive Cambodia's lost art of storytelling
Thursday 26 October 2017
Cambodia has long wooed visitors with its ancient temples and Phnom Penh’s chaotic charms, but next week the southern coastal town of Kampot will be in the spotlight as it hosts the Kampot Readers and Writers Festival (running from 1-5 November).

A sister event to Bali’s literary festival, held in Ubud each October, the five-day event, now in its third year, was set up to nurture Cambodia’s storytelling culture. It’s estimated that more than 90% of all artists died under the Khmer Rouge, and while fine arts, dance and music seem to have blossomed again, the Cambodian literature scene has been struggling.

This year’s highlights include talks by Man Booker Prize-short-listed writer Madeleine Thien, and Chinese-British author Jung Chang (known for 1992’s Wild Swans). Khmer ballet choreographer Sophiline Cheam Shapiro will talk about Cambodia’s 10th-century oral stories, based on the epic poem the Ramayana.

There’s a musical side to the festival, too: one of the key organisers is Julien Poulson, the Australian-born guitarist of Phnom Penh-based psychedelic rock band the Cambodian Space Project. He believes Kampot’s multiculturalism – it’s home to Chinese, Cham Muslim, Vietnamese, Cambodian and other expat communities – has contributed to a creative resurgence in the town...
https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2017 ... -crackdown

Some guy who lives in Phnom Penh wrote this criticism of the Kampot Readers and Writers Festival on the Guardian website:

DavidBuchan67 20h ago
I find it amusing to see this festival being lauded as seeking to 'to rebuild Cambodia’s literary scene' when the reality is that this event is far removed from both locals and local's arts. I visited last year to witness a shambolic few days where there was no real focus on the needs of the Cambodian arts scene or the local community (see here: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/opinion/di ... s-festival)

This year, there is a feeling of resentment from local expats, Cambodians, and business owners, who see the festival as little more than a self-serving vehicle for Poulson and his inner circle. The fact that there are events costing around $50 (more than a week's salary to most Cambodians) shows that the organisers have their pulse only on the affluent tourist market. Their arts competitions, with over-inflated valued prizes, is tokenism at its worst. There is minimal input from any of the Cambodian literary scene who instead chose to appear at last week's inaugural Khmer Literature Festival in Siem Reap, or at the forthcoming, and more local friendly Kampot Arts Festival, though the latter has yet to prove itself.
The lack of sponsors for KRWF, and the withdrawal of support by the dissatisfied embassies of both the UK and the USA, speaks volumes.

I, for one, will be remaining in Phnom Penh for the duration, and reading a book or three, an action that I suspect will do more for the Cambodian literary scene that this egotistical adventure by a washed-up Australian muso

Both his comments and Julien Poulsen's response were deleted because they didn't abide by the Guardian's community standards.

Which single event costs $50?

That's a shame, Julien is a great guy, and truly humble to Cambodians.

I wouldn't blame Julien for going after the high value clients. Why not?

He brings in Kong Nay and various staff; and the languages there are music and English.

That accusation of tokenism is all wrong. Julien knows he has to satisfy a certain important group to grow.

Anything, even a nascent festival, about reading, writing and music in Cambodia deserves support and applause.

Julien of the CSP must not be confused with cliquey hipsters. He's really one of the humblest, nicest guys committed to Cambodia.

Excuse me now, I'm a bit miffed 'cause someone who either hates on Julien or never met him just gets on my nerves.

Rock on, Julien. You're doing your best doing a good thing.

Visiting #Kampot Readers and Writers Festival this weekend?
Come to our screening of 4 Cambodian-produced short films on the legacy and impact of Khmer Rouge.

Kampot Readers and Writers Facebook page

Julien looks after one person only. Know him well and don't hate him but he ain't no philanthropist!

Sent from my SM-G570Y using Tapatalk

Tomorrow 12-14h.
Check the website for location.