ASIATODAY.ID, JAKARTA — The Jakarta International Literary Festival (JILF) 2025 has returned as one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and influential literary platforms.
Officially opened by Jakarta’s Deputy Governor Rano Karno at Teater Jakarta, Taman Ismail Marzuki, on Thursday, November 13, 2025, this year’s festival offers a richly layered experience of reading, reflection, and dialogue.
Carrying the theme “The Homeland in Our Bodies,” JILF 2025 explores the idea that identity is not confined to geographical borders, but is deeply rooted in memory, language, and emotion. The theme threads through the entire four-day agenda, running from 13 to 16 November 2025, inviting participants to examine how stories shape their sense of belonging and humanity.
In his opening remarks, Rano Karno emphasized that JILF is more than a festival — it is a space where intellect and emotion converge.
“This festival encourages us to understand ourselves through texts, conversations, and cross-cultural exchanges. The Jakarta Provincial Government remains committed to expanding the city’s literacy ecosystem through community reading parks, digital libraries, and public reading spaces accessible into the evening,” he said.
He added that JILF demonstrates how a vibrant literacy ecosystem can only grow through collaboration — among governments, communities, writers, publishers, and readers.
“As Jakarta approaches its 500th anniversary, we aim to build a more intelligent and sustainable civilization. That begins with a society that reads widely and thinks critically,” he affirmed.
JILF 2025 presents a series of international author forums, offering deep and compelling discussions on themes such as the body, history, resistance, and the evolving landscape of humanity.
Poetry readings invite audiences to explore the inner world of poets, while a lively independent book market celebrates publishers who continue to champion literary diversity.
“All these activities unite us in a long, meaningful conversation about who we are — both as a nation and as human beings,” Rano said, expressing his appreciation to the Jakarta Arts Council, curators, writers, literary communities, and everyone who brought the festival to life.
With its cross-border collaborations and creative energy, JILF 2025 reaffirms its role as a vital meeting ground for ideas, emotions, and the future of Indonesian literature. (AT Network)
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