Xavier Mas Craviotto

Invitado de Honor

Xavier Mas Craviotto, born in Navàs in 1996, studied Catalan language and literature and completed a postgraduate degree programme in Linguistic Consultancy and Publishing Services at the University of Barcelona. He is currently working as a teacher of Catalan language and culture at Bristol University, in the United Kingdom, and as an editor. He is one of the co-founders of Com ho diria, a digital platform devoted to Catalan youth slang. In addition to the novel La mort lenta (Documenta Award 2018), he has published the poetry collections Renills de cavall negre (Salvador Iborra Young Art Award 2018), La gran nàusea and La llum subterrània (Ausiàs March Award 2022). In total, he has won around 20 literary prizes for prose and poetry and has taken part in some collective short story anthologies. La pell del món is his second novel.

Maria Canelles

Invitado de Honor

Maria Canelles Trabal, born in Barcelona in 1988, has always been connected to the world of culture, specifically to literature and the visual arts, but also to theatre. She works in cultural management and, since December 2021, has been the co-director of the Fundació Joan Brossa – Centre de les Arts Lliures, a space focused on experimental poetry and projects that straddle the visual arts and live arts. She studied humanities, literary theory and comparative literature, in addition to earning a master’s degree in theatre studies. In 2016 she and Adrià Aubert co-wrote the theatrical adaptation of the Pere Calders novel Ronda naval sota la boira, earning them a nomination for the Catalan Critics’ Award for Best Adaptation. Texts of hers have appeared in fiction anthologies (Grand Hotel, Univers 2022) and group dramatised readings (Estar bé, a reading led by Glòria Balañà at the Sala Beckett, 2017). In September 2022, she published her first novel, Contra la nostàlgia, with Angle Editorial (2 editions). This novel was shortlisted for the Finestres Award for Catalan Fiction in the same year.

Other activities involving the participant:

Tribute to Joan Brossa. Poetry, politics, and nonconformity
Conquering the blank page: The first novel

Sergi Belbel

Invitado de Honor

Sergi Belbel is an author, translator and theatre director. 
His written works include Minim.mal Show (authored with Miquel Górriz, 1986), Elsa Scnheider (1989), Tàlem (1990), Carícies (1991), Després de la pluja (1993), Morir (1994), La sang (1998), El temps de Planck (2000), Forasters (2004), Mòbil (2005), A la Toscana (2007), Fora de joc (2010), Les roses de la vida (2017), Si no t’hagués conegut (2018), Angle mort (2020), co-written with Roc Esquius, Hamlet.01 (2022), Lali Symon (2023) and Hamlet.02 (2024). Most of these pieces have been seen in countries across Europe and America and, in some cases, on other continents.
He has directed plays by Benet i Jornet, Guimerà, Shakespeare, Molière, Racine, Goldoni, Calderón, J.B. Priestley, Mamet, Jardiel and more. Some of his pieces have been adapted to the silver screen by Ventura Pons (Carícies, Morir o no, Forasters) and Agustí Villaronga (Després de la pluja, a film for television). Belbel co-wrote the script for the films Eva, by Kike Maíllo (2011), and Stella Cadente (2014) and Love me not (2018), directed by Lluís Miñarro.
His accolades include the National Catalan Literature Award (1993–95), the Ministry of Culture’s National Dramatic Literature Award (1996), the Government of Catalonia’s National Theatre Award (2000), the Max Award for international reach (2002) and the City of Barcelona Award (2003).
In December 2021, he won the Sant Jordi Award for novels with Morir-ne disset (Proa), his first foray into prose fiction. In 2024, he published his second novel: Acte de fe (Proa).

Other activities involving the participant:

Barcelona opens the curtain!
Barcelona opens the curtain!

Carlota Gurt

Invitado de Honor

Carlota Gurt, born in Barcelona in 1976, has been a translator for more than ten years, and in another life, she worked as a producer for the theatre company La Fura dels Baus and the Festival Temporada Alta. She juggles her real life and her literary life and contributes to various media outlets. Her work includes the short story collection Cavalcarem tota la nit (2019 Mercè Rodoreda Award) and the novel Sola (2020), both of which have been translated into several languages. In 2023, she published the short story collection Biografia del foc.

Other activities involving the participant:

From where one writes
Praise (from Barcelona) for the story
Annual International Storytellers Conference

Maria Canelles

Invitado de Honor

Maria Canelles Trabal, born in Barcelona in 1988, has always been connected to the world of culture, specifically to literature and the visual arts, but also to theatre. She works in cultural management and, since December 2021, has been the co-director of the Fundació Joan Brossa – Centre de les Arts Lliures, a space focused on experimental poetry and projects that straddle the visual arts and live arts. She studied humanities, literary theory and comparative literature, in addition to earning a master’s degree in theatre studies. In 2016 she and Adrià Aubert co-wrote the theatrical adaptation of the Pere Calders novel Ronda naval sota la boira, earning them a nomination for the Catalan Critics’ Award for Best Adaptation. Texts of hers have appeared in fiction anthologies (Grand Hotel, Univers 2022) and group dramatised readings (Estar bé, a reading led by Glòria Balañà at the Sala Beckett, 2017). In September 2022, she published her first novel, Contra la nostàlgia, with Angle Editorial (2 editions). This novel was shortlisted for the Finestres Award for Catalan Fiction in the same year.

Other activities involving the participant:

Of families, happy and unhappy in their own way
Conquering the blank page: The first novel

Juana Dolores

Invitado de Honor

Juana Dolores is an actor, playwright, director and video artist. Her true vocation, however, is writing – the common thread running through all her work – which is rooted in a constant dialogue between politics and aesthetics.
She has published Bijuteria (Costume Jewellery) (Amadeu Oller Prize) and i si una nació desfilant per una catifa vermella (What If a Nation Parading on a Red Carpet). 
In the field of audiovisuals, she conceived and created Limpieza (Cleaning), a pamphlet against the exploitation and discrimination of domestic and cleaning workers, and Miss Universo (Miss Universe), an interview with a beauty queen reflecting on labour, violence and love through Georges Bataille’s concept of eroticism. 
She has written, directed and performed Juana Dolores, demasiado diva para un movimiento asambleario (Juana Dolores: Too Diva for an Assembly Movement), the tantrum of a working-class girl lip-syncing
in front of her parents’ mirror, and HIT ME IF I’M PRETTY o la princesa moderna (HIT ME IF I’M PRETTY Or The Modern Princess), a feminine and sexualised reinterpretation of Machiavelli’s The Prince and Gramsci’s The Modern Prince.
Her latest stage work, Qui diu foc, diu flama – oda, intermedi, elegia (Whoever Says Fire, Says Flame – Ode, Interlude, Elegy), based on Brossa’s work, 
launches a series of performances titled Altres versions (Other Versions), which reimagine the work of artists such as Antoni Tàpies, Joan Miró and Frida Kahlo.
Her current practice focuses on research and experimentation around the imagination of revolution, exploring the agitational and propagandistic potential of art, alongside the historical-artistic study of revolutionary tradition, femininity, sexuality, desire, eroticism and pornography.
 

Other activities involving the participant:

Brossa Show
The Poetry Room
Expanded Poetry Evening

Mercè Galí

Mercè Galí creció rodeada de libros en la librería familiar del barrio de Gràcia, en Barcelona, un entorno que marcó profundamente su sensibilidad artística y literaria. Estudió en la Escuela de Artes y Oficios La Llotja, y cursó Bellas Artes en la Universidad de Barcelona, especializándose en grabado.

Con una trayectoria consolidada en la ilustración infantil y juvenil, ha colaborado con editoriales nacionales e internacionales, ilustrando más de 50 libros. Entre sus obras destacan poemarios de autores como Joan Brossa, Maria Mercè Marçal, Enric Casasses, Miquel Desclot, Joana Raspall, Lola Casas y Salvador Comelles.

- Premio Junceda 2022 al mejor álbum ilustrado por Jo sóc l’altre (Litera Libros)

- Seleccionada a la shortlist de los World Illustration Awards 2025 com Dieci teste, nove cappelli (Kite Edizioni)

- Finalista en la Muestra de Ilustradores de la Bologna Children’s Book Fair (BCBF) en 2022 y 2025

- Seleccionada a los Best Toddler Books 2019 com Els meus primers haikus (El Cep i la Nansa) y al Silent Book Contest 2019 con Il piccolo indiano (Kite Edizioni)

- Seleccionada a los BolognaRagazzi Award (BRAW) 2024 con Prohibido decir caca (Muñeca de Trapo)

- Su obra ha formado parte de la Biennal de Bratislava 2013 y 2023

- Destacada en el catálogo The White Ravens 2022 por Mira (amb Tina Vallès, Animallibres)

- Galardonada en los International Latino Book Awards 2022 con Peque i jo (NubeOcho)

- Su obra ha formado parte de la Bienal de Bratislava 2013 y 2023.

- Destacada en el catálogo The White Ravens 2022 por el libro Mira (con Tina Vallès, Animallibres)

- Galardonada en los International Latino Book Awards 2022 con Peque y yo (NubeOcho)

- Ha participado activamente en la Bologna Children's Book Fair, representando a Cataluña en exposiciones y eventos internacionales de gran prestigio.

Vicenç Altaió

Invitado de Honor

(1954, Santa Perpètua, Barcelona)

Es ensayista, investigador poeta, crítico de arte, curador de exposiciones literarias, científicas y artísticas, traductor teatral, editor de revistas de vanguardia, articulista de opinión, agitador cultural y traficante de ideas. Al acecho de las oscilaciones estéticas del vanguardismo en las letras y las artes y de las aportaciones capitales en el pensamiento crítico y en las ciencias, ha construido una obra literaria y ensayista muy personal, a la vez que se ha significado para emprender varias iniciativas editoriales de carácter innovador y exposiciones de arte, de vocación interdisciplinaria. Ha dirigido el centro KRTU (Cultura, Investigación, Tecnología, Universales) y Arts Santa Mònica. Ahora, preside la Fundación Joan Brossa. Hizo el papel de Giacomo Casanova en el filme Historia de mi muerte, de Albert Serra. Últimamente, ha publicado el ensayo Enllaços amb l’avantguarda: De J.V. Foix a Albert Serra, el duodécimo volumen de la autobiografía sin sujeto Tràfic d’idees, y Dos investigaciones culturales: Joan Miró i els poetes catalans y El radar americà: Arquitectura, art, comunicació visual i Guerra Freda. En poesía, la traducción al castellano de Biathànatos o el elogio del suicidio. Es novedad de estos días: El somni de la subversió: Memòries d’un traficant d’idees y el filme Biblioteca de pedra seca, de Joan Vall Karsunke, en el que se vivifica performáticamente su biblioteca personal con artistas y escritores.

Assagista, investigador cultural, poeta, crític d’art, curador d’exposicions literàries, científiques i artístiques, traductor teatral, editor de revistes d’avantguarda, articulista d’opinió, agitador cultural i traficant d’idees. A l’aguait de les oscil·lacions estètiques de l’avantguardisme en les lletres i les arts i de les aportacions cabdals en el pensament crític i en les ciències, ha anat construint una obra literària i assagista ben personal, tothora que s’ha significat per endegar diverses iniciatives editorials de caràcter innovador i exposicions d’art, de vocació interdisciplinària. Ha dirigit el centre KRTU (Cultura, Recerca, Tecnologia, Universals) i Arts Santa Mònica. A hores d’ara, presideix la Fundació Joan Brossa. Va fer el paper de Giacomo Casanova en el film Història de la meva mort, d’Albert Serra. Darrerament, ha publicat l’assaig Enllaços amb l’avantguarda: De J.V. Foix a Albert Serra, el dotzè volum de l’autobiografia sense subjecte Tràfic d’idees, i dues investigacions culturals: Joan Miró i els poetes catalans i El radar americà: Arquitectura, art, comunicació visual i Guerra Freda. En poesia, la traducció al castellà de Biathànatos o el elogio del suicidio. És novetat d’aquests dies: El somni de la subversió: Memòries d’un traficant d’idees i el film Biblioteca de pedra seca, de Joan Vall Karsunke, en el qual es vivifica performàticament la seva biblioteca personal amb artistes i escriptors.

Other activities involving the participant:

Novel Architecture

Montse Albets

Invitado de Honor

Montse Albets Reig, born in Mataró in 1977, has worked as a bookseller, editor, publishing consultant and book club organiser. As well as university studies in Catalan language and literature, she has a degree in pre-school education, with a special interest in reading comprehension and reading aloud. She has also completed complementary literature studies at the Ateneu Barcelonès and the Campus Lolita, among other institutions. She won the 36th Ferran Canyameres Short Story Award for the story Convivència veïnal. In her first novel, Només terra, només pluja, només fang, memory and spoken language play a key role in narrating the characters’ relationships and emotions.
 

Other activities involving the participant:

The past that goes with us

Maria Canelles

Invitado de Honor

Maria Canelles Trabal, born in Barcelona in 1988, has always been connected to the world of culture, specifically to literature and the visual arts, but also to theatre. She works in cultural management and, since December 2021, has been the co-director of the Fundació Joan Brossa – Centre de les Arts Lliures, a space focused on experimental poetry and projects that straddle the visual arts and live arts. She studied humanities, literary theory and comparative literature, in addition to earning a master’s degree in theatre studies. In 2016 she and Adrià Aubert co-wrote the theatrical adaptation of the Pere Calders novel Ronda naval sota la boira, earning them a nomination for the Catalan Critics’ Award for Best Adaptation. Texts of hers have appeared in fiction anthologies (Grand Hotel, Univers 2022) and group dramatised readings (Estar bé, a reading led by Glòria Balañà at the Sala Beckett, 2017). In September 2022, she published her first novel, Contra la nostàlgia, with Angle Editorial (2 editions). This novel was shortlisted for the Finestres Award for Catalan Fiction in the same year.

Other activities involving the participant:

Of families, happy and unhappy in their own way
Tribute to Joan Brossa. Poetry, politics, and nonconformity

Regina Rodríguez Sirvent

Invitado de Honor

Regina Rodríguez Sirvent, born in Puigcerdà in 1983, graduated in psychology, but after working in the field for a year realised it wasn’t for her. She moved abroad in search of herself. On her return, she studied screenwriting at ESCAC and took novel-writing courses at the Ateneu Barcelonès. She has published articles, written scripts for TV programmes and presented video reports.
Unlike most début authors, she had never won a literary contest or ‘floral games’ when she published Les calces al sol (Panties in the Sun), her first novel. However, a year later – following its success, with more than 30,000 readers – she won the L’Illa dels Llibres popular vote prize.
 

Other activities involving the participant:

Comedy: How hard is it to write?