On Thursday, 18 September, the second Ponta Lopud Book Bridge literary gathering opened, bringing together award-winning authors and literature enthusiasts to explore the interface between literature and its challenges in today’s world. The day before, participants had the opportunity to discover the island’s beauty and rich history during an organised tour, which concluded with an evening performance by the Subrenum klapa. This warm welcome created the foundations for dialogue and creative collaboration throughout the festival.
The morning programme began with the discussion “Creative Writing and Literature”, led in dialogue with the audience by renowned Croatian writers Dorta Jagić and Staša Aras, who have long been active in the development and promotion of contemporary Croatian literature. Jagić underlined the importance of complementing writing technique with creativity: “Writing poetry requires careful selection of words and finding the one that, in the right place, best conveys a feeling. Poetry always reflects its time, and so it is essential to bring language closer to everyday speech and find an individual way to speak about themes that have existed for centuries but always demand a new expression.”
Aras, who leads reading clubs and creative writing workshops, shared her experience with participants: “Creative writing often meets resistance among those who want to write but don’t read and don’t know how to begin. This is why workshops quickly dispel the illusion that participants have written something no one else has before, stressing that practice is essential.”
The official festival opening followed, with speeches by festival co-founder James Candon, whose commitment to cultural exchange and literary dialogue is evident in his work on this event, Tilda Grossel Bogdanović, founder of the Ponta Lopud Creative Platform, and Staša Aras. They highlighted the importance of bringing together writers from different countries and disciplines and the role of literature and culture in connecting people. On this occasion, the winners of the short story competition themed around Lopud’s Grand Hotel were announced. First prize went to Phoebe Hamilton Jones, second to Jim Mannix, and third to Charlotte Sinclair, with additional special prizes awarded to young girls who submitted their stories, emphasising the importance of encouraging new authors and fresh voices.
James Candon, festival opening
The programme continued with the presentation of The Resurrection Man by Irish author Eoin McNamee, which deals with a series of murders in 1970s Belfast, blending thriller and historical prose, and has twice been adapted for film. This was followed by the discussion “Literature in the Context of Conflict”, in which literary and cultural historian Billy Gray and acclaimed Croatian critic and journalist Srđan Sandić focused on the role of conflict and historical upheaval in literature. Reflecting on McNamee’s novel, Gray stressed the importance of literature engaging with sensitive issues, noting: “It is inevitable that, over time, the boundaries in literature will fade.”
The afternoon programme featured readings by Dorta Jagić, Srđan Sandić and Lucy Caldwell, while the day concluded with the performance of The Dead House, a monodrama by Martin “Beanz” Warde – a minimalist piece that powerfully and poignantly addresses loss, loneliness and personal introspection. Today, visitors can look forward to a diverse programme, including a lecture by Heather Laird, author and academic known for her research on Irish literature and cultural phenomena; the presentation of Marko Gregur’s novel Ekspozicija tame (Exposure to Darkness), moderated by author Danijela Crljen; and readings by acclaimed Irish authors Catriona Shine, Colin Walsh and Martina Devlin from their award-winning works. Later in the afternoon, in the Đorđić Mayneri park, Zlatan Stipišić Gibonni and Staša Aras will read from Drvo, a book inspired by Gibonni’s lyrics, further enriching the festival atmosphere.
Srđan Sandić, Lucy Caldwell, Dorta Jagić and Staša Aras
Martin Beanz Warde
Martin Beanz Warde
Admission to all events is free, and the organisers invite everyone to join this literary gathering, which fosters cultural development and the building of creative communities.
The Ponta Lopud Creative Platform hosts three major summer cultural programmes in 2025, welcoming all those passionate about the arts – especially film, music, and literature. The season began with the Ponta Lopud Film Festival, held from 26 to 28 June in celebration of cinematic art. The second event, the beloved Ponta Lopud Jazz Festival, brought music lovers to the island from 28 to 30 August. The season concludes with Ponta Lopud Book Bridge, from 18 to 20 September, transforming Lopud into a literary haven and closing out a summer of unforgettable cultural moments.
