BREAKFAST PANEL | The Blueprint of a Festival

Speakers: Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor and Carmel Rosato

Moderator: Laura Mannering

Date: March 6, Fri

Time: 8:30am - 10:30am

Venue: Wyndham Social - G/F Social Hall

Address: G/F, 33 Wyndham St, Central

Price: HKD228 (includes simple brearkafst)

Language: English

Format: Breakfast Panel

Description: Join us for an insightful morning designed for the arts, film and publishing sectors. This relaxed gathering offers a rare "behind-the-curtain" look at how major literary events are built from the ground up. Led by HKILF Executive Director Laura Mannering, our panel of seasoned organizers and advisors will dive into the mechanics of the literary world from curating standout lineups and the "dos and don’ts" of getting invited, to navigating the logistical and financial realities of planning large-scale events amidst unpredictable funding. Grab a coffee and a croissant to explore the trends and strategies shaping the future of our industry.

About the Speaker:

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor

Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, born in Nairobi, Kenya, is an acclaimed novelist and writer exploring African histories, multipolar futures, nature, myth and the human condition experience. She holds degrees from Kenyatta University, the University of Reading, and the University of Queensland. Her Caine Prize-winning novella, The Weight of Whispers (2003), and novels Dust (2014) and The Dragonfly Sea (2019) have received international acclaim. Yvonne works with Kenyan conservation organisations to develop nature stories. She is a co-founder of the Macondo Literature Festival. She is finalising work on her fourth novel, Nocturne.

Carmel Rosato

Carmel Rosato is Director of International Projects, with more than a decade of experience as a communications consultant and programming adviser to the Emirates Literature Foundation and the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature. She leads international collaborations and strategic initiatives, and directs and manages flagship projects including First Chapter, while also administering the Global Association of Literary Festivals. Her background spans senior in-house and agency communications roles, with a wide portfolio of high-profile companies across multiple sectors, including the Hong Kong Tourist Association in the UK.

*This event is presented with the support of the International Writers’ Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Don’t miss our special offer: Buy 3, Get 1 Complimentary!

Purchase 3 tickets to any events under HKILF 2026 and claim a complimentary seat at one of these exciting talks at Central Library:

•⁠ 3rd March (Tue): On Muscle: The Stuff that Moves Us and Why It Matters (7:00-8:30pm)

⁠•⁠ 4th March (Wed): I Deliver Parcels in Beijing (7:00-8:30pm)

•⁠ ⁠5th March (Thu): Amitav Ghosh: Ghost-Eye (7:00-8:30pm)

To redeem your complimentary seat, email us at [email protected] with:

•⁠ ⁠Your 3 ticket order numbers

•⁠ ⁠The event you’d like to attend

•⁠ ⁠Subject line: Buy 3, Get 1 Complimentary!

Hurry! Offer valid until ticket lasts

ABOUT HKILF

The Hong Kong International Literary Festival (HKILF) inspires the joy of reading by bringing the world’s writers and stories to Hong Kong’s diverse communities. A dynamic year-round programme and an annual festival offer dialogue, entertainment and perspective, while the Young Readers Festival (YRF) motivates students to engage with all aspects of the written word, improving communication skills, while nurturing the art of writing and storytelling.

The annual festival features established and emerging writers from around the world, alongside local literary talents, in a programme that includes panel discussions, book talks, readings, workshops, walks, school programmes, performances, and more.

We are a registered charity non-profit organisation dedicated to bringing the best in the literary arts to Hong Kong. To find more, please visit our official website: https://www.festival.org.hk.

Please note that:

*We are unable to process refunds, please consider your ticket purchase a donation to the festival.

*Photos and videos of participants may be taken during the activities,which may be used by the organiser and the major sponsor for educational and promotional purposes in any way deemed appropriate, including disseminationthrough printed and online channels. Participation in the programme will constitute the participants’ consent to the above arrangement.

*The views and opinions expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Hong Kong International Literary Festival. HKILF disclaims any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information shared by the speakers.

*If the Black Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 8 or above is in force 3 hours before the start time of an event, the event will be cancelled and participants will receive a refund. If the Red or Yellow Rainstorm Warning or the Tropical Cyclone Signal No. 3 is in effect, the event will be held as scheduled.

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Host or Publisher Hong Kong International Literary Festival