The 19th edition of the JOHN FANTE FESTIVAL “My Father’s God” was presented in Pescara, at the Region’s headquarters, which returns again this year to Torricella Peligna (CH), Aug. 22-25. An event created to remember and pay homage to the American writer and screenwriter John Fante, the son of an emigrant originally from this small town in Abruzzo. The Festival this year has as its main theme “Roots and Returns” with the participation of the great writer’s children Victoria and Jim Fante, who will open the Festival on Thursday, August 22. Also speaking over the course of the four days will be Strega Prize 2024 finalist writer Dario Voltolini; writer Dacia Maraini, to whom the John Fante Lifetime Achievement Award goes; singer-songwriter Setak (Targa Tenco 2024 for best album in dialect); music critic Paolo Talanca; singer-songwriter Andrea Mirò; and many other names from the Italian cultural scene.
The three finalist works have been selected by the Jury of Literati of the Prize, and will be submitted to the popular jury, composed of fifty readers from the Abruzzo region of the Sangro Aventino area; at a later date, the technical jury together with the popular jury will elect the winning book of the festival, which will be awarded during a ceremony together with the other finalists.
Also announced in Pescara were the finalists of the first edition of the Italy Roots in the World – Toto Holding Prize, a competition for unpublished short stories on the theme “My Multiple Roots,” aimed at Italians and Italians living abroad and Italian-descendants, as well as Italians residing abroad, with the parent company of the Toto Group as the main sponsor.
The John Fante Festival is also an opportunity to get to know this incredible piece of Abruzzo, more than 900 meters above sea level, facing the Maiella, surrounded by unspoiled scenery; an event awaited by many that promotes not only knowledge of the writer, but also the cultural heritage, landscape, food and wine of the Abruzzo hinterland.
To learn about the program and find out about this year’s events, visit the website:
John Fante Festival | My Father’s God
