How does a person’s migrant background affect who they become? How do their parents and mentors shape their destiny?
Who were the Greek pirates sent to Australia as convicts and what became of them?
How do women trapped by tradition break out? What happens when you come out to Greek parents? What is dopamine and how does it control us? Who was the humble priest feeding Sydney’s poor and hungry? Why are retellings of ancient Greek mythology still trending? How did Hellenism manifest on The Silk Road?
These are just some of the themes to be explored at the Greek Australian Writers’ Festival 2025 – a much anticipated event of the 43rd Greek Festival of Sydney.
The Greek Australian Writers’ Festival returns on April 27, 2025 for a 4th year, and is bigger than ever with parallel sessions throughout the day featuring fiction, memoir, essays, non-fiction and photography exploring concepts of identity, migration, culture, history, and the complexity of interconnecting yet disparate cultures.
The Festival will officially host the launch of “Patrimonies: Essays on Generational Thinking” by UNSW Professor George Kouvaros, a deeply personal and profound examination of how those who came before us have left their mark on us.
Also featuring another Greek Australian intellectual Professor Nikos Papastergiadis and his memoir “John Berger and Me” – a reflection on his family, his father and their peasant roots, as well as the influence of his mentor, the esteemed British writer and critic John Berger.
Shelley Dark and her husband John had no idea that he was descended from one of the first Greek convicts sent to the colonies but once she found out she headed to “Hydra in Winter” to tell the story of this Hydriot pirate.
The festival will also focus on women with Koraly Dimitriadis’ short story collection “The Mother Must Die” and Emily Tsokos Purtill’s “Matia”, a matrilineal novel of love in four generations.
Will Kostakis will discuss his award-winning Young Adult Fiction book “We Could Be Something,” a story of a young man coming out to his Greek parents.
We will examine the neurotransmitter of pleasure, dopamine with Dr Anastasia Hronis, delve into the insatiable genre of Greek Mythology and showcase the best of photography books.
“We are so pleased to showcase the Australian literary community engaging in Greek ideas” Dr Helen Vatsikopoulos, Founder and Director of the Greek-Australian Writers’ Festival, said.
“This is an opportunity for people to come to Sydney to connect and reflect upon the stories that continue to shape our shared community.”
“Secure your ticket early and enjoy a day of books and ideas by the coast and of course a ticket ensures that you get authentic Greek food prepared in the kitchen of the Greek Orthodox Community of NSW in Lakemba.”
The festival will be held at the Prince Henry Centre at Little Bay, New South Wales. Books will be on sale and authors available for signings.
Ticket information and the full program details are available on the official festival website: https://greekfestivalofsydney.com.au/program/event/greek-australian-writers-festival-2
Event Details:
- What: The 2025 Greek – Australian Writers’ Festival
- Date: Sunday 27 April 2025
- Times: 9am – 6pm
- Venue: Prince Henry Centre, 2 Coast Hospital Rd, Little Bay
- Tickets: $15 + BF – https://www.trybooking.com/CYRBU
