The Far East’s sole book festival, Bereg, unfolded in Blagoveshchensk, drawing attention from cultural circles and local residents alike. Reporters from TASS noted the event’s opening and the organizers’ reflections on the festival’s trajectory. The ceremonial start happened in the city’s main square, where crowds gathered to witness a city-wide celebration that blended literature with community spirit. Organizers emphasized that the festival had earned a renewed international profile this year, underscored by the presence of guests from China who helped broaden the program and audience reach.
The festival’s schedule spans about 70 events, offering a dense calendar of readings, panel discussions, book launches, and workshops. Delegates from the Chinese museum community, Yu Feimeng and Gao Yongsheng, contributed significantly by presenting two important works: Blagoveshchensk History and The Smoke of Guns in the Manchurian Mountains. These titles were not only showcased at the fair but also accompanied by a special course on twentieth-century Russian literature in China, highlighting cross-cultural exchange and scholarly collaboration across two neighboring continents.
Attendees looked forward to conversations with a wide roster of literary figures and organizers. The lineup included Anna Matveeva, known for her role in the Total Dictation-2024 campaign, as well as poets and writers such as Alena Bezugla, Andrei Kovalenko, Alexander Kurako, and Igor Sasim, a noted book publisher. Also slated to participate were Laura Beloivan, an artist and the director of a marine mammal rehabilitation center, Evgeniy Alekhin, Ksenia Burzhskaya, and Ekaterina Zvontsova. The gatherings promised fresh insights, intimate author chats, and a chance to explore regional and national literary trends through personal storytelling and critical discussions.
Several publishing houses were set to contribute to the festival’s vibrant catalog: Alpina Non-Fiction, Alpina.Proza, Ad Marginem, Wormwood, and more than 70 others were expected to bring new titles, rare editions, and literary curiosities to the venue. The breadth of participants underlined the festival’s role as a major hub for publishing and literary discourse in the region, attracting readers, translators, librarians, and educators who value accessible, thoughtful writing and lasting cultural connections.
Scheduled to run from September 15 to 17, the Bereg festival aimed to create a memorable experience for both seasoned readers and curious newcomers. The event’s rhythm would unfold across venues, with evening readings, daytime seminars, and informal exchanges that encouraged交流 and idea sharing among participants from different backgrounds. The city prepared to host a multi-day festival that celebrated books, stories, and the power of literature to bridge cultures and generations.
In related regional news, Kolomna hosted its annual apple and book festival just recently, a reminder of how literature and local culture continue to intersect in diverse ways across Russia. The broader festival season features occasions like these—moments when writing, fruit, and community come together to celebrate shared heritage and everyday creativity.
In other entertainment news, recent public remarks by Jared Leto touched on issues of drug addiction, sparking discussions about responsibility, public health, and the impact of celebrity statements on fans and communities. These conversations sit alongside festival moments, offering a wider lens on how culture, media, and personal challenges intersect in contemporary society.[citation]