Ordkalotten – Tromsø International Literature Festival is an annual festival, taking place in Tromsø, at the Northern Cap. During Ordkalotten artistic displays of literature are in focus, and the festival deals with different themes each year.

The northern location imprints the festival’s profile, while the perspective is global; the festival is circumpolarly oriented, while also relating to a multifaceted North-South dimension. The festival also wants to have some indigenous representation and to shed light on particular structures in the Northern areas.

The festival aims to be topical in both a literary context and in relation to current national and international processes.
 

Festival history

2009 - "Violence"

2008 – "Crossing borders"

2007 – "Russia". Russian contemporary literature. Russian and Norwegian authors and journalists presented and discussed contemporary Russian literature and freedom of speech.

2006 – "Japan – Kokoro: Heart and mind". Several Japanese authors visited the festival; Shuntaro Tanikawa, Kaori Ekuni, Yoko Tawada, Yasuhiro Yotsumoto and Joy Kogawa.

2005 – "Polarisert". Nordic, British and Canadian authors.

2004 – "When the word is threatened". About minority language and exile authors, in cooperation with PENs world congress. Special guests: Amin Maalouf, Chenjerai Hove.

2003 – "Cora Sandel". Participants from the Nordic counties and USA. Special guest: The well known Swedish poet Tomas Tranströmer.

2002 – "Nils Aslak Valkeapää" - Sámi multi artist.

2001 – "War and peace". Part of the Celebration of the Nobel peace price 100-years anniversary, in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the NOBEL Institute.

2000 – "Lars Levi Læstadius". About fundamentalism. Ljubisa Rajic was one of the main guests.