Benidorm celebrates the V International Poetry Festival from April 8 to 13

From April 8 to 13, the fifth edition of the International Poetry Festival organized by the Benidorm Poetry Lyceum which has the collaboration of the city council will be held in Benidorm. The event was presented this morning at a press conference by the Councilor for Culture, Jaime Jesús Pérez, and the directors of the contest, Julio Pavanetti and Annabel Villar.

The Festival itself will begin next Tuesday the 9th in the morning with a welcome to the guest poets by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the councillor of Culture. In the afternoon, at 6 p.m., the presentation of all the invited poets will take place with an opening recital and music by Manchega Cultural Association 'Tramontana' (music and dance) and Daniel González (guitar and voice).

This presentation will take place in the municipal Assembly Hall, where most of the activities of this Festival will be held, with recitals every afternoon and activities in educational centres. Thus, on Wednesday at 10 a.m. there will be an interactive recital by the guest poets at the Nuestra Señora de los Dolores school and on Friday at the same time at the IES Bernat de Sarrià.

The program includes a recital by the poets on Wednesday at 6 p.m., while on Thursday at the same time, the 21st anniversary of the Liceo Poetico will be celebrated and the centenary of the Valencian poet Vicent Andrés Estellés will be commemorated. On Friday the contest will end with the closing recital and the delivery of diplomas and trophies to the invited poets starting at 7 p.m. in the Assembly Hall.

For this occasion, according to Julio Pavanetti, there are guest poets such as Ahmad Yamani, Alicja Kuberska, Alina and Krzystof Galas, Ángeles Muñoz Echenique, Elisa Rueda, Gianpaolo Mastropasqua, Glorjana Veber, István Turczi, Jüri Talvet, María Mistrioti and Sonia Fanuli.

Jaime Jesús Pérez highlighted that “the programming is very interesting” and expressed his satisfaction “for the excellent result we had last year, which gives us the impetus to continue growing.” The councillor has also highlighted the interactive recitals that will be held with secondary school students and recalled that “last year was a great success”, which is why “this year the number of participating students has increased to more than 300”.

Annabel Villar, for her part, hoped to “repeat the great turnout we had a year ago,” while thanking “the involvement of the cultural associations and the City Council, as well as the musicians who will altruistically accompany us.”