14th International Book Festival Kicks Off in Taganrog

May 21, 2021 : 14th International Chekhov Book Festival was launched today in Taganrog. The opening ceremony will be held at the historic Chekhov Drama Theater.


The festival has been held since 2007 with the support of Rostov Oblast Ministry of Culture, Taganrog Local Government, Taganrog Culture Department, the Federal Agency for Press and Mass Communications, and other partners. In the 14 years of its existence, the event became noted all over Russia.

The International Chekhov Book Festival is held every year in the middle or at the end of May. The program is meant for adults and children, people of all ages and occupations. The slogan of the festival - "Taganrog is a book city, welcoming everyone" - shows the creative potential of residents and guests of Taganrog. It also indicates the possibilities to meet famous visitors of the festival: actors and film-makers, poets and writers, journalists and editors, critics and interpreters. This year, the festival is attended by actor and director Sergey Nikonenko, writer Guzel Yakhina, writer Sergey Shargunov, writer Lev Danilkin, editor Elena Shubina, interpreter Asya Petrova, critic Yuri Nechiporenko, writer Masha Vaisman, writer Marina Kudimova, poet Svetlana Gershanova, writer Liza Loseva, writer Ksenia Gorbunova, artist Mikhail Roshnyak, the Relikt vocal trio, and "Literaturnoye varenie" ("The Literary Jam") project.


The 14th International Chekhov Book Festival's program features exhibitions, book fairs, meetings with writers and poets, book presentations, public lectures, etc. The total number of all the events exceeds 50. Among them, "Zerkalnaya dusha" ("The Mirror Soul") project commemorates the 130th anniversary of the birth of famous Taganrog-born culture figures Valentin Parnakh and his sister Yelizaveta Tarakhovskaya. "Zerkalnaya dusha" comprises of children's art exhibitions, "Ciao, Valentino!" photo project by Enzo Rozamilia (Italy), a play, concerts, and the closing ceremony of reading contest "Lestnitsa-chudesnitsa" ("The Wonder Stairs"). Traditionally, a considerable portion of the events is held on the premises of the Chekhov Library, which will celebrate its 145th anniversary on May, 23.

The International Chekhov Book Festival ranked second in the regional stage and became one of the finalists in the All-Russian stage of Russian Event Awards in the nomination "The Best Event of Cultural Tourism"(2016).

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