The distinguishing feature of the “Dedica” Festival, and one which makes it unique in the world of literary events, is that it focuses its attention on a single author. As such, the event offers the public the possibility of acquiring a deeper knowledge of the author’s work, suggesting ideas and approaches that bring into discussion the differing styles and languages of literary expression.
Over the two weeks of the festival, a succession of conversations, performances, exhibitions, conferences and musical performances will provide a valuable insight into the works, thoughts and world of the artiste.
The protagonist of this nineteenth edition is the Spanish author and essayist Javier Cercas.
“To write is to seek the truth“: this will be the leitmotiv of this edition, which is dedicated to an author whose international success has made him one of Europe’s most important contemporary novelists.
Starting from his “Soldados de Salamina” (Soldiers of Salamis) – which was received with much enthusiasm by Mario Vargas Llosa, J.M.Coetzee, Doris Lessing and Susan Sontag – Cercas began to focus on the most turbulent period of Spanish history in an attempt to “explore the Civil War in order to understand it, without any prejudices and without attempting to mask its harsh realities“.
An investigation which, in appraising the ambiguities of history and contemporary accounts, is an attempt to bring order to the chaos of reality and, at the same time, an act of faith in the ideological power of literature.
The Dedica project, which is promoted and organized by the “Thesis” Cultural Association, is jointly financed by a number of public bodies and institutions, including the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, Turismo FVG (Friuli Venezia Giulia Tourist Board), the Municipality of Pordenone, the Province of Pordenone, the CRUP (Cassa di Risparmio di Udine e Pordenone) Foundation, as well as numerous major private companies: Electrolux, Coop Consumatori Nordest, FriulAdria Crédit Agricole, Unipol Assicurazioni Agenzie di Udine e Pordenone, Venchiaredo, Acqua Dolomia-Sorgente Valcimoliana S.r.l.
“Dedica to Javier Cercas” also enjoys the sponsorship of the Spanish Embassy in Italy.
“Dedica to Javier Cercas” was awarded the Silver Medal of the Italian Republic President.