---
title: "CHILL Festival features writers from 12 countries in Chișinău"
url: https://moldova1.md/p/85397/chill-festival-features-writers-from-12-countries-in-chisinau
published: 2026-09-15T14:52:42Z
language: en
author: "Rodica Mazur"
section: "Culture"
source: moldova1.md
---

# CHILL Festival features writers from 12 countries in Chișinău

> Well-known personalities of contemporary literature from 12 countries are gathering in the Republic of Moldova. This year’s edition of the CHILL Festival, scheduled for September 17–24, presents a major cultural marathon featuring literary gatherings, public readings, book launches, debates, film screenings, exhibitions, professional workshops, and educational activities.

![](https://storage.moldova1.md/images/3d6d665a-83db-4d02-9cd5-86e9fa28714d.jpg)

Well-known personalities of contemporary literature from 12 countries are gathering in the Republic of Moldova. This year’s edition of the CHILL Festival, scheduled for September 17–24, presents a major cultural marathon featuring literary gatherings, public readings, book launches, debates, film screenings, exhibitions, professional workshops, and educational activities.

Known for three years as FILIT Chișinău, the festival is changing its name starting this year to CHILL – *Chișinău Literary Laboratory* (*Chișinău Laborator Literar*), according to manager Narcis Afrăsinei.

The new edition will bring together over 100 guests from 12 countries: the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine, Belarus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Sweden.

*"It is a different kind of edition because, this year, it is an 'umbrella' festival. CHILL aims to foster a dialogue between East and West. Standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people amidst their tragedy, we decided to invite the Odesa International Literature Festival; since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, that festival has been itinerant—held in Georgia one year, Romania the next, then Poland (specifically Kraków last year), and this year we decided to bring it to Chișinău. I believe that reason alone is enough for us all to attend this festival—to enjoy what Ukrainians are currently deprived of and to show solidarity with them. We set out to create a dialogue between East and West, and the Chișinău edition of the renowned FILIT-Iași will complement this conversation,"* noted Narcis Afrăsinei during the  show *Bună Dimineața*  on ​​Moldova 1.

Within the reading club, events will focus on discussions surrounding specific books, while the literary laboratory aims to help professionalize students and high schoolers, the organizers state. "Starting this year, we aim to foster professional skills for several vocations that stem directly from reading. These include roles such as writer, journalist—specifically cultural journalists, as this niche is struggling significantly, and not just in the Republic of Moldova—actor, philosopher, book illustrator, and cultural manager. There are many such professions for which we have already identified mentors from both Romania and the Republic of Moldova. And while we dedicate half of the workshops to reading, we devote the other half to the professional development of the students," added Narcis Afrăsinei.

The festival aims to bring together writers from various countries and stimulate an interest in reading within the Republic of Moldova, noted prose writer Iulian Ciocan during the show.

"Through this festival, we unite writers, bringing together authors from Ukraine and other Eastern countries with significant authors from Western Europe. It fosters a kind of dialogue right here in Chișinău—a major, important city that, I would say, lacked a large-scale, significant festival. Literature is important, yet we have recently observed a certain decline in its standing. Through events like these festivals and book fairs, we are trying to draw readers back into the world of literature. Literature matters; it teaches you things you won't learn elsewhere or from other types of books," the writer said.

Emphasizing solidarity, this year’s CHILL Festival will provide spaces for dialogue dedicated to Ukrainian refugee communities, while also bringing together more than 15 authors from Ukraine. The program also includes screenings of Ukrainian films, including works by director Sergei Loznitsa. The films will be shown over two days at the Teatru Fără Nume in Chisinau, and following the screenings, the audience will have the opportunity to participate in discussion sessions with the filmmaker.

[Video: https://trm.blob.core.windows.net/photos/6bdc310c-4ff7-43b4-bf55-8f7c4ac60a75.jpg](https://original.trm.md/video/definst/MP4:2026/9/15/222222222.mp4/playlist.m3u8)