Istanbul Tanpınar Literature Festival (ITLF), international literary festival organized in Istanbul every year since 2009. Named after the writer Ahmet Hamdi Tanpınar, it has the distinction of being Turkey’s first international literary festival. The event is organized by the Kalem Cultural Association in partnership with Kalem Rights Agency and with support from a number of official bodies and civil society groups. The Vehbi Koç Foundation was the festival’s main sponsor in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
The ITLF aims to provide a collaboration platform for writers and publishers from Turkey and foreign publishers, editors, writers, translators, translation fund providers and literary festival organizers, while at the same time enabling foreign writers to meet Turkish readers and authors.
Every year has a nominated theme, which provides a focal point for free readings and debates, discussions and workshops. The festival also organizes meetings for state school pupils, children’s workshops, signing days and literary gatherings. The festival activities are held across a number of Anatolian cities and previous themes have included “City and Time”, “City and Humans”, “City and Food”, “City and Fear”, “City and Games”, “City and Journeys”, “City and Borders”, “City and Voices”, “City and Imagination” and “We Follow Literature”.