The 2025 edition of The Script Road – Macau Literary Festival, combining literature, photography, cinema and music, with international artists and a diverse programme of events, took place at multiple venues around town in March.
The event engaged the public through a variety of formats, including panel discussions, art and photography exhibitions, film and documentary screenings and live performances, and kicked off with the opening of The Wind Blows on the Prairie, a photography exhibition by Wang Zhengping.
Another photography exhibition entitled New Independences, presenting the work of photojournalist Alfredo Cunha, celebrated the 50th anniversary of the independence of Portuguese-speaking African countries, featuring images from countries such as Angola and Mozambique.
“Poetry, music, photography and cinema, history and fiction, brought us all together once again at the 14th edition of The Script Road – Macau Literary Festival,” notes Ricardo Pinto, Festival Director, emphasising the festival’s commitment to showcasing the multifaceted nature of literature and the arts.
Yao Jingming, the Festival’s deputy director, also emphasised the role of literature in shaping the human experience: “Literature is a beacon of the human spirit that guides us in our search for the meaning of life. Regardless of the development of science and technology, the humanist concern and spiritual value of literature never change.”
Carlos Morais José, also a deputy director of the Festival, highlighted the importance of language as a “vital tool” for human expression and understanding: “It is in words and through words that humanity still finds the ability to relate to the world and to ourselves”.
The Festival programme included book launches of The Girl Who Dreamed by Sonia Leung and Your Face Will Be the Last by João Ricardo Pedro and Luís Filipe Rocha, which was also presented as a film. Additional events include an illustration workshop by André Letria, a creative writing masterclass by Sonia Leung, and debates on Hong Kong and Macau literature and the Maritime Silk Road.
Author Jason Wordie led guests on a tour around his favourite places in Macau, and Chinese poet Xu Jinjin hosted a session on testimonial poetry writing.
The festival’s closing events included discussions on women’s novel writing, social changes in 2025 and the relationship between poetry and music, as well as a concert by the Lisbon Poetry Orchestra, and A Banquet of Stories – Seven Dishes, Seven Traditions, a sensory experience combining storytelling and gastronomy, led by author Thomas DuBois.
The Macao Literary Festival aims to fosters an environment that encourages engagement and introspection through a variety of artistic expressions, emphasising the importance of literature and art in understanding individual and collective identities.
