"It is a very strong year and we really did not want to forget to remember all these names", stressed today Filomena Amaral, president of the Arte-Via Cooperative, headquartered in Lousã, at the presentation of the event, which took place in Góis, in the district of Coimbra.

Created in homage to the victims of the 2017 forest fires, the seventh edition of the festival will take place from June 14 to 17, in eight municipalities in the districts of Coimbra and Leiria, organized by the Arte-Via Cooperative, and has as its patron the President of the Republic.

With the theme "Land of fraternity, my beloved happy homeland", this year's edition assumes special concern with the environmental emergency, one of the causes of the festival since its inception, along with gender equality and the interior.

"This year's environmental cause is led by four Brazilian indigenous women, from the Guarani people, who are dedicated to writing, arts and music, awarded with the 2023 Jabuti prize, who defend the cause of the Earth", said Filomena Amaral.

Góis hosts the opening session of the festival, on June 14, which highlights the conference on the fifth centenary of the birth of Luís Vaz de Camões, to be given by Professor Rita Marnoto, commissioner for the national commemorations of the author of 'Os Lusíadas'.

The four indigenous women -- Eva Potiguara, Ju Cassou, Vanessa Ratton and Michelle C. Buss - participate on the 15th, in a session in Lousã, in the mountain village of Silveira, where a cultural twinning agreement will be signed between the Rio Silveira indigenous reserve and the community of Silveiras da Serra da Lousã.

On the same day, in the afternoon, still in Lousã, there will be a panel on José Afonso (Zeca Afonso), with speakers Carlos Marta, Carlos Sêco, Filomena Martins and José Avelino Gonçalves, moderated by Casimiro Simões.

Also in the afternoon, at the Conímbriga Museum, in Condeixa-a-Nova, there will be a conference by Professor Ana Paula Coutinho on the poet António Ramos Rosa and the show "From poetry to music", with Catarina Martins and Alex Silva.

In the late afternoon, in Miranda do Corvo, at the Loja do Sr. Falcão, the festival includes a panel with Amadu Dafé, Francisco Fanhais and Guadalupe Portelinha, moderated by Fonseca Mota, followed by a dinner with poetry at the table and a musical moment with the performer Francisco Fanhais.

The event continues on the 16th in Pedrógão Grande, Leiria district, with a visit to the Museum of Freemasonry and a show with Francisco Fanhais.

On the same day, at night, in Arganil, the highlight will be the panel with the participation of Guadalupe Portelinha, Major Mário Tomé, Francisco Soler and Vanessa Ratton, moderated by Miriella de Vocht, and an indigenous show with Ju Cassou.

The International Literary Festival of the Interior -- Palavras de Fogo ends on the 17th, at the Coimbra Prison Establishment, with performances by poetry and music groups formed by inmates, and at the Hotel de Midões, in Tábua, with the presentation of the trilogy by Professor Cristina Robalo Cordeiro "Ver, viver, escrever: os meus romances magrebinos".

Taking advantage of the opening session in the municipality of Góis, the president of that municipality, Rui Sampaio, announced today that the municipal project Lavadouros com Alma -- 1st Intercultural Festival, will have the special participation of Vanessa Ratton and Carlos Ratton, in an action that will take place in the village of Soito, on the 15th.

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