Country of Focus
2019 Bridging Borders - Literary Forum: Roundtable Discussion, Yangon Book Plaza
2019 Bridging Borders - Voices from Singapore: Spotlight on Poetry, Sarpay Beikman
Sai Parn Hein's Flying Horse
Sai Parn Hein's collection of traditional Myanmar stories
Sai Parn Hein's Sun, Moon, and Earth
For its 10th edition, AFCC celebrates Myanmar as the Country of Focus for 2019.
View Country of Focus Programme
South-East Asia is home to more than 600 million people and houses a diversity of ethnicities, cultures and languages. While much has been documented about the geography and sights of the region, how well do we know about its literatures?
This year, AFCC celebrates Myanmar as the Country of Focus in our continuing journey to connect with, and showcase the best of children's book writers and illustrators from South-East Asia. From 5 - 8 September, a delegation from Myanmar comprising writers, illustrators and publishers will take part in festival programmes that highlight Myanmar's literary heritage and offer insight on the country's industry developments.
As part of this push to develop greater intercultural dialogue between our SEA neighbours, the Singapore Book Council launched a new programme in 2019 – Bridging Borders: The SEA Lit Project. This initiative aims to foster a greater understanding of the respective literatures and cultures of South-East Asian countries and sets out to deepen the engagement between writers and literary communities across SEA.
The inaugural Bridging Borders took place in Yangon, Myanmar from 3 to 6 April 2019. A delegation of writers, illustrators and publishers from Singapore met their counterparts from Myanmar and took part in various programmes over four days, including school workshops, public readings and a literary forum. As part of the exchange, writers from both countries were paired to work on a joint collaborative project. The writers will share on their experiences of participating in this cultural exchange and their collaborative projects at AFCC.
COF Guest Illustrator: Sai Parn Hein
This year, we have invited Sai Parn Hein, an established Myanmar children's book writer and cartoonist, as AFCC's Country of Focus Guest Illustrator.
Sai Parn Hein hails from the Shan state and has authored and translated numerous books in the Shan and Myanmar languages such as Children Poems, and People Centralized Projects in Myanmar. He illustrates and writes primarily to raise awareness of difficult and problematic issues for the rural Shan community, an ethnic minority in Myanmar. Sai has also composed many Shan children's rhymes, which are now widely used in literary education for Shan children.
Small Frogs
Small frogs are singing
They are calling rain to fall down
The frogs are raising feet
And dive, their heads are wet
The frogs are happy and laughing
Awp eap…. Awp eap…..
(Translated from Shan by Sai Parn Hein)
View more of Sai Parn Hein's work here.
The full programme line-up will be announced in August.
5 Sep 2019 (Thu)
B1, Programme Zone Talk
A Glimpse of Myanmar Culture Through Selected Myanmar Folktales
Featuring: Soe Marlar Lwin
Moderator: Cheeno Marlo Sayuno
Folktales manifest the cultural heritage of a people. This talk will bring the audience through the narrative structures and contents of Myanmar folktales to appreciate certain aspects of Myanmar culture.
Folktales manifest the cultural heritage of a people. This talk will bring the audience through the narrative structures and contents of Myanmar folktales to appreciate certain aspects of Myanmar culture.
B1, Programme Zone6 Sep 2019 (Fri)
L16, The Pod Panel
A Look at Reading Initiatives for Children in Myanmar
Featuring: Thant Thaw Kaung, Nay Thar, Soe Soe Lin
Moderator: Su Myat Htay
Learn more in this session on how reading and literacy initiatives such as the "Let's Read Project" are encouraging children in Myanmar to develop a passion for reading and the written word.
Learn more in this session on how reading and literacy initiatives such as the "Let's Read Project" are encouraging children in Myanmar to develop a passion for reading and the written word.
L16, The Pod7 Sep 2019 (Sat)
B1, Programme Zone Panel
Bridging Borders: A Sharing
Featuring: A.J. Low, Farihan Bahron, Gwee Li Sui, Myay Hmone Lwin, Su Myat Htay, Tan Chee Lay, Thant Thaw Kaung
Moderator: Andrea Pasion-Flores
Following on from the inaugural Bridging Borders exchange to Myanmar in April, writers from the Singapore and Myanmar delegation will come together in this session to share on their experience of participating in the exchange and on the process of working with their counterpart on their collaborative projects.
Following on from the inaugural Bridging Borders exchange to Myanmar in April, writers from the Singapore and Myanmar delegation will come together in this session to share on their experience of participating in the exchange and on the process of working with their counterpart on their collaborative projects.
B1, Programme ZoneL3, Drama Centre Foyer Panel
Publishing Trends and Opportunities in Myanmar
Featuring: Aung Si Thar, Phyu Mar Myint, Lach Baniya
Moderator: Thant Thaw Kaung
Get an in-depth look into the current trends in Myanmar's publishing industry in this session. Learn more about what the current publishing trends are, and the opportunities available for publishers.
Get an in-depth look into the current trends in Myanmar's publishing industry in this session. Learn more about what the current publishing trends are, and the opportunities available for publishers.
L3, Drama Centre FoyerL3, Drama Centre Foyer
Publishers Networking Session
Come and meet with publishers attending AFCC, including publishers from the Myanmar delegation. There would also be a short presentation by the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair.
Come and meet with publishers attending AFCC, including publishers from the Myanmar delegation. There would also be a short presentation by the China Shanghai International Children's Book Fair.
L3, Drama Centre FoyerB1, Multi-Purpose Room Panel
Character Creation in Myanmar’s Children Literature
Featuring: Myay Hmone Lwin, Sai Parn Hein, Su Myat Htay
Good characterisation is key to creating a good story that will appeal to readers. In this session, hear from the panel of Myanmar writers as they discuss about popular characters in Myanmar children's literature and how they have gone about in creating memorable characters of their own.
Good characterisation is key to creating a good story that will appeal to readers. In this session, hear from the panel of Myanmar writers as they discuss about popular characters in Myanmar children's literature and how they have gone about in creating memorable characters of their own.
B1, Multi-Purpose RoomL16, The Pod
Myanmar Night
In honour of AFCC 2019 Country of Focus, join us for a showcase of the literary and cultural heritage of Myanmar in this gala event that celebrates the collaboration and close ties between Singapore and our SEA neighbour.
In honour of AFCC 2019 Country of Focus, join us for a showcase of the literary and cultural heritage of Myanmar in this gala event that celebrates the collaboration and close ties between Singapore and our SEA neighbour.
L16, The Pod8 Sep 2019 (Sun)
L3, Drama Centre Foyer Book Launch
Dubadda
Pixel Brush Studio and Ko Kyaw
Join in for the launch of Dubadda, a new sci-fi comic series from Pixel Brush Studios (Myanmar). Meaning "New Universe", the comic series is set in a futuristic Myanmar in the year 2150, where high-technology has completely changed the landscape of the country.
Join in for the launch of Dubadda, a new sci-fi comic series from Pixel Brush Studios (Myanmar). Meaning "New Universe", the comic series is set in a futuristic Myanmar in the year 2150, where high-technology has completely changed the landscape of the country.
L3, Drama Centre FoyerL3, Drama Centre Foyer Activity
The Beauty of Thanaka
Learn about the origins and uses of Thanaka, a traditional cosmetic used by Myanmarese in this free, interactive session.Try your hand at making your own Thanaka make-up and get the chance to give your friends a traditional Myanmar make-over!
Learn about the origins and uses of Thanaka, a traditional cosmetic used by Myanmarese in this free, interactive session.Try your hand at making your own Thanaka make-up and get the chance to give your friends a traditional Myanmar make-over!
L3, Drama Centre Foyer