The 15th edition of the Bucharest International Poetry Festival (FIPB), an event that brings together poets from over 30 countries, opened on Monday evening, in the Hall of the Carol I Central University Library.

In his opening remarks, Ioan Cristescu, the general director of the National Museum of Romanian Literature, stated that the edition managed to create a diverse program with many forms of poetic expression.

'This year, in order to put in place this festival, (...) we managed to create a diverse program, varied and with many forms of artistic expression, many forms of poetic expression, beyond geographies and beyond the times we live in. I have often been asked why we do not introduce political poetry and ideological poetry into the festival, and I have said that, from my point of view, political poetry, ideological poetry has no point as long as it does not talk about people and their experiences and their anxieties, about their fears that we all have and beyond ideologies and politics, I believe that the social and the human are much better to be present, because we are subject to mental and spiritual aggression anyway,' Cristescu said at the opening of the event.

Mireille Radoi, the general director of the Carol I Central University Library, stated that 'poetry remains the universal language that transcends geographical and cultural borders, bringing together people and traditions that are seemingly distant'.

'The presence of representatives from over 30 countries, from Colombia to Georgia, from Mexico to Japan, is proof that poetry functions as a matrix of dignity and collective memory', Mireille Radoi also said, specifying that over the years the International Poetry Festival 'has become a major cultural landmark, and in 2025 its mission takes on decisive relevance'.

'Poetry attests to human authenticity in an era of artificially generated texts', stated the general director of the Carol I Central University Library.

Ioan-Aurel Pop, president of the Romanian Academy, said that the International Poetry Festival is 'a celebration of joy'.

'There was a time when everything was poetry, including history. Poetry was the art of speaking and even singing beautifully about the past. The poets were touring archaic Greece around the same time that the Homeric poems were being written and trying to sensitize the world, but there wasn't much work because, as I told you, everything seemed like poetry. I would like us to not say 'Inter arma silent musae' these days, but to say 'Poetry kills weapons'', said the president of the Romanian Academy.

The Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to Romania, Divia Cepeda Rojas, stated that relations with Romania are resuming 'under a new aegis thanks to the reopening of the Colombian Embassy in Romania, and in Bucharest, in a climate of friendship that we hope will make poetry reign peace in all of us and between cultures'.

'It is a great pleasure and an honor to celebrate with you the 15th edition of the Bucharest International Poetry Festival and it is an important stage that reminds us that poetry continues to play an essential role in our lives', also stated Laura Napolitano, director of the Italian Institute of Culture in Bucharest.

The President of the Romanian Writers' Union, Varujan Vosganian, was of the opinion that 'this festival is the most important poetry festival in Romania'.

'The festival takes place and has linked its name to the capital of a nation that has a close connection with literature in its history. It is said that the Romanian people were born Christian. It may be a legend that nevertheless offers us profound spiritual landmarks. One thing is certain, however: the nation, the Romanian state, in their foundation relied on writers,' declared Vosganian.

The inaugural event of the festival included an extensive poetic recital with guests from Romania, the USA, Italy, Spain, Mexico, Colombia and Honduras, as well as a concert given by the 'Madrigal - Marin Constantin' National Chamber Choir.

The 15th edition of the Bucharest International Poetry Festival (FIPB) is taking place between September 15 and 21.

The 2025 edition of FIPB offers poetry lovers no less than 224 moments of public readings, supported by important names of the international poetry scene from over 30 countries, alongside top Romanian authors such as Ana Blandiana, Ion Muresan, Magda Carneci, Nora Iuga, Dinu Flamand, Simona Popescu, Octavian Soviany, Radu Vancu or Varujan Vosganian.

During the festival, visual art lovers will be able to explore five exhibitions, each bringing a different perspective on poetry and artistic expression. They will also be able to take part in cello recitals with Jean-Marie Leclair, fado concerts with Jezebel, jazz and experimental music with Mircea Tiberian, Nadia Trohin, Mircea Rusu Band or poetic-musical events with Mircea Florian. A special element of the edition will be thematic poetry evenings, dedicated to national literatures and contemporary poetic communities, organized in partnership with embassies and cultural institutes in Bucharest.

The FIPB program also includes moments of remember dedicated to writers Gheorghe Craciun, Andrei Bodiu and Ion Stratan, as well as the moment 'Virgil Tanase - 80', which honors the memory of this recently deceased writer.

A project put in place with the financial support of the Ministry of Culture, the Bucharest International Poetry Festival is organized by the Bucharest City Hall through the National Museum of Romanian Literature in the capital.

The National News Agency AGERPRES is among the media partners of the event. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Bogdan Gabaroi)