Vaasa Literary Festival LittFest announces its first guests – including Pajtim Statovci, Mikael Niemi and Laura Malmivaara

The 2025 LittFest line-up includes many familiar names, such as Pajtim Statovci, a two-time Finlandia Prize winner whose works My Cat Yugoslavia, Crossing and Bolla have been acclaimed by critics and readers alike both in Finland and internationally. His latest novel, Lehmä synnyttää yöllä (‘The Cow Gives Birth at Night’, 2024), has become an international sensation, with translation rights sold widely to publishers in the United States, Canada, Germany and Italy, among others. The novel will also be adapted for the stage by the Finnish National Theatre in autumn 2027.

Mikael Niemi, masterful storyteller and August Prize-winning author of the bestselling novel Popular Music from Vittula (2000), portrays life in the North at the crossroads of three cultures. His works explore history, crime, and the relationship between northern nature and humanity. Niemi’s latest novel, Silkkiin kääritty kivi (‘The Stone Wrapped in Silk’), is a family saga set in the Tornio River Valley and was published this year.

This year’s theme is Border(s)

This year’s theme for Littfest is Border(s), which invites exploration of boundaries as physical, cultural, linguistic and mental phenomena. Literature constantly crosses boundaries and opens windows onto other realities.

Guest author Mikko Kamula is the creator of the popular Metsän kansa (‘People of the Forest’) novel series, and his talk will focus on the borders of Finland. As a folklorist and researcher, Kamula has gathered extensive source material for his novels about a 15th-century settler family, drawing deeply on Finnish folklore and beliefs. The latest and fifth instalment in the series, Pohjolan neito (‘Maiden of the North’) was published this year. Marcus Rosenlund, a science journalist and author of several popular science books, will speak about our planet’s boundaries.  In his works, he has examined topics such as weather phenomena, outer space and the world of microorganisms. In his latest book, he explores life beneath the Earth’s surface.

– The festival programme offers an opportunity to reflect on identity, politics, history and social issues from both personal and global perspectives. Our aim is to spark discussion about literature but also about current themes, both locally and more broadly, says Ilkka Nyqvist, Cultural Producer.

Creative collaboration

Laura Malmivaara is a versatile artist, known as an author, actress, photographer and singer. Her most recent role was in the popular dark comedy series Queen of Fucking Everything (2025). At LittFest, she will perform excerpts from her novel Iltatähti (‘Evening Star’) published last year, accompanied by composer and vibraphonist Arttu Takalo and the Vaasa City Orchestra.

LittFest will also feature poet and author Heli Laaksonen, celebrated for her use of the south-western Finnish dialect, who will perform at Vaasa City Theatre. Laaksonen rose to widespread popularity with her debut collection, Pulu uis (‘Pigeon Swimming’) published in 2000. Trained as a nature and environmental advisor, Laaksonen has published two nature-themed literary works, Luonnos (‘Sketch’ 2022) and Jatkos (‘Extension’ 2024).

Darker tones with magical folklore and true crime

Like last year, the November literary festival will include a darker-themed evening event, where the writer couple Tiina and Marko Hautala will interview guests such as Tuomas Äystö, author and university lecturer in religious studies. Äystö’s true crime book, Paholaisen perilliset (‘Heirs of the Devil’ 2025), delves into the history of the phenomenon known as ‘satanic panic’. The evening will also include a panel discussion on mythology and magical tradition, featuring folklorist, knitting designer and author Jenna Kostet, Finland’s best-known modern witch Kuparikettu, and writer and craftsperson Riina Peltonen, who has studied the magical sites of Ostrobothnia.

Vaasa LittFest is a literary festival offering exciting encounters with renowned authors and high-quality literature. As before, the programme includes author interviews, discussions, workshops and evening events. The LittFest programme will be updated throughout the autumn: vaasa.fi/littfest.