Doha: The 11th edition of the Katara Festival for Arabic Novel continued to captivate audiences with its diverse range of activities. The festival, which runs until October 19, has been a hub for specialized seminars, discussion panels, and the unveiling of new literary works.

According to Qatar News Agency, a notable seminar titled "The Novel and the Aesthetics of Translation" was held on Friday. This session delved into the intricate relationship between narrative creativity and its linguistic and cultural contexts, emphasizing translation as a vital link between different languages. The seminar featured insightful contributions from novelist Mohamed Suleiman Al Shazly, translator Sameh Kroum, and translator Kholoud Amr. Dr. Hanaa Al Bawab moderated the discussion, which explored the transformative power of translation.

In addition to the translation seminar, a dialogue session with writer Abdel Aziz Al Sayed focused on his novel "The Carnation Seller," and was moderated by journalist Mohamed Dahou. Another seminar, titled "The Novel: From Text to Reader: Marketing Mechanisms and the Horizon of Dissemination," addressed the connection between writers and their audiences through social media and digital platforms. Speakers included novelist Jalal Barjas, sales and marketing specialist Aya Al Zein, and digital marketing expert Jibril Kahlout.

Furthermore, a seminar on "The Novel and Television Drama in the Gulf: From Written Narration to Spoken Image" provided insights into the adaptation of novels into visual media. This discussion featured writer Dr. Marzouq Bashir, media personality Mirza Al-Khuwailidi, director Rashid Malhas, and writer Mohammed Al Nashmi, and was moderated by Dr. Fahd Al Hindal.

Meanwhile, the Katara Book Fair, a significant part of the festival, showcased new publications from participating publishing houses. Katara Publishing House introduced "Financial Oversight During Crises: A Reading of Lessons Learned from the Coronavirus Crisis" by Dr. Salwa Hamed Al Mulla, which examines the economic challenges posed by the pandemic. Dar Rosa also launched several books, including "Coffee with a Little Fascism" by Sheikh Nawaf bin Mubarak Al-Thani, a digital photography guide by Abdullah Al Jassim, and "Fresh Thoughts" by Jassim Abdulrahman Al Khouri.