The voice of the people is silenced by social media and the internet. There is no more patience to give the soul a voice. Find its voice in freedom. Find its voice through poetry.

In Bistrița, there is a powerful event that brings poetry to life.
“Poezia este la Bistrița” is a festival that helps people connect with poetry and discover themselves through it. Every summer, in July, for four days, Bistrița becomes the home of poetry readings, author dialogues, writing workshops for high school students, jazz concerts, early music, and contemporary performances.

The festival, which initially featured only a few Romanian poets, has grown over time into an international event. Each year, poets and musicians from around the world—countries such as Turkey, Belgium, the USA, and more—are invited to share their work. The festival is organized by writers Dan Coman and Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari, with the support of Gavril Țârmure, director of the Palace of Culture in Bistrița.

What inspired you to create the “Poezia este la Bistrița” Festival?
Dan Coman: That poetry is free—that everyone can express themselves through it and interpret it however they choose. That’s extraordinary. I don’t want people to think that poetry must follow specific literary models or trends. Its beauty lies in the freedom it offers.

How has the festival evolved over time?
Dan Coman: Amazingly. At first, we had a small audience and only a few Romanian poets. Now, we welcome 200–300 attendees and poets from both Romania and abroad. If you consistently offer quality, the audience grows. It just takes time.

What role does poetry play in the community?
Dan Coman: A significant one. The growing audience at each edition proves that. We started small, but now more and more people are attending.

Răzvan Țupa on stage. Image: Ana Ciobanu.

What kind of reactions have you received from the audience?
Dan Coman: In the beginning, people were shy and hesitant. Now, many attend—not just from Bistrița, but also from Cluj, Suceava, and even Iași. They come specifically for the festival, and that’s amazing!

Has the festival influenced young people's interest in poetry?
Dan Coman: I wouldn't say it created that interest, but it certainly showed them that poetry is more than something you memorize for exams. Many were already passionate about poetry, and the festival gave them a chance to present their work. Each year, an unpublished poet is invited to read. I’ve met very young poets here who later went on to publish important books.

What is the main criterion for selecting invited poets?
Dan Coman: Two main criteria: they must be very good poets—regardless of school, literary group, or style—and we aim to showcase a wide variety of poetic voices. But we never compromise on quality.

What impact does the festival have on contemporary poetry for young people?
Dan Coman: A big one. I’ve seen young poets grow alongside the festival, inspired by the well-known writers who read here. And as I said, every year we feature an unpublished poet as well.

What is your favorite moment of the festival?
Dan Coman: I enjoy many moments—from the poetry readings to the music performances. But if I had to choose, it would be the time just before each evening begins: people wandering among bookstands, buying poetry books, getting autographs, chatting with authors, taking photos, and simply enjoying the atmosphere. That’s what a festival should feel like.

Poster of the 15th edition of the festival. Image: https://m.facebook.com/poeziaelabistritapunct/.

What can you tell us about this year’s edition?
Dan Coman: This year’s edition—the 17th—will take place from July 3rd to 6th. It will feature over 20 guests from Romania and abroad (Spain, Serbia, Moldova, Croatia), from unpublished poets like Dani Blănariu to well-established authors like Laura Pavel and Mircea Cărtărescu. There will also be rock music (Luna Amară), jazz, and symphonic concerts. We look forward to seeing you there!

How do you see the future of the festival?
Dan Coman: Bright. We’ve never had a specific strategy except to never lower our standards. We only invite exceptional poets. If you consistently offer something of high quality, people respond.

My Experience at the Festival
Last year, I volunteered at the 16th edition of the festival with some friends. Alongside the organizers, Dan Coman and Marin Mălaicu-Hondrari, we were guided by Mrs. Alina Pop, who helped us carry out our responsibilities and ensure the festival ran smoothly.

One of our main tasks was to prepare slides with translations—Romanian versions of foreign poets’ work, and English versions of Romanian poets’ work—to be projected during the evening readings, so that the audience could easily follow the poetry. Some of us were also assigned to accompany foreign guests. I had the honor of assisting Alejandro Simón Partal, a Spanish poet, and I introduced him to some of Bistrița’s central monuments and made sure he had everything he needed.

Once our duties were fulfilled, we also enjoyed the festival. On the first evening, two major awards were presented: the Laura Albulescu Award for Editor of the Year, awarded to poet Claudiu Komartin of Max Blecher Publishing House, and the Bistrița City Literature Award, awarded to writer and playwright Matei Vișniec. Their speeches, filled with emotion and gratitude, opened the evening’s readings.

With the English poet James Appleby. Image: Ana Ciobanu.

Each day, we attended the readings, joined discussions with various writers, and participated in creative writing workshops. On the first day, poet Anastasia Gavrilovici led a workshop where we had to write from a specific perspective, and others guessed whose perspective it was. The next day, poet Răzvan Țupa guided us through a poetic conversation—each person stood up and shared whatever came to mind.

Every poetry evening featured musical performances that brought a wide variety of styles to the festival. The final day was dedicated to emerging poets, who each had a lyrical moment in the museum courtyard. Children’s groups from other cities like Suceava and Sibiu also came to feel the spirit of poetry in Bistrița.

During the festival, we chatted with the poets, who were incredibly open and passionate. Poet Răzvan Țupa was particularly kind and told us about his blog, citEşti, where he recommends books. He encouraged us to keep writing. We also met foreign poets, like James Appleby from the UK. He was very friendly and encouraging—he said he hoped to see us on stage one day and even offered to help us with publishing.

At the end of our conversation, I gave him a cake I had bought to celebrate with a friend after the festival. On July 13th, we also celebrated Radu Vancu’s birthday—he thanked us with heartfelt emotion.

Volunteering at this festival was a true honor and a source of immense joy. Every moment spoke to my poetic soul. It reminded me that poetry is still alive and that people love it deeply. This festival proves what Radu Vancu once said: "Beauty exists."
Beauty is poetry. May you discover beauty in life—and in yourself.

With the poet Ion Mureșan. Image: Ana Ciobanu.

With the Serbian poet Danica Vukicevic. Image: Ana Ciobanu.