When does Translators in Conversation take place?

The conversation takes place on Sunday, November 8, 2026, from 16:00 to 17:30.

Where is the event held?

The venue is Hall X at Gasteig HP8, Hans-Preißinger-Straße 8, 81379 Munich.

How much does a ticket cost?

The regular ticket price is 16 euros. Reduced prices of 11 euros and 5 euros are also listed.

Who is participating in the conversation?

The guests are translators Sonja Finck and Frank Weigand. The conversation is moderated by LJ Jeschke.

What is the content about?

The focus is on the challenges of translating queer literature and queer plays, experiences in the literary field, and viewing translation as a joint and political process.

Is the venue accessible for people with disabilities?

The halls of Gasteig HP8 are accessible for people with mobility impairments and wheelchair users. There are designated disabled parking spaces and accessible restrooms.

Queer Literature in Dialogue: Translating as Art, Stance, and Cultural Encounter

Name: Translators in Conversation
Start: 2026-11-08T16:00:00+01:00
End: 2026-11-08T17:30:00+01:00
Location: Gasteig HP8, Saal X

When Translation Becomes Political Language Art

At the Queer Literature Festival Munich 2026, Sonja Finck and Frank Weigand will meet at Gasteig HP8. In their moderated conversation with LJ Jeschke, they will discuss literary translation as an artistic and politically activist practice – and explore how queer literature retains its power across languages, cultures, and differing horizons of experience.

Between Voice, Style, and Cultural Transmission

Translating means much more than transferring individual words. It involves rhythm, tone, narrative perspective, and the linguistic precision with which identity, desire, and social reality become palpable in a new language. Sonja Finck and Frank Weigand will talk about the unique challenges of translating queer texts and plays, as well as the decisions that connect literary quality and accessibility.

A Conversation with Two Influential Translators

Sonja Finck has translated works by Annie Ernaux and Édouard Louis into German, among others. She has received multiple awards for her work, including the André Gide Prize, the German Youth Literature Prize, and the Eugen Helmlé Award for her body of work. Frank Weigand has translated around 150 plays, primarily from the French and Francophone areas, and she engages intensively with collaborative translation processes and the power political dimensions of linguistic transfer.

Queer Literature as a Space of Resistance

The conversation will situate literary translation within the cultural discourse of the present. Current translations by Laura Vazquez, Édouard Louis, and Laura-Ève Lambert will be central, as will experiences from the literary field, structural barriers, and the question of what changes when translation is understood as a collaborative process. The reading atmosphere of the festival combines expert analysis with an immediate author encounter and opens the view of language as a living cultural practice.

Literary Experience at Gasteig HP8

Hall X at Gasteig HP8 provides the setting for a focused encounter with translation, contemporary literature, and queer culture. Attendees can expect a 90-minute workshop conversation offering insights into work methods, language art, and the societal significance of literary mediation.

The Queer Literature Festival Munich has been creating a space for contemporary queer literature, discussions, readings, and writing formats since 2023. Those who want to experience literature not just as a finished text but as a polyphonic process will find this conversation a particularly enlightening festival moment.

Conclusion: Experience Language as Encounter

Sonja Finck and Frank Weigand highlight how much literary labor, cultural responsibility, and linguistic artistry go into a translation. The conversation promises an inspiring literary experience for all who are interested in contemporary queer literature, translation, and the political power of language. Mark the date at Gasteig HP8 and experience literature live in conversation.