Fanfest 9 (16th - 19th october 2026, Ljubljana, Celje)
The 2025 edition of Fanfest brought together writers, readers, and fans of speculative fiction in a vibrant celebration of imagination, creativity, and cross-cultural exchange. The festival unfolded between the 16th and 19th of October 2025 across several venues in Celje, with events ranging from panels and readings to workshops and presentations of new works. This year’s guiding themes were Contemporary fantasy and Green Celje, exploring both literary and ecological dimensions of modern storytelling.
Opening Evening – Contemporary Fantasy
16th of October 2025, Slovene Writers’ Association HQ, Ljubljana
The festival opened at the Slovene Writers’ Association HQ with a discussion dedicated to Contemporary Fantasy.
Professor Zoran Živković provided an insightful overview of the evolution of fantasy in the 20th century, identifying magical realism and science fiction as its two dominant literary trends. Now, in the first quarter of the 21st century, he observed the emergence of a new kind of fantasy—one that has yet to crystallize into a defined literary movement.
To illustrate what “contemporary fantasy” means in practice, Živković read one of the stories from his latest book, The Four Deaths and One Resurrection of Fyodor Mikhailovich, captivating the audience with his characteristic blend of intellect and imagination.
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Celje Programme Package
Reception of Festival Guests
17th of October 2025, 7 p.m.
Friday evening was dedicated to welcoming the festival’s international guests.
Antika Bookstore and Antique Shop, Celje: Presentation of Fanfest and Literary Highlights
18th of October 2025, 4 p.m.,
The festival’s Celje programme began on Saturday afternoon at the charming Antika Bookstore and Antique Shop.
Bojan Ekselenski presented an overview of recent Slovenian speculative fiction releases, introduced all three 2025 issues of the Supernova magazine, and shared where Fanfest had been showcased throughout the year.
Afterward, new guests who joined the festival for the first time took the stage. Their presentations highlighted the festival’s diversity and international reach, featuring authors from Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, and Slovenia—a vibrant mix of emerging and established voices sharing their creative visions and future plans.
During the segment on Upcoming Fantastic Works, Domen Mezeg presented his saga Ilonika and revealed some of his upcoming projects—intriguing and timely ventures that sparked much interest among attendees.
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18th of October 2025, 7 p.m.: Main Event at the Celje House of Culture
The central event of Fanfest 2025 took place at the Celje House of Culture, featuring a musical introduction by Matej Krajnc and opening remarks by Bojan Ekselenski.
The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Simon Jevšinek, Deputy Mayor of the Municipality of Celje, who emphasized the cultural importance of Fanfest for the city and touched on this year’s ecological theme, Green Celje.
Panel: Contemporary Fantasy
Following the opening, Zoran Živković, Matej Krajnc, and Bojan Ekselenski revisited the panel on contemporary fantasy.
Professor Živković reflected on the fact that all major figures of science fiction belong to the 20th century—while no equally influential names have emerged in the 21st. Science fiction is still written and published, he noted, but without groundbreaking innovation. One reason may be that we now live in a world that is itself science fiction.
He reminded the audience that the 20th century was the fastest-developing period in human history—a time of unprecedented faith in technology as humanity’s liberating force.
Presentation of the Collection Green Celje
The evening continued with the presentation of Green Celje, a thematic anthology discussed by Dominik Lenarčič and its contributing authors.
Each writer offered a personal interpretation of the “green transition,” with tones ranging from serious reflection to satire—one story even portrayed the “green transition” as nothing more than a freshly painted pedestrian crossing.
Contributors included Anto Zirdun, Barbara Ribič Jelen, Majda Arhnauer Subašič, Matic Smerdu, and Tihomir Jovanović.
Announcement of the literary call for Fanfest 10
To conclude the evening, Bojan Ekselenski announced the call for submissions for the jubilee edition – Fanfest 10: Celje and Europe in a World of Magic.
Details of the call for submissions.
He emphasized that great stories should move beyond the clichéd portrayal of magic as simple wand-waving, encouraging authors to explore deeper symbolic and cultural meanings.
The night ended with an informal social gathering filled with lively conversation and creative energy.
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Workshop: Science in Science Fiction
19th of October 2025, 10:30 a.m., Celje House of Culture
The festival concluded with a Sunday morning workshop titled Science in Science Fiction, led by Bojan Ekselenski and Professor Zoran Živković.
Each presenter offered a unique perspective on the interplay between science and storytelling, underlining that literary artistry must take precedence over technical precision.
Participants explored various sources of scientific inspiration, but the key message was clear: science fiction is first and foremost prose art, not a scientific essay. Too much technical accuracy can stifle narrative creativity, and an author lacking literary skill may lose the human essence of the story.
Professor Živković cited The Black Cloud by Fred Hoyle as an example of brilliant science undermined by poor prose, while contrasting it with Ursula K. Le Guin’s The Left Hand of Darkness, where two scientifically implausible devices nonetheless serve the story’s deeper truths—embodying the true magic of science fiction.
Ekselenski, meanwhile, pointed to inaccuracies in the opening chapter of Liu Cixin’s Supernova Era, warning against using data that can be easily disproven. His practical advice to writers: avoid precise figures and rigid details—prose allows for creative flexibility.
The workshop closed with a reaffirmation of Fanfest’s guiding principle: in science fiction, art comes before science.
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Fanfest 2025 thus concluded with thoughtful discussions, inspiring encounters, and renewed commitment to exploring the infinite possibilities of imagination—whether through the lens of fantasy, science fiction, or the green transition of our shared world.
Photo: Andrej Ivanuša, Dominik Lenarčič in Bojan Ekselenski
