Tales from the Heartland

Arianto Adipurwanto is an Indonesian writer and educator from Selebung, North Lombok. In 2017, he was invited to participate in the Literature & Ideas Festival (LIFEs) at Salihara, Jakarta. His short story collection Bugiali, published by Pustaka Jaya in 2018, was among the top five in the 2019 Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Awards. His second book, Iblis Tanah Suci, published by Diva Press in 2024, was shortlisted for the 2025 Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa, was a finalist for the Ayu Utami Literary Prize, and was nominated for the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology Literary Award in 2024. He is active with the Akarpohon Community in Mataram, NTB, and teaches at MTsN 1 Kota Bima. He completed his undergraduate degree in Indonesian Language & Literature Education at the University of Mataram. In 2026, he became the first recipient of the Sitor Situmorang Award.

Arianto Adipurwanto adalah penulis dan pendidik asal Indonesia dari Selebung, Lombok Utara. Pada 2017, ia diundang untuk berpartisipasi dalam Literature & Ideas Festival (LIFE) di Salihara, Jakarta. Kumpulan cerpennya Bugiali, yang diterbitkan oleh Pustaka Jaya pada 2018, masuk lima besar penghargaan Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2019. Buku keduanya, Iblis Tanah Suci, terbit melalui _Diva Press _pada 2024 dan masuk daftar pendek Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2025, menjadi finalis Hadiah Sastra Ayu Utami, serta nomine Penghargaan Sastra Kementerian Pendidikan, Kebudayaan, Riset, dan Teknologi 2024. Saat ini, ia aktif di Komunitas Akarpohon, Mataram, Nusa Tenggara Barat, dan mengajar di MTsN 1 Kota Bima. Ia menyelesaikan pendidikan sarjana pada Program Studi Pendidikan Bahasa dan Sastra Indonesia di Universitas Mataram. Pada tahun 2026, ia menjadi penerima pertama Penghargaan Sitor Situmorang.

Maria Pankratia is an Indonesian festival curator and writer from Ende, Flores. She currently serves as Editorial Secretary at Bacapetra.co and Secretary of the Archive and Collection, Research and Policy Commission at the Jakarta Arts Council. Since 2019, she has managed programmes at Yayasan Klub Buku Petra, later curating the Flores Writers Festival in Larantuka and the Bandung Play Festival. In 2017, she was selected as an Emerging Writer at the Makassar International Writers Festival, and her article KTP untuk Kaum Waria, Kenapa Tidak? won third place in a national writing competition on gender and sexuality diversity. Her work has also appeared in Bali Post, Pos Kupang, Bale Bengong, and Jurnal Sastra Santarang.

Maria Pankratia adalah seorang kurator festival dan penulis asal Indonesia, berasal dari Ende, Flores. Saat ini, ia menjabat sebagai Sekretaris Redaksi di Bacapetra.co dan Sekretaris Komisi Arsip dan Koleksi, Riset dan Kebijakan di Dewan Kesenian Jakarta. Sejak 2019, ia mengelola program di Yayasan Klub Buku Petra, kemudian menjadi kurator untuk Flores Writers Festival di Larantuka dan Bandung Play Festival. Pada 2017, ia terpilih sebagai Emerging Writer di Makassar International Writers Festival, dan artikelnya, KTP untuk Kaum Waria, Kenapa Tidak?, meraih Juara III dalam lomba penulisan nasional bertema keberagaman gender dan seksualitas. Tulisannya juga pernah dimuat di Bali Post, Pos Kupang, Bale Bengong, dan Jurnal Sastra Santarang.

Irwan Syamsir is an Indonesian writer, cultural researcher, and literacy activist from Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi. He grew up immersed in several literary and cultural communities in his hometown, where his creative practice began to take shape. His work spans theatre, film, children's books, and educational games, all centred on developing and sharing local knowledge. Through it, he explores Mandar maritime traditions, oral literature, rituals, and local food as sources of wisdom carrying universal messages for every generation. He holds a degree in Indonesian Literature and a Master's in Theatre Arts Creation.

Irwan Syamsir adalah seorang penulis, peneliti budaya, dan pegiat literasi asal Polewali Mandar, Sulawesi Barat. Ia tumbuh dan berproses di berbagai komunitas literasi dan budaya di kampung halamannya, tempat praktik kreatifnya mulai terbentuk. Karyanya merentang dari teater, film, buku anak, hingga permainan edukatif, yang semuanya berfokus pada pengembangan dan penyebaran pengetahuan lokal. Melalui karya-karyanya, ia mengeksplorasi tradisi maritim Mandar, sastra lisan, ritual, dan pangan lokal sebagai sumber kearifan yang menyimpan pesan-pesan universal bagi setiap generasi. Ia menyelesaikan studi Sastra Indonesia dan meraih gelar Magister Penciptaan Seni Teater.