November 6–9, 2025
2025 Guest Speakers
The writers, poets, moderators and judges who made the 2025 festival — Long Story Short — unforgettable.
Chris JacksonSpeaker
Johnny TempleModerator
Elise DillsworthSpeaker
Traci O’DeaModerator
André Braithwaite, MBEModerator
Zola MasharikiSpeaker
Celeste MohammedSpeaker
Tiphanie YaniqueSpeaker
Jennifer PotterSpeaker
Brodrick PennSpeaker
Via Donovan-HodgeSpeaker
Mia LennardSpeaker
Rea VanterpoolSpeaker
Rick S. S. GrantSpeaker
Priscilla Hintz Rivera KnightSpeaker
David Knight Jr.Speaker
Malene BarnettSpeaker
Adrianna SoverallSpeaker
Dwyane ThomasSpeaker
Janice SkeltonSpeaker
Shane LiburdSpeaker
Michael JeffersonSpeaker
Travis ‘Travie Rozae’ WaltersSpeaker
Brent HoyteSpeaker
Paul FentySpeaker
Shaun BlackSpeaker
Delrosa HillhouseSpeaker
Andria FlaxSpeaker
April GlasgowSpeaker
Kyra JamesSpeaker
L. Sauda SmithModerator
Alton BertieSpeaker
Enya Douglas-TarabaySpeaker
Raul “Jougo” SprauveSpeaker
Rochelle SmithSpeaker
Naudia TurnbullSpeaker
Cindy AllmanSpeaker
Sandra WardSpeaker
Isabelle BaafiSpeaker
Kamau GeorgesSpeaker
Anika ChristopherSpeaker
Nekita TurnbullSpeaker
Arliene PennSpeaker
Simond LlewellynSpeaker
Kacy GarveySpeaker
JaCoy “Tooma” BrathwaiteSpeaker
Johanna GibsonSpeaker
Beverly VanterpoolSpeaker
Patlian JohnsonSpeaker
Raven PhillipsSpeaker · Judge
Derron SandyHost
Medita WheatleySpeaker
Charles WheatleySpeaker
Richard GeorgesSpeaker
Linette RabsattSpeaker
Marsha MassiahSpeaker
Yona DeshommesModerator
Patricia TurnbullSpeaker