Prelude Events Starting in October

Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministries of Culture and Tourism, is delighted to announce various exciting prelude events in October leading up to the Gibunco Gibraltar Literary Festival 2025 which will run from the 10^th to 16^th November 2025.

GCS can announce 4 book launches: by Christina Gache, Alice Mascarenhas MBE, Charlie Cumbo and Ambrose Avsellano.

Christina Galliano will be relaunching a reprint of the publication by her late mother ‘A Rocky Passage to Exile…The World War II Memoirs’ of Lourdes Galliano. The book movingly recalls Lourdes’ childhood evacuation from Gibraltar during World War II, tracing a journey through Casablanca, London, and Northern Ireland. The launch will take place at BookGEM on Thursday 2^nd October. Her daughter Cristina pays tribute to her mother’s memory and firsthand moving testament, also forming part of the Lightening Talks panel scheduled for Thursday 13^th November.

Journalist and broadcaster Alice Mascarenhas MBE presents ‘Palabras al Viento’, a book honouring her late father, Manolo Mascarenhas. Best known for his 1960s Radio Gibraltar broadcasts, the publication is both biographical and a curated record of his newspaper writings from 1946–1972, reflecting Gibraltar’s culture, politics and daily life. The launch will take place at Grand Battery House on Thursday 23rd October 2025. Alice will also be launching ‘Alice’s Table 7’ on Monday 10^th November at BookGEM.

Ambrose Avellano’s latest publication ‘El Nino Tiene Algo! The Making of An Artist’ is a vivid journey through six decades of artistic exploration. Ambrose Avellano’s showcases his evolution from rebellious student to accomplished painter. Featuring full colour works in diverse styles, it reflects his lifelong pursuit of authenticity and artistic freedom. The book will be launched at BookGEM on Tuesday 28^th October.

The launch of the photographic publication documenting ‘Gibraltar Football Down Memory Lane’ by Charlie Cumbo tracing the Rock’s rich footballing history since 1882 will be launched on Monday 10th November at BookGEM. Featuring rare posters, programmes and images of landmark matches, clubs and tournaments, it captures unforgettable moments from the Island Games to the Queen’s Cup featuring the 1954 visit of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.

GCS is also organising a workshop with GNBC member and qualified transformational coach Melissa Bosano. Discover Your Writer’s Voice: A Coaching Workshop for Writers and Aspiring Writers will offer an engaging hands-on workshop of guided exercises, discussions and creative activities. Participants will gain clarity on their identity as writers, refine their goals and leave with practical tools and a personalised action plan to stay motivated and inspired. This session is planned for Thursday 16^th October at BookGEM.

Minister for Tourism and Culture, the Hon. Christian Santos GMD MP said: “As always, my thanks to my teams for organising a myriad of events for and around the Literary Festival. These prelude events will serve to get people interested and involved in the upcoming main events. These particular prelude events are focused on local authors and local stories. Gibraltar has always been a melting pot of inspiration, and our creatives are certainly using their experiences and talents to inspire others. The variety of subject matter in the books and workshop will be sure to attract a good crowd for all these dates.”

For further information please contact the Festival Director on telephone: 20047309 or email: info@culture.gi