Countdown for Italy as Guest of Honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL) from November 28 to December 6: the complete program of Italy’s participation is online on the FIL website, as well as on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Culture, and the Italian Publishers Association.
Focus on the theme of exchanges between Italian publishing and Latin American publishing
Thus Italy reveals its full lineup on the occasion of the official presentation of the 40th edition of the FIL, which took place yesterday in Guadalajara and which was attended by Italy’s Filippo La Rosa, Deputy Director General and Central Director for the promotion of the Italian language, culture and territories at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. A space and particular emphasis will be given to the theme of exchanges between Italian publishing and Latin American publishing, with meetings dedicated to promoting mutual knowledge between the different markets and to fostering new encounters and translation projects.
Alessandro Baricco opens the program
It will be Alessandro Baricco, in dialogue with Valeria Luiselli, one of the leading contemporary Mexican writers, who will kick off the literary program not only for Italy but for the entire Fair, confirming the central role of our country in this year’s edition: the meeting is scheduled for November 29 at 12:30 PM, at the Juan Rulfo Auditorium.
With more than 120 literary and professional meetings hosted by about sixty authors, along with figures from the Italian and international book world, Italy returns to Guadalajara as a protagonist eighteen years after its last appearance as Guest of Honor. It does so in the name of Umberto Eco: his phrase — “The world speaks to us like a great book” — is the motto with which the country presents itself to the major international book fair dedicated to Spanish-language markets. Alongside the literary and professional meetings, the program is enriched by more than exhibitions and artistic performances, 9 concerts and other initiatives, from gastronomy to cinema, as well as academic exchanges.
The Italian Pavilion inside the Fair
At the heart of the initiative will be the Italian Pavilion inside the Fair, where more than 30 publishers will exhibit and where there will be a bookstore space displaying books by Italian authors in the original language and in Spanish translation.
Each year the FIL brings together over 800 writers, 18,000 industry professionals, 2,800 publishing houses from more than 60 countries, and an audience approaching one million visitors. In over 35,000 square meters of exhibition space, more than 1,600 activities take place over the course of nine days.
Italy as Guest of Honor at the Guadalajara International Book Fair is an initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Mexico City and the Italian Cultural Institute of Mexico City, the Ministry of Culture through the General Directorate of Libraries and Cultural Institutes, the General Directorate of Shows, the General Directorate of Cinema and Audiovisual with Cinecittà, the General Directorate of Museums and the Centre for the Book and Reading, the ICE Agency for Promotion Abroad and the Internationalization of Italian Companies, and in collaboration with the Italian Publishers Association (AIE).
