Eighteen years after its last appearance as Guest of Honour, Italy will once again take centre stage at the 40th Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the most important event dedicated to Spanish-language publishing and one of the sector’s leading events worldwide. The initiative was presented today at the Farnesina by Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani.
From 28 November to 6 December, 61 authors will showcase the richness and diversity of Italian publishing through a wide-ranging literary programme centred on the Italian Pavilion. There will also be 33 publishers, a bookshop area dedicated to Italian books in their original language and in Spanish translation, ten exhibitions, nine concerts, and events focusing on gastronomy, cinema, design and academic exchanges, as part of a wide-ranging cultural programme that will involve the whole city. The central theme of the Italian edition will be inspired by Umberto Eco’s words, ‘The world speaks to us like a great book’, to mark the tenth anniversary of his death.
Every year, the Guadalajara International Book Fair attracts over 800 writers, 18,000 publishing professionals, 2,800 publishing houses from over 60 countries and an audience of nearly one million visitors. Guadalajara is also one of the leading international markets for the trading of Spanish-language publishing rights, serving as the primary market for the Italian publishing industry in this field, and has established itself as a strategic platform for the sector’s internationalisation.
“Italy’s participation as guest of honour at the Guadalajara International Book Fair represents a significant recognition and a strategic opportunity to strengthen the presence of the Italian publishing industry in the Spanish-speaking Americas, which is our country’s leading cultural sector.” The promotion of Italian books abroad is a key tool of growth diplomacy: every work that is translated helps to promote our cultural identity and our exports. The Fair will be a showcase of excellence, highlighting an Italy that combines tradition and innovation, and serving to strengthen cultural and historical ties with Mexico and the whole Latin America area,” said Minister Tajani.
Also speaking at the event were the Undersecretary for Culture, Pietro Cannella; the President of the Italian Publishers Association (Associazione Italiana Editori, AIE), Innocenzo Cipolletta; the President of the Guadalajara International Book Fair, José Trinidad Padilla López, the General Director Marisol Schulz, the Mexican Ambassador to Italy, Genaro Lozano, and the Director General of Italian Trade Agency, Lorenzo Galanti, representing the team that contributed to the organisation of the Italian Programme at the Fair. Two writers from the Italian delegation—Olga Campofreda and Viola Ardone—concluded the presentation.
