Calling all bookworms! Guadalajara’s International Book Fair –or FIL Guadalajara, as it is often referred to – the most important annual event of its kind in the Spanish-speaking world, and the second largest book fair in the world (after Frankfurt’s), is just around the corner. Created 30 years ago by the University of Guadalajara, the FIL is meant for professionals and the general public alike, a characteristic that sets it apart from other book fairs around the globe. Despite business being one of its main purposes, it is also a cultural festival in which literature plays a major role, including a program where authors from all continents and languages participate, as well as a forum for the academic discussion of some of the major issues of our time.
During this nine-day event, people gather and stand in long lines to listen to their favorite authors, Guadalajara becomes the center of the book industry and the whole city is filled with the music, arts, cinema, and theater from the featured “Guest of Honor” of the event. This year, the guest of honor will be Latin America.
The cultural presence of Latin America as the guest of honor represents an unparalleled opportunity for the nearly 800 thousand visitors to meet the region’s main authors, as well as those that are just beginning their careers. This will also be a chance to celebrate the diversity that unites our countries, with nine nights of free shows at Foro FIL, where the region’s artistic and cultural expressions will be showcased, in addition to special events at museums and spaces across the city, which will host a rich sampling of Latin American visual arts.
TONOLEC at FORO FIL
And for those of you who are traveling with children, you will be happy to know that the Guadalajara International Book Fair is a family-friendly event. FIL Children is a space that joins reading and fun, encouraging children to approach books through workshops, a reading room, a forum for international performances, and an exhibition and sales area for children’s books by national and international publishing houses.
FIL CHILDREN
The International Book Fair will be open to the general public from November 26 to December 3rd. It will take place at the Exhibition Center Expo Guadalajara.
For more information about the event, such as places to stay, daily program, book presentations, directions, and tickets, please visit: https://www.fil.com.mx/ingles/i_info/i_info_fil.as
Photos: © Courtesy FIL Guadalajara