The University of Guadalajara, through a project created by the Environmental Sciences Museum as part of the University’s Cultural Center, and with the support of the Guadalajara International Book Fair, has established the José Emilio Pacheco City and Nature Award. The prize, which will be given for the first time this year, will be dedicated to poetry. The winning author, who must write in Spanish and have at least ten unpublished poems or poems published in the last five years that are related to nature, urban sustainability, socio-ecological harmony and environmental conservation, will be given a purse of US $10,000. The award is dedicated to poet José Emilio Pacheco, whose work explores the duality between cities and nature.
Created by the University of Guadalajara, and with the collaboration of the National Institute for Indigenous Languages, the Culture Ministry, the National Commission for the Development of the Indigenous Cultures and Jalisco’s Department of Education, the American Indigenous Literature Award is granted to enrich, protect and promote the legacy and richness of Mexico’s indigenous peoples through literature in all its forms, and to and acknowledge and further develop the careers and works of indigenous authors. The award, which carries a purse of US $25,000, will be given for the fourth time at the 2016 FIL Guadalajara.
The SM Ibero-American Award for Literature for Children and Young People was implemented in 2005, the year of Ibero-American literature, with the goal of promoting literature for children and young people throughout Ibero-America. The award is given out each year during the Guadalajara International Book Fair to recognize writers of literature for children and young people and carries a purse of US $30,000.
Juan Carlos Quezadas
Karime Cardona Cury
With the goal of creating a network that helps to encourage the work of illustrators of books for children and young people in Ibero-America, the SM Foundation and the FIL Guadalajara invites illustrators to submit their work to be included in the Annual Ibero-American Illustration Catalog. The 45 works selected will be displayed in an exposition at the Guadalajara International Book Fair. In addition, illustrators will have the opportunity to work on an illustrated book with Ediciones SM and the winner will be given US $5,000. You can find more information at: www.iberoamericailustra.com
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FILustra
Activities for Professionals
FILustra
Illustrating the Journey
Creative Reflections: A Two-Way Journey
The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), in collaboration with the Professional Association of Illustrators of Euskadi and the Irudika International Meeting, will celebrate the eleventh edition of FILustra. Both events have established themselves as key references in the field of illustration, providing a vital space for professional development and creative exchange on an international scale.
FILustra and Irudika will highlight the diversity and depth of contemporary illustration, as well as the importance of building bridges between cultures and diverse artistic visions. Through panel discussions, talks, and workshops, the events will encourage dialogue and creative exchange among illustrators from various fields, strengthening the global community of creators and illustration enthusiasts.
This year, both meetings will be drivers of change and transformation in the world of illustration, reaffirming their commitment to art, culture, and the professional development of the sector.
Participants: Isidro Ferrer, Miju Lee
Moderator: Araiz Mesanza
Virtual participation: William Grill
Isidro Ferrer
Invitado de HonorHe is an illustrator and graphic designer whose work spans a vast physical and emotional geography. A graduate in dramatic arts and scenography, Isidro Ferrer is a graphic artist in the broadest sense of the term: he is the creator of hundreds of posters, book covers, objects, toys, editorial design, monumental infographics, animated shorts, textiles, brand imagery, sculptures, and lamps. Any medium, technique, or communication channel serves him to express with images his passion for the theater of life.
As an illustrator, he has published over 50 books, including: El vuelo de la razón (1993, Ministry of Culture Award for Best Edited Book); Yo me lo guiso, yo me lo como (1996, Laus Silver Award for Illustration); El verano y sus amigos (1996, Lazarillo Award for Illustration); En Cosme i el monstre Menjamots (2000, Serra d’Or Criticism Award); Una casa para el abuelo (2003, Daniel Gil Award for Illustration; 2006, Junceda Award for Illustration); Libro de las preguntas (2006, AEPD Award and Cálamo Award); Un jardín (2017, Bologna Ragazzi Award Mention); Enciclopedia visual de los sonidos (2022, BRAW Amazing Bookshelf. Bologna Children’s Book Fair); Frankenstein o el Prometeo moderno (2023, National Award for Best University Edition); Piedra a piedra (2023, Ministry of Culture Award for Best Edited Book).
His work has been exhibited in numerous countries across Europe, America, and Asia. He has received the National Design Award in 2002 and the National Illustration Award in 2006. Since 2000, he has been a member of AGI (Alliance Graphique Internationale).
Other activities involving the participant:
Design Beyond the Book: Publishers Who Understand Typography
Miju Lee
Miju Lee is a South Korean visual artist known for her sensitive and poetic approach to the subtlety of everyday life. Her work blends illustration with mixed media techniques, capturing fleeting moments that invite introspection.
In recent years, she has exhibited her work in prominent institutions and galleries internationally. Her most recent solo exhibition, Perfect Days, was held at Labibi Gallery in Mallorca (2024). Additionally, her participation in artist residencies, such as the one at CCA Andratx in Spain (2022), has enriched her practice and fostered connections within the global art community.
Her works are part of significant collections, including the María Cristina Masaveu Peterson Foundation and the Solo Collection in Spain, as well as the Art Bank of the National Museum of Contemporary Art in Korea. These collaborations reflect the widespread impact of her art, which transcends borders and cultures.
Miju Lee’s work explores universal themes such as memory, the passage of time, and the small details of daily life, establishing her as a prominent figure in the contemporary art scene.
Araiz Mesanza
Araiz Mesanza (n. 1983) es una ilustradora vasca afincada en Oslo, Noruega. Licenciada en Bellas Artes por la Facultad de Pais Vasco. (Bilbao, España) consta con especialización en Ilustración en la Escola Massana. (Barcelona, España). Y con un Master en Diseño e Ilustración de la Academia Nacional de las Artes de Oslo (Noruega). Mesanza trabaja como ilustradora independiente, con albumes infantiles, ilustración editorial y cómics. Ademas tiene especial interés en la autoedición y el material gafico, lo que le ha llevado a fundar su propio sello llamado Toki press. Un lugar para explorar cómics, narrativas, diseño, formatos y autoedicion y sobre todo para indagar en la frontera entre publicaciones e impresiones.