Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara

Prensa

Guadalajara, Jalisco, a 04 de diciembre de 2022

806,805 readers were reunited at FIL Guadalajara

After two editions affected by the pandemic, people returned to Expo Guadalajara, from November 26 to December 4, to join the celebration of books and reading and get into the Arab culture led by Sharjah

They say that no evil lasts a hundred years, and the pandemic unleashed by C-19 took only two. But gradually, everything returns to its place. For example, 806,805 visitors returned to Expo Guadalajara to enjoy one of the most eagerly awaited annual events: the book fair. After an online edition in 2020 and another with controlled attendance in 2021, 2022 marked the return of the Guadalajara International Book Fair to an in-person format with free attendance. And people gladly responded to the call which, with the Emirate of Sharjah and Arab culture as Guests of Honor, once again brought together readers, authors, book professionals and various personalities from the world of culture and thought.

At the press conference to give the balance of the thirty-sixth edition of the Fair, Raúl Padilla López, president of FIL, described as "stimulating" the way in which writers, authors, publishers, professionals and visitors came together once again. In addition to the number of visitors to the fairgrounds, the participation of 2,173 publishing houses from 49 countries also stood out. This, he said, "is undoubtedly a product of the recovery of the publishing sector in the world and in Mexico". A total of 775 writers from 44 countries, representing 25 different languages, responded to the Fair's call. "The enthusiastic participation of the people in the activities prepared by Sharjah demonstrated that language is not an obstacle to understanding when the common language is that of art and culture," Padilla Lopez said.

The president of FIL Guadalajara highlighted the presence of authors such as Mircea Cărtărescu, winner of the FIL Prize for Literature in Romance Languages; Daniela Tarazona, winner of the Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Prize; as well as Adonis, Alberto Manguel, Irene Vallejo, Sergio Ramírez, Gioconda Belli, Pilar del Río, Arturo Pérez Reverte, Elena Poniatowska and Ángeles Mastretta, among others. Regarding the participation of intellectuals, journalists and activists, Raúl Padilla highlighted the visit of Carmen Aristegui, Cecilia Flores, Javier Ávila, Marcela Turatti, Ricardo Raphael, Julián LeBaron, Enrique Krauze, Maruan Soto Antaki, Lorenzo Córdova, Denise Dresser, José Woldenberg, Beatriz Paredes, Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, Lorenzo Córdova, Denise Dresser, José Woldenberg, Beatriz Paredes, Porfirio Muñoz Ledo, as well as the talk between Ricardo Lagos, Jorge Castañeda and Héctor Aguilar Camín, and Michelle Bachelet with Paulina Saball and Mara Robles.

On the other hand, he also celebrated the return of FIL Kids to the fairgrounds, after last year it was held at the University Cultural Center of the University of Guadalajara due to sanitary measures. On its return to the fairgrounds, FIL Kids was visited by 184,409 children from 110 schools, both public and private, who participated in 1,500 sessions of workshops to promote reading and creative writing. In addition, 77 performances of 27 shows were held.

In addition to the cultural festival around books and reading, the FIL is also an invitation for business and professionalization. This year, 75 negotiation tables were set up and 57 literary agents were received. In the area of training, he said that there were 123 activities for professionals in the book chain, attended by 14,197 participants from 49 countries. Padilla López pointed out that, even though this year the Fair returned to being held in person, the digital reach of the Fair totaled 18 million 857 thousand views by 15 million 235 thousand people in 22 countries. The FIL President concluded by thanking the Sharjah delegation and welcoming the European Union, Guest of Honor of FIL Guadalajara in 2023.

For her part, Marisol Schulz Manaut, general director of the FIL, agreed in highlighting the success of the Fair and invited people to pay attention to the things that, she said, are not quantifiable, but are part of the way in which people take ownership of the book festival. "For example, the overflowing excitement of the children in the aisles; the joy of the girls and boys in the workshops or in the FIL Kids’ Forum; the amazement of all the visitors who had the opportunity to learn about an ancient culture such as the Arab one."

The Fair's director also said that the Fair's impact on the promotion of reading and the formation of new readers should be valued. "Many of the children who came to FIL Kids are now returning to bring their children," she said. Finally, she thanked "all the readers and participants in this edition, whose personalities and voices reflect the diversity and plurality of the Guadalajara International Book Fair.

Prior to the balance, Ricardo Villanueva Lomelí, rector of the University of Guadalajara, expressed his gratitude to the media for their work in publicizing the activities of the Fair and celebrated that in the 36th edition of the FIL "we can declare that the phase of the most acute pandemic has passed, as could be seen in the aisles. The Rector also thanked the delegations from the participating countries and members of Sharjah's cultural groups, including musicians, dancers, writers and other artists. "Nostalgia is beginning to be felt," said Villanueva Lomelí, while highlighting the support given by visitors to the Fair, despite the demonstrations and voices against its organization. "The shows of solidarity were impressive in all the activities," and in, his opinion, the FIL is stronger than ever.

Also speaking was Khoula Al Mijaini, director of Fairs and Festivals at the Sharjah Book Authority, who said she was saddened by the conclusion of the FIL. The Guest of Honor pavilion has served as a bridge to bring visitors to the fairgrounds into contact with Arab culture. During these days, he explained, 66 Emirati books and 15 other traditional books translated into Spanish were presented. Activities in the Arab world were also appreciated: 27 cultural and literary activities, dissemination forums, school visits, screenings in two movie theaters in Guadalajara. At the final cut-off, a total of 450,000 visitors were counted at the pavilion.

Thus, after nine intense days of activities, FIL Guadalajara bids farewell to Sharjah and is ready to welcome the European Union, Guest of Honor of the thirty-seventh edition, whose delegation will arrive at the Fair from November 25 to December 3, 2023.