Guadalajara International Book Fair
A Quick Guide to the World’s Second Largest Book Expo
Sep 19, 2009
After the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Guadalajara International Book Fair is the world’s second largest book exhibition. In 2008, the book fair attracted 17,000 publishers, authors, literary agents, librarians and booksellers from 40 countries and 1,900 exhibitors.
The fair is a gateway to the Spanish-language market for booksellers and publishers and is often referred to as FIL, the acronym of the fair’s name in Spanish: Feria Internacional del Libro de Guadalajara. It has showcased a country or cultural region as guest of honor since 1993 and is focusing on a city for the first time with Los Angeles this year.
FIL Guadalajara 2009 Program
With almost 3,000 events for publishing professionals and young and young-at-heart book lovers alike, the International Book Fair Guadalajara offers something for everyone. Some of the FIL 2009 highlights include:
- panel discussions, seminars and conferences with and for publishing professionals,
- the FIL Rights Center for authors, publishers and agents,
- prestigious book prize awards like the FIL 2009 Literary Award,
- an academic program presented by the University of Guadalajara,
- the 7th Reading Promoters Conference,
- the Pleasure of Reading forum,
- readings by world-renowned writers,
- FIL Children, a special part of the fair dedicated to children and young adults (see below) and
- many concerts, shows and special events in and around the convention center.
Guest of Honor at FIL 2009: Los Angeles
Showcasing the literary traditions of mainly Spanish-speaking countries has been customary at the Guadalajara International Book Fair since 1993. This year, the honor goes to the city of Los Angeles. Some of the planned events are:
- portraits of Julius Shulman, Charles Bukowski, Raymond Chandler, John Fante and others,
- a closer look at literary trends like the new LA surrealist Latin America, LA short stories and poetry,
- discussions of topics like LA crime writing and science fiction, the Hollywood novel and more;
- a look at emerging LA writers, international writers living in LA and LA writers living outside the city,
- musical performances by Los Lobos, the Wayne Shorter Quartet, the Phil Ranelin Jazz Ensemble and many others,
- dance performances by Diavolo Dance Company and the Lula Washington Dance Theatre and
- an Angeleno film series.
Guadalajara International Book Fair Opening Hours, Tickets and Location
FIL takes place at Expo Guadalajara at Avenida Mariano Otero and Avenida Las Rosas. The entrance fee for the general public is 20 pesos ($1.50) per person; 15 pesos ($1.15) for children, students, teachers and seniors with valid identification.
After September 15, professional visitors will pay $55 regardless if they pre-register or not. Until November 6, pre-registered visitors will be included in the print and online version of the fair’s Who’s Who publication. Here is an interactive floorplan and the FIL opening hours at a glance:
- Saturday, Nov. 28: 11 am–9 pm, general public
- Sunday, Nov. 29: 9 am–9 pm, general public
- Monday, Nov. 30: 9 am–5 pm, trade visitors only; 5 pm –9 pm general public
- Tuesday, Dec. 1: 9 am–5 pm, trade visitors only; 5 pm –9 pm general public
- Wednesday, Dec. 2: 9 am–5 pm, trade visitors only; 5 pm –9 pm general public
- Thursday, Dec. 3 through Sunday, Dec. 6: 9 am–9 pm, general public
FIL for Children – FIL Niños 2009
Since FIL’s creation in 1987, encouraging children and young adults to read has played a major role at Guadalajara book fair. Special exhibition space is set aside for them where they can participate in workshops, watch performances or simply read. The numbers speak for themselves when it comes to the popularity of this service: From a few thousand children in the beginning to 141,000 participating in FIL Children 2008.
FIL Children 2009 is dedicated to emotions; focusing on exciting stories and those that make one dream, as well as “passionate letters, frightening novels, touching stories, dazzling images and comforting poems” (from the program). Planned are also readings, acrobatics shows, music events and workshops.
With nine 12-hour days, Guadalajara International Book Fair is one gigantic book festival that will exhaust and excite the public and publishing professionals alike. But with its good mix of entertainment and professional and academic programs, the fair’s organizers are trying their best once again to ensure that everyone will benefit from this book event.
More information about the fair can be found on the official FIL website. Readers interested in this article may also like to know more about Frankfurt Book Fair, Project Gutenberg or the Man Booker Prize.
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