In 2020, taking into consideration the data related to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 17th TBF will focus on an entirely digital program extending over eleven days (November 19-29). It primarily aims at the participation of significant writers as well as at the digital organization of the scheduled festivals, events, actions and professional meetings highlighting issues of the domestic and the international book market.
The Hellenic Foundation for Culture is organizing the 17th International Thessaloniki Book Fair, and being vigorously present eagerly adapts to the challenges of this day and age. “We firmly believe that the role of culture, and more importantly the role of the book, is to support collective consciousness by bestowing support to a society, which is under pressure due to the potential risks to public health,” Mr. Nikos Koukis, President of the Executive Board, stated.
Two studios — Thessaloniki and Athens
The program of events of the 17th TBF will be broadcast online through the new website, which is currently under construction, and at the same time through the social media of the book fair, from two properly equipped studios, one in Thessaloniki and one in Athens.
More specifically, the daily broadcast schedule will take place in the following time zones: from 13:00 to 21:30 on weekdays (November, 19-20 and 23-27) and from 10:00 to 21:30 on weekends (November 21-22 and 28-29), with consecutive events, each lasting one hour at the most.
Famous Writers from All Over the World
It might be the case that the biggest event for the book in Greece has taken a slightly different form this year, due to the exceptional circumstances, as it does not take place in its natural environment. However, this does not entail that participation will be short of famous writers. As a result of the energetic support of the Greek publishing houses and the contribution of major foreign institutes, renowned foreign writers will participate in the digital events of the 17th Thessaloniki Book Fair, among which Alaa Al Aswany (Patakis Publishers), the distinguished Egyptian writer, whose latest book, Democracy is the Answer: Egypt’s Years of Revolution, is about the Arab Spring revolution in Egypt and has recently been published in Greek; Gilles Kepel (Klidarithmos Publications),French political scientist, professor, expert on Middle East issues and writer of thenew book Away from Chaos; Paul Mason from Britain (Kastaniotis Editions), journalist, political commentator and author of the books Postcapitalism (2016) and Clear Bright Future (2020) and many more.
“Let’s talk:” Greek – German professional events
On November 9, 2020, ten days before the official opening of the digital TBF, a distinct program will take place including discussions between Greek and German professionals of the book market. It will be held on an entirely digital basis and will revolve around up-to-date publishing, promotion and sales strategies with an emphasis on the use of new technologies, and the literary translation. The main topics to be discussed are: best practice examples for booksellers in the new conditions of the Covid-19 virus pandemic, successful online book marketing, and latest trends in the German audio book trade.
The web-based seminars focusing on translation will strive to address the particular challenges of translating poetry and graphic novels, networking strategies, and the importance of cultural contexts in translating literature. This program is part of the program of the TBF for professionals and is organized by the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Goethe Institut and the Litrix program in cooperation with the Hellenic Foundation for Culture.
Info and registration: https://www.goethe.de/ins/gr/en/kul/sup/bmt.html
The TBF is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Culture in collaboration with TIF-HELEXPO, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, associations of Greek publishers as well as independent publishers, with the support and cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Sports. The 17th digital TBF is co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund in the framework of the Regional Operational Program of Central Macedonia 2014-2020.
