The 27th edition of FIL will welcome three Nobel prize laureates – Ada Yonath, Shimon Peres and Mario Vargas Llosa – and more than 600 authors from around the world.
The centerpiece of FIL will be Israel’s pavilion showcasing its wealth of literature and cultural diversity. Of particular interest will be reproductions of the Dead Sea Scrolls and manuscripts of Albert Einstein.
The pavilion has been designed by renowned Mexican architect Enrique Norten and will be built with recycled materials.Hungarian philosopher Agnes Heller will give the keynote address, “An Itinerary of Modern Thought: The Jewish Experience,” as part of the Social Sciences International Meeting and FIL’s huge academic program.
A conversation between Peruvian Nobel Literature winner Mario Vargas Llosa and Israeli writer David Grossman will kick off the opening of the Literary Program (Salón Literario) on December 1.
Nobel Prize in Chemistry Ada Yonath will lead a discussion about educating for science and technology with professor Hanoch Gutfreund and Shimon Peres, the current president of Israel, and winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize together with Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat.
Peres will also participate in a conversation with former Spanish Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez on November 30, 8 p.m., moderated by well-known Mexican historian and author Enrique Krauze.
Free performances by Israeli music and dance groups are scheduledg in the Foro FIL beginning at 9 p.m. each night during the Fair.
The FIL Literary Award in Romance Languages, a prize worth 100,000 dollars, will be presented to French poet Yves Bonnefoy at the inaugural event (Saturday, November 30, 11 a.m.).
Well-known authors who will be attending the FIL this year to promote books include Nicolas Sparks of the United States, whose 17 works of published romantic fiction include several bestsellers. His first published novel, “The Notebook,” made the New York Times best-seller list in its first week of release in 1996 and later became a hit movie. His 18th novel, “The Longest Ride,” hit stores in the United States in September.
Some 20,000 book professionals are expected to attend this year’s fair, including librarians, booksellers, distributors, publishers, proofreaders, translators, illustrators and rights agents.
More than 700,00 visitors are expected to pass through fair, which will feature stands of more than 1,000 publishers, mostly from Spanish-speaking nations. However, large numbers of English-language books will also be on sale.
FIL Children will offer 18 workshops inspired in the classics and contemporary works of fantasy literature, as well as dozens of other events.
Among the new events this year is an E-book area, a space exhibiting the products and services by 20 companies related to digital publishing. This pavilion will have a stage for presentations and an interactive area. This year, for the first time, there will be a stand promoting contents in Braille, as well as a round-table with experts talking about editing in accessible formats.
FIL is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on November 30 and December 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. On Monday, December 2; Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4 the hours for the general public are from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. Accredited book professionals may attend during all the above times, as well as December 2, 3 and 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Entrance is 20 pesos (15 pesos for children) and allows visitors to browse the massive exhibit hall and attend book presentations and literary and cultural forums. Additional registration is required for most of the academic events.
Check the FIL website, which includes a section in English, at www.fil.com. mx for a full schedule of events, book presentations and further information.