After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the most popular event on Argentina’s cultural agenda returns: the Buenos Aires International Book Fair. This, its 46th edition, will run from April 28th to May 16thwith a large part of the usual attractions and many novelties.
To your new manager Ezekiel MartinezHe was responsible for the complex task of organizing the return decided at the end of last year due to the declining numbers of the pandemic and the return of many other activities with the public. A journalist with a long career in culture, Martínez has previously held positions such as deputy editorial secretary of Ñ magazine and general director for culture at the National Library. He is also currently President of the Foundation Thomas Eloy Martinezdestined to preserve the legacy of his father, the writer and teacher of journalists, author of classics such as “La Novela de Perón” and “Santa Evita”.
“There’s a lot of excitement about the reunion,” says the director of the NOTICIAS fair, while being around him, a few days before the start of the event; at the headquarters of the Fundación El Libro, the final details are finalized.
The writer William Saccomano will be responsible for the opening of the 2022 edition together with a representative of Havana -Guest City this year- and national government and city authorities. The opening act, which in the past has been the scene of invective and apology, is usually one of the most significant moments of the event. In this regard, Martínez clarifies: “The fair is pluralistic, we do not censor anyone except on issues on which we all agree: discrimination, violence against women, etc. But there should be more tolerance for dissenting opinions.”
What should I do
If the book covers all topics, it is logical that within the fair as many parallel events coexist as there are special interests of their visitors.
Two days before the official start, the professional days, which is aimed at the main players in the industry, from dealers to librarians. From the 28th, when the fair opens its doors to the public, many other specific activities will take place in addition to stand tours, autograph sessions and book presentations by the most popular authors. For example the International Poetry Festival (April 29th to May 1st) or the Dialogue of Writers and Writers of Latin America (May 7th to 10th) or the dialogue of the writers of Argentina (May 4th to 6th). A youthful classic International Bookfluencer Meeting (ex “youtubers”), takes place on May 13 at 6:30 p.m.
This year will also mark the 100th birthday of José Saramago with a reading marathon and the 40th anniversary of the Nobel Prize Gabriel Garcia Marquezwith an activity in which Jaime Bello (Director of the Gabo Foundation) and his son Rodrigo García will participate via streaming from Los Angeles.
Mario Vargas Llosa He will revisit the fair where he will present his latest book, The Silent Gaze, dedicated to the work of Spanish author Benito Pérez Galdós. And also the American Johann Katzenbachthe Chilean Diamela Eltit and the Spaniard Javier Fences.
Mariana Enríquez, Carlos Gamerro, Gabriela Cabezón Cámara, María Rosa Lojo, Inés Garland, Jorge Aulicino, Gabriela Massuh and Tamara Tenenbaum are just some of the hundreds of national authors who will be participating in this edition.
The international meeting “Think about the future” brings together three personalities to reflect on the world to come: French political scientist Caroline Fourest, Spanish cultural journalist Jorge Carrión and Uruguayan creator Pablo Casacuberta.
The “40 Years of Malvinas” event on May 5th will also be a good opportunity for historians and chroniclers to analyze and take stock of the readings that the war has received four decades after its outbreak.
“The Pride and Prejudice section dedicated to diversity and the New Neighborhood section are back to make room for small publishers that have never been to the show,” explains the director.
In addition, the corridors are getting wider and a “Firmodrome‘ so that those authors who gather long lines of readers at book signings can do so with more space and comfort.
basic information
The Buenos Aires Book Fair is the most popular in the Spanish-speaking world. It is visited by more than a million readers and around 12,000 professionals. Its realization is crucial for the sector and represents the moment of more sales of copies of the year.
As Ezequiel Martínez recalls, the 2019 fair was already organized with many reserved and paid stands when the suspension due to the quarantine was established. “We respect these agreements as if they were made today. So this edition means a lot of effort,” he explains.
That tickets This year, they’re $300 Monday-Thursday and $450 Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. But the tickets will translate into benefits. With the purchase of each ticket, Fundación El Libro will provide a $450 checkbook to use at participating bookstores beginning May 17. And if you shop for more than $3,500, you take another checkbook with you. In addition, each entry is accompanied by discount coupons.
“The fair works against all odds and is super massive -says Martínez-. But the most important thing is that it generates readers, that people go to the bookstores after the event and that these visits become a habit.”
picture gallery
