TBF second day, Friday, May 8
The second day of the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair unfolded at an exceptionally dynamic pace, with visitors flooding the venues and a programme packed with discussions, book presentations, honorary tributes, and cultural activities taking place in every corner of the fair.
From discussions on BookTok, the role of Artificial Intelligence, the future of literature, and freedom of speech, to activities promoting reading culture, workshops for children and adults, presentations by Greek and foreign authors, and creative dialogue meetings between Greece and Bulgaria, TBF became a field for discussion, reflection, creative encounters, and public discourse. At the same time, the presence of thousands of students and young people created a particularly vibrant atmosphere, turning the fair into a true celebration of books, reading, and culture.
Focusing on the question “What does it mean to be an author today?”, the Hellenic Authors’ Society organized a discussion on Friday morning on the changes brought by Artificial Intelligence and digital tools to the field of literature and discourse production. The presentations highlighted a shared concern about the future of writing in the era of AI and digital media. The speakers agreed that authorial identity is shifting rapidly, while the production of discourse is now being influenced by new technological and economic conditions.
The discussion addressed issues concerning copyright, the use of works without the creators’ consent, the reliability of digital content, and the pressure on authors for constant public presence and productivity. At the same time, different perspectives on Artificial Intelligence emerged: on one hand, the concern over commercialization and the concentration of power in global tech giants, and on the other, the view that literature historically survives and adapts to every new technology. A common ground was found in the need for institutional protection of creators, new regulations, and a broader public dialogue regarding the future of creative discourse. In the event organized by HFBC titled “Alexandros Kotzias: A Timeless Author”, marking the centenary of his birth, the enduring power of a body of work that resonates strongly in today’s public discourse was evident. As noted, “Kotzias lived through difficult times and transformed them into literature with political and human depth. His work returns today because difficult times are returning”.
The speakers also focused on Kotzias’s ability to illuminate the darker aspects of Greek society—violence, corruption, the degeneration of public life, and the invisible mechanisms of power—through characters that remain recognizable and contemporary. Particular emphasis was placed on the view that Kotzias was a political author in moral, rather than ideological, terms. According to the speakers, his work does not rely on easy accusations or political slogans, but on highlighting moral dilemmas, human decay, and responsibility towards society. Through his language, structure, and protagonists, Kotzias sought to discover “something truer than historical truth”, creating a political novel that remains aesthetically and socially vibrant to this day.
Trends in the publishing landscape were presented at a special event by the Greek Collecting Society for Literary Works (OSDEL), featuring updated data on Greek book production and publishing activity for the year 2025, sourced from the Bookpoint.gr bibliographic database. According to the findings, Greek book production once again exceeded 11,000 new titles, showing signs of stabilization. Fiction maintained its lead with over 4,000 new titles, while children’s books recorded a significant increase, reaching 24% of the total production. Meanwhile, self-publishing surpassed 1,800 titles, reflecting the growing presence of independent creators in the publishing field.
The research further highlighted that printed books continue to dominate the Greek market, with nearly 96% of publications released in print. In translated works, English remains the dominant source language, while the average book price showed a slight increase compared to previous years. Of particular interest was the concentration of production: more than half of the new titles are published by 51 publishing houses, while over 111 publishers release more than two new titles per month. Organizers noted that this research now serves as a vital tool for tracking shifts in the Greek publishing landscape and as a starting point for reflecting on the future of books in Greece. Detailed research findings are available HERE.
In a discussion titled “Youth and Books: Rupture or Reconnection?”, concerns were raised regarding the memorization-based system of the Panhellenic exams and its impact on the reading habits of the young. The need to strengthen research, critical thinking, and the role of school libraries was emphasized. As stated: “There are four sides to this issue with the child at its center. On one side, we have the State with all its institutions, on the second, global social media companies infiltrating mobile devices, on the third side are the teachers who interact daily with the children and the fourth side is the parents”.
In one of the book presentations, while discussing female voices in contemporary writing, author Ersi Sotiropoulos referred, among other things, to the “dictatorship of political correctness, which is the ultimate censorship, the end of literature”. “Writing is a lonely job directed towards the world”, she said. “An author is first and foremost a reader. Reading requires a solitude that is precious—and it no longer exists […]. When I write, the moment I realize a story is working is when the protagonist becomes independent—a persona that has detached from me and has formed itself autonomously”.
In the event “Aspects of Scandinavian & Nordic Poetry”, translators of Scandinavian languages recited selected poems from their translations, opening a dialogue on contemporary Nordic poetry. It was observed that a broader shift in translation practices has occurred in recent decades: beyond the “major” languages, more and more works are now translated directly into “smaller languages”, such as Greek, without the mediation of third languages.
The relationship between tourism, history, authenticity, and memory was the focus of the Goethe-Institut Thessaloniki event regarding the book Retroland, featuring historian Valentin Groebner and journalist Tasos Telloglou. During the discussion, the question arose: “How much history can those visiting a city actually absorb?” Groebner argued that tourism is directly linked to the visitors’ self-image. As he mentioned, the modern tourist experience involves “a search for redemption through the authentic and the true”. He also noted that over the last twenty years, the number of visitors has increased exponentially, stating that “every destination now receives approximately twice as many visitors compared to 2000”.
The French Institute of Thessaloniki also held an engaging event with the Algerian-born author of Au vent mauvais / In the Bad Wind, Kaouther Adimi. She explained that the book tells the story of her grandparents using pseudonyms. “Whoever possesses the words, possesses the weapons, and only they can narrate a story”, she remarked. “They were illiterate, so I wrote their story myself. Literature has immense power, it can become a fearsome weapon against governments. It is dangerous for those who want to control people”.
Finally, the Italian Cultural Institute of Athens invited noir author Sandrone Dazieri to Thessaloniki, who observed: “It is not necessary for someone to have a trauma to become an interesting protagonist, though I don’t like the word ‘hero’. They are human beings. There is a certain ‘decorum’ in Italian standards that I want to overturn. I wanted my characters to be crazy, politically progressive, different. A crime story must be unsettling, disturbing”.
A unique event titled “Jazz and Artificial Intelligence” was organized by HFBC at MOMus Flux, featuring a multidimensional performance by the international, award-winning saxophonist, poet, and academic researcher Dimitris Vassilakis.
The event combined music, poetry, and the potential of Artificial Intelligence in contemporary artistic creation. On stage, Dimitris Vassilakis presented a live dialogue between human improvisation and digital AI tools. Through saxophone improvisations, the AI responded in real time, generating music and poetry, having been trained to converse with the performer through music, poetry, and prose, thus creating an ever-shifting soundscape.
The performance was based on the “Jazz Mapping” research, developed in collaboration with academic and research institutions including the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA), Demokritos, GTech, and Queen Mary University, while also utilizing AI tools from IRCAM.
Prior to the artistic segment, the creator briefly presented the methodology, research, and technological tools tested. The performance was followed by a discussion with the audience regarding the role of AI in the creative process, the use of library data, and the significance of improvisation in both music and discourse.
Professional Programme
Representatives of Greek publishing houses addressed the question of whether the BookTok community can build a loyal readership, analyzing its impact based on their experience. It was noted that the community formed on TikTok during the pandemic has successfully influenced reading trends and sales, benefiting new releases and giving a “second life” to older titles. Speakers emphasized that BookTok is now a vital communication tool for reaching new audiences, though it does not dictate editorial choices. Special significance was placed on the relationship between publishers and book influencers, who contribute to the dissemination of books and stimulate discussion around reading through social media.
The conclusion was that while BookTok alone is not enough to create systematic readers, it serves as a starting point to bring young people closer to books, integrate them into a community, and strengthen their relationship with reading.
Within the framework of the professional programme, the Creative Europe programme was presented to the Greek book market. Participants included Swedish author Erika Hindborg (Trans-European Journeys project), Slovenian authors Jana Bauer and Andreja Peklar (Connected with Books project), Greek publisher Nestoras Poulakos (Vakxikon Publications), and the representative of the Creative Europe Desk Greece, Kostas Trakosas. Speakers noted that “We are in Europe and we do not know one another”, while highlighting that thanks to European initiatives, there is now greater representation and presence of authors. They emphasized the importance of transcending borders, fostering international outreach, promoting works abroad, and becoming familiar with the reading practices of other countries.
In an event on Artificial Intelligence: Research and Development, Senja Pozar, Editor-in-Chief of the Journal for Artificial Intelligence and Sustainable Development (JAISD), spoke about the collection of studies regarding AI and culture, books, and media, with the relevant call for papers having been extended in view of an upcoming conference in Frankfurt. She pointed out that many research papers involve education, emphasizing that teachers must become as familiar with AI and its uses as their students are. She expressed concern over how to measure the added value of virtual intangible assets, noting that 80% of students struggle with online credibility. The speaker also referred to the International AI Olympiad, as well as the open educational packages provided by UNESCO and soon by the Frankfurt Book Fair.
Panagiotis Kapos, PhD in Communication, Media, and Culture and Vice President of HFBC, noted that reading rates among youth are declining and stressed the need for efforts to stimulate their interest. “Young readers know their own interests very well; it is our duty to understand them and propose ways to enhance the reading process and the added value it provides to their personal and social development”, he observed. Mr. Kapos also mentioned the Phygital Readers programme, a pilot project utilizing AI as a tool for reading promotion among the new generation. A first pilot application of the platform took place during the TBF. “We first need to understand the children and do things that make sense to them”, he stressed. “They are the mirror of the new world, and we come from a different, analogue one. At the same time, we all live in a ‘phygital’ (physical & digital) era”.
Aimilia Diamantopoulou, founder of Rhyme & Reason, added that AI is a tool, not an enemy, emphasizing that it is a low-tech application that does not use personal data, adding: “The destination is not the screen but books”.
At another event regarding challenges, new legislation, and freedom of speech, José Borghino, Secretary General of the International Publishers Association, expressed the association’s concern over platforms using literary works without payment and the state’s inaction, which “sacrifices its creators”. He cited examples of members who pursued legal action for their copyrights and mentioned Australia as the first country to abolish copyright exemptions for large AI platforms. “If we do not fight together, we will lose”, he stated.
Jessica Saenger, Director of European and International Affairs at the German Publishers and Booksellers Association, spoke about polarization and social media, distinguishing between dissenting dialogue and hate speech. “AI is good at blurring things”, she said. “We see deepfake videos and photos and don’t know if they are real. It is also very capable of surveillance and facial recognition, it can identify exactly what you said and where you are, evaluate, remove, and replace. It is a totalitarian’s dream”. She stressed the need to defend the expression of opinions different from our own, setting herself apart from publishers who refuse to publish books when they disagree with the authors’ views. “We must defend the freedom to express opinions that are different from our own”, she said. She noted that freedom of speech presupposes human expression and not AI creations.
In a discussion on AI and the translation of “smaller languages”, participants expressed concern over the use of AI in samples submitted to publishers. They noted, however, that AI translations can offer an initial sense of a title, but are not sufficient for publication. We all use AI, for example, when searching the web or using autocorrect. We are all mobilized by stories, they said, referring to Harari’s phrase. Creation is a human necessity and desire. Humans make the difference in all forms of art and cannot be replaced by AI.
Children’s and Young Adult Corner
On the second day of the fair, 33 schools were hosted, with 1,120 children from Thessaloniki, Kilkis, Serres, and Imathia. The workshops led by foreign authors, as well as those by authors and illustrators from the Guest of Honour country, Bulgaria, saw a large and enthusiastic turnout. It was once again demonstrated that language is not an obstacle but an interesting field for exploration. The children also took great joy in seeing their works displayed in the Ex Libris exhibition and having the opportunity to meet the adult illustrators in person.
Photos from the Friday May 8 events are available HERE.
The 22nd TBF programme is available on https://thessalonikibookfair.gr/programme/. Explore the sections and discover the events you wish to attend! Information and details about the event and all Press Releases can be found on the bilingual website https://www.thessalonikibookfair.gr/, which, as the social media managed by HFBC, is constantly updated and enriched.
The Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TBF) is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture (HFBC) in collaboration with TIF–HELEXPO, Greek publishers, and the Municipality of Thessaloniki, with the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Region of Central Macedonia. It is co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund, within the framework of the ROP Central Macedonia 2021-2027. TBF is a member of the International Book Fairs Forum and the European Book Fairs Network ALDUS UP.
