The first day of the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair made a strong international, social, professional, and youth-oriented impact, confirming the diverse nature of this year\u2019s event and setting the tone for an organization open to knowledge, collaboration, and international outreach. Discussions on literary translation, inclusive language, and the power of culture as a medium for dialogue coexisted with activities, experiential workshops, and events that highlighted the role of books as tools for expression, communication, and creativity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The children\u2019s programme of the 22nd TBF also began early in the morning with laughter and a creative spirit, as the fair\u2019s halls were filled from the very first day with students from schools in Thessaloniki and the surrounding regions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Literary Translation: Pathways through Greece and Bulgaria: <\/strong>The fair opened with an engaging discussion titled \u201cLiterary Translation: Routes between Greece and Bulgaria\u201d, highlighting the role of translation as a cultural bridge between the two countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The speakers reminded us that while Bulgarian literature has always existed, it often reached Greek readers through convoluted paths of translations, passing first through English, French, or other Western languages. Even then, translated texts often required \u201cWestern approval\u201d before being introduced to the Greek public. They noted that publishing houses, translators, cultural events, and translation programmes contribute decisively to the dissemination of literature, providing space for the exchange of ideas and supporting mainly small publishers in releasing new works. Particular emphasis was placed on the need to support translators and strengthen funding programmes. Notably, the translator was compared to an \u201cathlete of the intellect who must train daily with their pencil\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Gendered and Inclusive Language in Greek Production and Translation:<\/strong> Great interest was shown in the discussion organized by the Hellenic Society for Translation Studies, which opened a substantive dialogue regarding linguistic shifts, inclusive expression, and their relationship with society. The speakers addressed various approaches to the use of non-sexist language, the persisting resistance to new linguistic forms, and the way in which language reflects and influences social change. At the same time, it was emphasized that any linguistic reform can only progress when accompanied by broader social acceptance and a shift in mindset. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In an event focused on \u201cContemporary Bulgarian and Greek Literature\u201d, author Teodora Dimova<\/strong> noted that she began writing as a child, realising \u201cthe power of literature to immortalize moments\u201d, while admitting that when writing a historical novel, \u201cit is like walking on thin ice\u201d. For her, \u201cthe past is something we must heal; we should not avoid it\u2014we must put our finger on the wound\u201d. Author Lila Konomara mentioned that she was late to turn to literature, until she realized she \u201ccould do nothing else\u201d, adding her belief that \u201cas much as you must be clear as a teacher, you must avoid being so as a writer\u201d, in order to leave space for the reader. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Georgian author Dato Magradze<\/strong>, who travelled to Thessaloniki for the fair, remarked during an event attended by the Consul of Georgia: \u201cI thank everyone who found time for poetry. Poetry brought me to Greece. From my childhood, I remember the phrase: \u2018Everything that moves, starts from Greece\u2019. I seek fellow travellers in my poetry, and if I find them in Greece, I will be very happy. What I want to offer through my art is to find the human being behind the citizen. God created the human being, and the State created the citizen. The goal of poetry is to save the human being within the citizen\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Professional Programme of the 22nd TBF <\/strong>opened with a presentation of data <\/strong>on the Greek book market by HFBC, alongside the strategic goals of the Foundation presented by its President, Nikos Bakounakis, and Vice President, Panagiotis Kapos<\/strong>. The HFBC\u2019s translation programme, \u201cGreekLit\u201d, was highlighted, boasting 86 translated titles in 25 languages to date, primarily in literature. It was noted that \u201cEnglish is the dominant language, and we need tools to promote other languages as well\u201d. Reference was also made to \u201cBiblionet\u201d, the platform for recording Greek publishing production, and the HFBC\u2019s reading promotion campaign, \u201cDiavaZOUME\u201d (We Read\/Live). The role of independent regional bookstores was emphasized; they require support as they serve as hubs for culture and activities, though it was noted that a prerequisite for this is their official recording, with a general observation that there is a pressing need for more accurate data collection in Greece. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Furthermore, data on the Greek book market and the dominant trends in the publishing landscape were presented. Print accounts for 97% of the market, while the audiobook market in Greece is growing, though its full scale has yet to be captured. Currently, there are 800\u20131,000 active publishers in the country. Self-publishing is now a reality in the Greek industry, especially with the boost provided by digital services. Social media marketing is a vital tool for book visibility, with an increasing trend in its utilization by the publishing world. Among younger generations, there is a dominant trend towards graphic novels, comics, self-improvement books, biographies, and autobiographies, while a significant production of high-quality children\u2019s and young adult books is noted. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The professional programme also included an overview of the Bulgarian publishing market.<\/strong> During a discussion regarding children\u2019s books<\/strong> in Bulgaria, it was pointed out that 1,500 children\u2019s titles are produced annually, accounting for 25% of the market. \u201cAdult readers turn children into the readers of the future\u201d, it was characteristically stated. The summer reading lists provided by schools to students are helpful, while community cultural centres also make a significant effort through libraries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The discussion on the buying and selling of rights and literary agents<\/strong> drew great interest. Representatives from major international publishing houses, such as \u201cFarrar, Straus & Giroux\u201d (USA), \u201cGrupo Planeta\u201d (Spain), \u201c\u00c9ditions Gallimard\u201d (France), \u201cPenguin Random House\u201d (UK), and \u201cRead & Right Agency\u201d (Greece), spoke about publishing trends. A strong trend for psychological thrillers and romances was noted in countries like France. Regarding the acquisition of rights from countries such as Greece, they pointed out that, as the market is small, they look for something very powerful and require assessments from readers in their own country. They seek something with a strong hook and a clear, not vague, description. They also look for data, figures, sales, and campaigns, without excluding the element of chance, as was the case with a book discovered through social media. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Of particular interest was the event on the \u201cSpanish Phenomenon\u201d<\/strong>, a term coined by Enrico Turrin, Deputy Director of the Federation of European Publishers (FEP), as mentioned by Faidon Kydoniatis<\/strong>, Vice President of the FEP. The phenomenon lies in the fact that Spain is the only international market with a continuous upward trend in publishing indices. The stable, supportive role of the State in promoting access to books and libraries was emphasized, along with the importance of networking and good cooperation. As Jos\u00e9 Manuel Ant<\/strong>a, CEO of the Spanish Association of Book Publishers, stated, new strategies and plans are drawn up annually, reflecting excellent cooperation between the private sector and the State. In Spain, as of 2024, there are 3,000 publishers, 3,000 bookstores, and 4,300 book points of sale. In 2024, nearly 90,000 new titles were published, mainly in print but also as ebooks, with domestic market profits reaching 3 billion euros. It was noted that the pandemic benefited books and reading, and reference was made to major festivals and book fairs, such as those in Madrid or the celebration of \u201cSant Jordi\u201d in Barcelona, with its popular campaign featuring roses and books. This fair takes place in early April, and on its first day alone, revenues of 27 million euros were recorded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Finally, the role of the educational system, which varies by region but generally promotes reading, was highlighted, alongside the dynamic policies of local governments and a reference to the Parix school for the book industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Official Opening of the Bulgarian National Stand:<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A significant moment of the TBF\u2019s first day was the official opening of the National Stand of the Guest of Honour country, Bulgaria, by the Deputy Minister of Culture, Mr. Victor Stoyanov, in the presence of invited Bulgarian authors and translators, who also spoke at the event. The Deputy Minister emphasized that the fair represents a major opportunity for dialogue and outreach, bringing together authors, translators, and publishers from different countries. <\/p>\n\n\n\n With an emphasis on the power of literature and culture as \u201cbridges\u201d between peoples, he referred to the ever-growing presence of Bulgarian literature on the international stage, noting that more and more Bulgarian authors are being translated and published worldwide, gaining the recognition of the international public. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He made special reference to the role of translators, whom he described as \u201ctrue cultural ambassadors\u201d, since, as he put it, \u201cthey build bridges between languages and people\u201d. At the same time, he expressed his pride in the presence of important \u201cvoices\u201d of contemporary Bulgarian literature at the TBF, noting that Thessaloniki is evolving into a vibrant hub of cultural cooperation between Greece and Bulgaria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Deputy Minister also mentioned his meeting with the Greek Minister of Culture, underlining the joint proposal to strengthen relations between the two countries and take them \u201cto the next level\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n He made particular mention of the closing concert on Sunday evening at the Rotunda, the result of a collaboration between musicians from Thessaloniki (TSSO) and Sofia, conducted by the internationally renowned violinist Svetlin Roussev. As he stated, this partnership serves as a shining example of what culture and mutual understanding can offer during times of war and uncertainty. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In closing, he revealed that the historic violin used in the concert belongs to the Ministry of Culture of Bulgaria and is considered one of the most significant musical instruments in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Information on the concert is available HERE<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Children\u2019s Activities and Workshops<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n A total of 29 organized groups from kindergartens, primary schools, middle schools, and special education schools participated in the activities on the first day of the event, with approximately 1,000 students taking part in book presentations, experiential workshops, and meetings with authors and illustrators from Greece and abroad. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The day\u2019s programme also included treasure hunts, mystery games, book parties, handicrafts, creative workshops, as well as theatrical and musical-movement performances, transforming the fair into a colourful space of imagination and discovery for children and adults alike. <\/p>\n\n\n\n A highlight of the first day was the presentation of the activity \u201cGiving Voice to Books: The Little Prince in Student Audiobooks\u201d. Students from the 1st Primary School of Kalochori and the 1st Primary School of Thermi read, processed, and adapted the classic work, creating their own audiobooks, an initiative that gave children the opportunity to engage with literature in a creative and experiential way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n At the Central Municipal Library of Thessaloniki, children eager for play and creativity participated for two hours in the experiential workshop \u201cUs and the World of Fairy Tales\u201d, organized by the National Library of Greece with the support of HFBC. Through selected illustrated children’s books, the young participants traveled into the world of imagination, utilizing educational drama, visual arts, and creative writing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Photos from the Thursday May 7 events available <\/strong>HERE<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n The 22nd TBF programme is available on https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/programme\/<\/a>. 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\/<\/a>, which, as the social media managed by HFBC, is constantly updated and enriched. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TBF) is organized by the Hellenic Foundation for Books and Culture (HFBC) in collaboration with TIF\u2013HELEXPO, 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.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The first day of the 22nd Thessaloniki International Book Fair made a strong international, social, professional, and youth-oriented impact, confirming the diverse nature of this year\u2019s event and setting the tone for an organization open to knowledge, collaboration, and international outreach. Discussions on literary translation,…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":5463,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5469","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5469"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5472,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5469\/revisions\/5472"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5463"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5469"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5469"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thessalonikibookfair.gr\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5469"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}