After two years of reduced in-person participation because of the pandemic, the Bogotá International Book Fair (FILBo), the second largest book fair in Latin America, will reopen its doors on Tuesday, April 19, and last until May 2 with a slate of events that includes the participation of all parts of the publishing sector (publishers, distributors and booksellers), more than 1,600 events and 500 guests, including authors, illustrators and other industry professionals from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Korea, Cuba, Spain, the United States, France, Holland, Israel, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Italy, Mexico City, Mexico, and the United States.

"FILBo is the country's most important cultural event, the stage on which all the actions planned throughout the year are materialized and, most importantly, the moment to generate long-lasting ties with our readers. Returning to FILBo in-person is a challenge and a very valuable opportunity," said Emiro Aristizabal, executive president of the Colombian Book Chamber, co-organizer of the event, in a press release. 

With a literary, cultural, academic and professional program for all audiences, FILBo is preparing to welcome visitors who, for 14 days, in addition to meeting authors at talks, workshops and book signings, will be able to learn about and get closer to the culture of the Republic of Korea, the guest of honor at the 2022 edition. 

In addition to the strong presence of South Korean authors, the fair will also be attended by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and Professor Guho Cho, who translated Latin literature books into Korean, such as One Hundred Years of Solitude and Chronicle of a Death Foretold.

International writers abound

Among the local writers who will participate in the event are Colombian writer Héctor Abad Faciolince, author of the hit book El olvido que seremos; Adriana Mosquera Soto, cartoonist and writer; Ana María Mesa, Colombian journalist; Andrés Marulanda, teacher; Aurelio Suarez, journalist and economist, among others.

From other Latin American countries, it is worth mentioning the presence of the Argentine actress, novelist and poet Camila Sosa Villalba, who will be talking about the diverse work she has undertaken to make the LGBTQ+ community more visible.

Also present will be Peruvian writer Gabriela Wiener, one of the most important voices of the new Latin American chronicle. She is also considered the most emblematic of the so-called gonzo journalism, or experiential or impersonation journalism.

Coming from Spain, there will be Andrea Abreu, considered one of the 25 best young writers of her generation according to Granta magazine, author of the novel Panza de burro. Abreu is also a poet and director of the Festival de Poesía Joven de Alcalá de Henares in Spain.

Hanoch Ernesto Piven, an Israeli-Uruguayan artist, will also be there. He will exhibit the collages he has published for the last 30 years in the North American, European and Israeli press.

From Romania, Mircea Cartarescu, the most important author of his country and one of the most relevant in Europe, will also have a relevant space at this version of FILBo. 

Also noteworthy is Medardo Landon Maza — a graduate in literary creation from the Universidad Autónoma de la Ciudad de México. At FILBo, Landon will offer his approach to children's and young adult literature and some of the main social challenges of our time from his experiences as a professor of literary creation and literature, editorial advisor, director of publications and reading mediator.

Suzy Lee, a Korean author and illustrator, winner of the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2022 for illustration, will talk with Claudia Rueda about her work. To the question "why do you draw?" Lee answers: "Mainly for fun and to see what's inside my head and my heart. And because the blank paper asks me, all the time, to do something about it!" The authors will talk about creativity, their influences and artistic work, among other topics.

"The FILBo is coming back to bring us all back. To celebrate, after adverse times, the fact of being alive; to talk about the country and the world that surrounds us and that changes day after day; to reflect on what we were, what we are and what we want to be and, above all, to read. To read to live. To live to read," said Andrés Sarmiento Villamizar, new director of the Bogotá International Book Fair.