Frankfurter Buchmesse, highlights on Thursday, 21 October 2021

Press events for Thursday, 21 October 2021

Guest of Honour Spain 2022: Press Conference about the Guest of Honour appearance 10.00-11.00 am, ARD-Buchmessenbühne, Festhalle, Messe Frankfurt (with livestream) “We are imaginative, digital, inclusive, sustainable … we overflow with creativity.” This is Spain´s motto as Guest of Honour 2022 at Frankfurter Buchmesse. The presentation of the aim of the project and highlights of its programme will be carried out by Juergen Boos, Director Frankfurter Buchmesse, Miquel Iceta Llorens, Minister of Culture and Sports, María José Gálvez, general director of the Book and Promotion of Reading of the Ministry of Culture and Sport, and Elvira Marco, curator of Spain Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022. There will be also a talk hosted by Laura Barrachina, cultural journalist at Radio Nacional de España, with prominent Spanish writers Elvira Lindo, Najat El Hachmi and Karmele Jaio. This event will conclude with a poetry reading by Mario Obrero, who, at just 18 years old, has been awarded the noted Loewe National Poetry Prize. This event is held in German, Spanish and English.

CONTENTshift accelerator 2021: Finale and award show

Who is turning the book industry upside down? Five startups are in the run for the title “Content Startup of the Year 2021” and the prize of 10,000 €. After three months of intensive exchange with their mentors and coaches, BotTalk, Buuk, DayOff, READ-O and talking hands are now preparing for their final pitch! Join the jurors, organisers, and finalists for the highlight of the CONTENTshift accelerator programme and witness which of our ambitious entrepreneurs will take home the prize. With: Olaf Carstens, Director of the Bibliographic Institute, Department head of Specialist Publisher & International at Cornelsen Verlag; Dr. Andrey Esaulov, CEO and Co-Founder of BotTalk; Rebecca Wahrlich, Head of Sales at BotTalk; Christopher Klein, CEO and Co-Founder of Buuk; Jens Helbig, CEO and Co-Founder of Buuk; Maria Möller, Co-Founder at Talking hands; Ben Kohz, CCO of READ-O; Corin Freyer, Co-Founder of DayOff; Lino Toran Jenner, Co-Founderof DayOff; Moderation: Sara Kelly-Husain

The Future of Independent Publishing

Around a dozen speakers from various countries will discuss current trends and topics in independent publishing. The participants will address the challenges facing their companies in short discussion rounds. Curated by Porter Anderson, Editor in Chief of Publishing Perspectives, together with independent publishers, the program will cover topics such as: “A World Beyond Zoom: The Future of International Rights Meetings and Rights Trading,” “Who Are We and Who Do We Want To Be? The Future of Diversity in Publishing,” and “Between Gold Rush and Apocalypse: The Future of Book Markets After (or with) COVID.”

Every Story Matters B2B meeting – Making books more inclusive

  • 3.00-5.30 pm, Congress Center Messe Frankfurt, level 3, Room Illusion 1-3 As part of the EU-funded project

Every Story Matters (ESM), the Slovenian Book Agency organises a B2B networking session for international publishers interested in the exchange of quality books for children and young adults with an emphasis on inclusion. The networking event will start with a presentation of the project followed by a moderated individual meeting session among the participants. Finally, we will tell you more about our brand-new platform for more diversity in the European book sector. If you would like to join the event, please find more information here.

Spain – Guest of Honour at Frankfurter Buchmesse 2022: New formats: Digital Books and Audiobooks

Paper or e-book format? How do the two media coexist? The pandemic has boosted sales of e-books and the consumption of audiobooks. Professionals from the publishing sector analyse the latest trends and what the future holds in this field. With: Carmen Ospina, Director of Digital Strategy and International Business Development at Penguin Random House; Javier Celaya, founding partner of Dosdoce.com and head of Podimo for Spain and Latin America; Santos Palazzi, Director of the Mass Market and Digital area at Editorial Planeta. Moderation: Arantxa Mellado, founder and director of Data Libri. Acknowledgements: Biblioteca Pública Municipal Eugenio Trías.

The Hof – Happy Hour with Brazilian Publishers

  • 5.00-6.30 pm, Zoom-Event

Get to know a little bit about the Brazilian book market, the Brazilian Publishers project and translation grant program in an informal and relax environment. You will find the best of Brazil, including learning how to make your own “Caipirinha”. Brazil is waiting for you! With: Vitor Tavares, CEO of Brazilian Book Chamber (CBL); Fernanda Dantas Manager, Brazilian Publishers; Eros Silva; Portfolio Manager Apex-Brasil; Fernanda Gomes Garcia, Executive Director, Brazilian Book Chamber Host: Felix Zeltner