The 17th edition of the Bookfest International Book Fair which will take place between May 29 and June 2 at Pavilion B2 of the Romexpo exhibition centre in Bucharest brings together 200 exhibitors, 150 publishing houses from all over Romania and from the Republic of Moldova, and has more than 400 events scheduled, Humanitas Publishing House general director and representative of the Romanian Publishers Association Lidia Bodea said on Thursday.
The Republic of Moldova is the guest of honor at this year’s edition, Bodea said, mentioning also that some of the major events in the universal cultural calendar get special highlights in the book fair’s program: 400 years of Kant, 100 years of Kafka, but also 20 years since the launch, in 2004, of the ‘Vote for young literature!’ campaign.
Moldovan Culture Minister Sergiu Prodan mentioned that, just like the authors from across the Prut who will be present at Bookfest, he belongs to the generation that started out by „literally” and „almost illegally” carrying Romanian language books from Moscow to Chisinau. Prodan went on to emphasize that it is the first time when the Republic of Moldova participates in an international book fair as a guest of honor.
Republic of Moldova ambassador to Romania Victor Chirila stated that the organizers of Moldova’s Bookfest participation would like as many as possible Romanian guests to visit the fair, to join debates and book launches taking place next week. Chirila emphasized that Romania has always stood by the side of the Republic of Moldova, especially in the last 30 years since it declared its independence.
According to Oana Boca Stanescu, coordinator of the Bookfest communication campaign, authors from the Republic of Moldova will also be present at this major cultural event.
The countries invited to the previous international editions were: Spain, Hungary, France, the German-speaking countries (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Poland, the Czech Republic, Israel, Sweden, the United States of America, the UK, Japan and Italy.
The Bookfest Book Fair also features local editions in Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Targu Mures, Brasov, plus an international edition in Chisinau.
AGERPRES
