Tehran – This year, more publishers in the general category applied to attend the 36th Tehran International Book Fair (TIBF) Fair compared to last year.
“The number of publishers has increased significantly this year as publishers have reached its peak. There are 2,363 publishers attending the national section of the fair.”
Referring to the aspects of cultural diplomacy, he said Iraq is a special guest of the year and they hope to cultivate stronger cultural relations with Iraq.
Haidari also mentioned the cultural and religious programs planned for the fair, but note that they received around 2,300 requests for cultural events. They aim to ensure the quality of these programs and make them as meaningful as possible.
The Tehran Publishing Fellowship programme is another programme for the first time this year, and is seeking to support Iranian works and promote translation into other languages. “To date, this section has registered nearly 80 foreign and 50 domestic guests, and the exhibition will deal with child and adolescent literature by holding specialized sessions,” he argued.
The purpose of the fellowship is to strengthen Iran’s presence in the field of global publishing, initially focusing on the literature of children and young adults.
The term “publishing fellowship” refers to collaborations for the sale of books between publishers, authors and literary agents.
Haidari said it aims to reduce fair costs by 30-40% compared to last year, despite rising prices. Their focus is on increasing subsidies while reducing operational costs.
Recognised as a national heritage and event, the Tehran International Book Fair not only cheers and enriches the country’s culture, but also attracts the attention of cultural figures and book lovers around the world.
The cultural event has become an important book fair in West Asia landmarks for 35 consecutive editions. Millions of visitors inspect the fair each year, including thousands of university students, academics and their families.
The event now serves as Iran’s most important cultural event. Foreign publishers essentially provide material in English or Arabic. However, titles are also available in French, German, Chinese, Korean, Russian, or Japanese.
The 36th TIBF is scheduled to take place at Imam Khomeinimosala in Tehran from May 7th to 17th. “Read for Iran” was chosen as the slogan for the upcoming edition of the Book Fair.
SS/SAB