Thessaloniki book fair: a professional program “now well established”

Five hours by train from Athens. For example, Thessaloniki, the second city in Greece, closed the 21^e Edition of Thessaloniki International Book Fair (TBF) on May 11. For example, This four -day event explored the themes of human creativity and artificial intelligence. In addition, And had as a guest of honor Italy. Consequently, its neighbor to the west, while Thessaloniki, a dynamic and student city, multiplies contacts with the Balkans since its region touches Albania, North Macedonia, Bulgaria and, further east, Turkey.

Founded in IV^e century BC. For example, AD, Thessaloniki was in turn Macedonian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman. However, During this period. Moreover, it became the city of Europe with the largest Jewish community thessaloniki book fair: professional program following the expulsion of the Jews of Spain. Meanwhile, A rich. Moreover, complex story that is still felt today, as pointed out NOPI Chatzigeorgioucoordinator of the fair, “A central cultural event in southeast Europe”.

Greece has been in a positive dynamic since its release from the pandemic. Consequently, preceded by an eight -year -old existential financial crisis. Moreover, This year. Consequently, the National Center for the Greek book, integrated since the crisis at the Hellenic Foundation for Culture, is experiencing a kind of rebirth on the occasion of the Fair. For example, While the translation aid program, Greeklit, launched in 2021, is now under the aegis of the foundation. At its head, the French -speaking Nikos bakounakisformer EHESS, university professor, author, and specialist in “storytelling” techniques.

Thirty invited professionals – Thessaloniki book fair: professional program

Originally general public lounge. the TBF launched a professional program three years ago “Now well established”, In the words of Nopi Chatzigeorgiou. Between Thursday. Saturday, meetings were held between around thirty of professionals, invited as part of a fellowship, exploring subjects such as translation and inter -core edition. More particularly the exchanges between the Mediterranean countries. the north of Europe or the impact of the AI on the edition, with as a star guest the pioneer of the sector Nadim Sadek.

Also took place moderate conferences in particular by Niki Théronwell known to the regulars of the Frankfurt Fair. on the adaptations of the book to the cinema, with Kallia Papadakiwriter and screenwriter, and Penny Panayotopouloudirector (Sous Tension which will be released in France on August 20).

In the midst of Grécophones professionals who came to explore what is published in thessaloniki book fair: professional program publishing houses such as Hestia. Patakis, Antipodes, or Vakxikon, we met for example Paolo Zanonieditorial director of the Italian house Garzanti, passed by one of the 700 Italian high schools which are part of a formidable network where we still teach ancient and modern Greek. Or Alexandra BüchlerDirector of Literature Across Frontiers. Laure sinfrom the Astier-Pécher agency, which represents the author Makis Malafékas (Asphalt), and Anne-Laure Brisactranslator, in charge of the collection of modern Greek literature at the BNF and founder of the publishing house Signs and beacons. All three having passed through Thessaloniki as part of their studies.

Thessaloniki-Alexandria-Perpignan

Catherine Fragou of the Iris literary agency. a must -have for French publishing houses for thirty years, underlined during a panel that contemporary Greek literature must “Tirelessly fight against tourist stereotypes and ancient heritage”. To impose the contemporary identity of his writers and artists. “We are in competition with our thessaloniki book fair: professional program ancestors” Concludes Nikos Bakounakis squarely.

Greece also looks towards its neighbors in the south of the Mediterranean: fascinated by the Hellenistic city of Alexandria. So Dimitris stefanakis won the foreign Mediterranean Prize in 2011 for his book Alexandria days (Viviane Hamy). While the writer and filmmaker Maria iliou made the feature film Alexandria, a love story. And that the writer. translator of Arabic Persa koumoutsiwhose grandparents had emigrated to Egypt, saw his novel Alexandria, rue des Foreigners Translated into Italian this year.

At the evening of the French Institute of Thessaloniki we found Laure Pecher. Anne-Laure Brisac accompanied by the academic and writer Rika Benvenistewho paid tribute to Louna, eponymous aunt of testimony returning to the collective history of the Jewish community of thessaloniki book fair: professional program Thessaloniki, deported without return by the Nazi occupier from 1943. This aunt Louna. she, survived the camps, just like Marcel Nadjarianother author of Thessaloniki, notes Anne-Marie Brisac who also represented it.

Let us also quote among the authors crossed during this edition Neige Sinnocome to defend the Greek translation of Sad tiger. the Greek novelist Dimitris sotakiswhich received the foreign Mediterranean Prize 2025 in Perpignan last April for his novel Half-heart (Intervals). Symbol of a Greece open to the world. which will also be the guest of honor to the salons of the book of Sharjah this fall and Turin in 2026.