Those who’ve ever visited The Moscow International Book Fair (MIBF) know that you won’t leave it without a giant goodie bag or even a suitcase bursting with books. You feel euphoria, run from one lecture hall to another trying to make the most from the jam-packed schedule and dreaming of a flywheel of time, one that Hermione Granger used to get to all her classes in Harry Potter.
Vitaly Belousov / Sputnik
On September 2-6, 2020, this main Moscow literature event will be held for the 33rd time with COVID-19 not about to ruin bookworms’ plans. There’s also good news for those who will not or cannot attend physically - there will be virtual online access - just like we’ve already got used to with anything else during lockdown. The MIBF will be the first international book fair to be held both online and offline in the post-COVID world.
The book fair will reveal to the public new books from bestselling and renowned Russian authors, will raise the issue of post-COVID crisis in the book industry and how to deal with it, discuss the DIY trends in book publishing, as well as a variety of topics from copyright to new ethics in literature.
Komsomolskaya Pravda / Global Look Press
“The digital transformation of the industry is happening right in front of our eyes”, according to the fair’s website. “Digital and traditional ways of creating, producing and doing business are mixing. New niches, market players, products, services and ideas on the brink of these two worlds are emerging every day.”
MIBF organisers see the fair as a platform to talk about the new business and technology cases and list the opportunities available to the book publishers. “By bringing together book industry professionals from all over the world, we will be able to find solutions for keeping our business relevant, sustainable and — ultimately — thriving,” states the MIBF website.
Artem Geodakyan / TASS
The book fair will pay special attention to the children’s literature and illustration, as well as non-fiction publications.
The fair’s guest country of honor this year is South Korea, with a number of events showcasing the culture and book publishing trends of the country: mibf.info/korea_eng.
Highlights:
September 2, 2020
13:00 – 16:00 (Moscow time)
Industry Conference ‘Russian Book Market - 2020’
Click here for details
September 2, 2020
16:45–18:45
International panel discussion: ‘Current copyright issues in the national and international museum, exhibition and publishing activities’
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September 2, 2020
17:00–19:00
International panel discussion: ‘Contemporary contests and awards in book illustration and design’
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September 3, 2020
12:00 – 16:00
IPA International Conference: ‘How the book industry is emerging from the pandemic. Survival strategies and support trends’
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September 3, 2020
11:30–12:15
Panel discussion: ‘South Korea’s literary trends’
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September 4, 2020
11:00 – 15:00
Industry conference: ‘The new ecosystem of book publishing and distribution. The challenges of the digital age and the evolution of business models’
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September 4, 2020
13:30–15:00
Master-class: ‘Non-fiction from a fiction Perspective’
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September 4, 2020
15:15–16:15
Master-class: ‘The Illustrators Survival Guide: a general job overview and professional tools’
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September 5, 2020
11:30–13:00
Panel discussion: ‘New ethics in modern children's literature. A conversation with publishers’
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September 5, 2020
11:15–12:00
Discussion: ‘Interconnection of capitals: Paris - London through the eyes of modern Russian authors’
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Click here for the full program of The Moscow International Book Fair, don’t miss the yellow banner ‘Online event’.