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The Lebanese Publishers’ Union and the Book Importers Association, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, organized the 8th edition of the International Book Fair at the Beirut Forum, covering an area of 6,000 square meters. This event witnessed the convergence of 277 publishers from 21 Arab, Francophone and international countries.
Emile Tyan, director of the Librairie Antoine group and member of the organizing committee, commented after the opening, “Organizing this fair amidst the current geopolitical climate was indeed a significant challenge. There are substantial tensions and valid concerns considering the ongoing events in Gaza. Nevertheless, we persisted with this fair for various reasons. Primarily, it is crucial for publishing houses to have an annual showcase of their work. This fair also holds significance as it echoes throughout the Arab world, demonstrating that Lebanon can still organize high-caliber events. We are immensely proud of all the publishers and their quality productions. Many have initiated cultural activities, and I believe no other Arab fair has had as many cultural events as this one. This achievement is thanks to the Lebanese, who convey a message of hope, emphasizing life through books and looking beyond tragedies.”
Regarding public turnout, Tyan noted, “The fair has been quite promising. We had a splendid weekend with many Lebanese attendees from across the country. It attracted a diverse audience, all finding what they were looking for, be it buying books, exploring stalls or attending debates.”
Michèle Fenianos, the director of MFG Consulting and the fair’s organizer, shared, “The fair is highly diversified. We are proud to have gathered everyone under the roof of literature. While the boycott against Lebanon from the previous year affected the fair, reducing our space to 6,000 square meters from the initial 10,000, I still believe Lebanon can emerge as a hub once more.” Fenianos remained hopeful, adding, “Many visitors are leaving with bags full of books, which is an encouraging sign. Over 100 schools have confirmed their participation, attending cultural events and specialized workshops for various age groups. This signifies our success in overcoming challenges, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive from both exhibitors and the public.”
Khaled Kobayaa, the General Director of the International Book Fair, emphasized Lebanon’s pioneering role in organizing book fairs. He outlined his objectives, “We aim to assist professionals and multilingual mediators in reclaiming their status both regionally and globally. We want to encourage publishers, distributors and cultural institutions to broaden their horizons by emphasizing reading. We also wish to welcome foreign publishers in line with major international fairs.” Concerning this year’s edition, he said, “This is a new concept where Arabic, French and English books coexist, facilitating cultural dialogue. Our vision aligns with major international events like the Frankfurt Book Fair.”
Upon entering the fair, one couldn’t miss the Qatar Ministry of Culture’s stall—the only one representing an official entity. Its representative stated, “We are delighted to participate in the Lebanese International Book Fair. Our presence signifies support to the organizers, the books, authors and overall culture.”
We spoke to a bookseller, Christiane Choueiri, director of La Phénicie, who expressed her eagerness, “As importers, we showcased books in three languages. We seek cultural neutrality and value the role of booksellers as conveyors of text. Our duty is to highlight emerging themes, select diverse books and organize author interactions.”
Two conference rooms hosted daily debates, roundtables and interactive workshops in Arabic, French and English on various themes. Even the Lebanese army institution had a stall showcasing its productions, from newspapers to books on its history. Beside them was an NGO, Loyac (The Lothan Youth Achievement Center), established in Kuwait, aiming to nurture young Arab talent.
Finally, at the “Head in the Stars” publishing house stand, Saria Hanna Moutran, a publisher and author, discussed her children’s book series, “Grand Lebanese Legends,” and its tri-lingual nature.
Concluding our tour, the prevailing atmosphere was undeniably optimistic, signaling a promising cultural year ahead.