MINSK, 16 February (BelTA) – The 28th edition of the Minsk International Book Fair will take place on 18-21 February and will feature 281 exhibitors from 20 countries, сhairman of the council of the organizers of book fairs in the CIS, Director General of the Makbel book selling company Dmitry Makarov told reporters on 16 February, BelTA has learned.
“The exhibition will be held under the motto ‘Books unite people and countries'. This year the forum will bring together 281 exhibitors from 20 countries, including Russia, Kazakhstan, Iran, Venezuela, Palestine, Austria, Pakistan, Turkey, Germany. At the request of visitors, this year the fair will work one hour longer each day: from 10.00 to 20.00, and from 10.00 to 18.00 on the last day. Visitors will be asked to wear masks and use antiseptics and their temperature will be measured at the entrance,” Dmitry Makarov said.
According to head of the publishing and printing department of the Information Ministry Vladimir Andriyevich, the central exposition of the exhibition will be themed as a common home. The living room of this home will house the CIS booth featuring the editions that won the Grand Prix of the CIS international competition The Art of the Book since its inception 17 years ago. The ‘writer's office' will feature the CIS best books on history, culture and art. Here visitors will be able to meet with writers. Children are invited to visit the children's site where they will be able to see new books, learn how books are created, and take part in a number of interesting activities.
Belarus' national stand will be arranged as an impromptu artistic kitchen. It will feature newest projects and all books that were published in Belarus in 2020. Invited guests are co-chairman of the board of the CIS Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation Mikhail Shvydkoy, deputy head of the Russian Federal Agency for Press and Mass Media Vladimir Grigoriev, and writer and publicist Sergei Shargunov. The program also features the launch of the book Two Homelands - One Country by Irina Karnaukhova, a member of the Union of Writers of Belarus, and Mikhail Razaev, a member of the Kursk regional branch of the Union of Writers of Russia.
The maiden edition of the LitUP literary competition to find, support and promote promising Belarusian names and projects will feature the following categories: poetry, prose, children's literature, literature for teenagers, and non-fiction. The winners will be able to have their books published in one of the state-owned publishing houses with a circulation of up to 1,000 copies. The awards ceremony will take place on 20 February.
The traditional Writer and Time symposium is scheduled for 19 February at 11am. “The theme of the meeting is closely related to the motto of the exhibition. The word is important and has a powerful impact on people. We would like to hear the opinion of writers, public figures about the role of writers in the face of today's international challenges and threats. Anyone can join the symposium online and ask the participants their questions,” said Vladimir Andriyevich. First Deputy Chairperson of the Union of Writers of Belarus Yelena Stelmakh added that the event helps to build new friendly contacts. “It is very important to translate Belarusian literature into other languages. Through the book other nations learn about the Belarusian character and our cultural heritage,” she said.
Theaters, cinemas, and TV channels will be showing films and plays based on the works of famous writers of Belarus and other countries during the fair. A traditional poetry bus will be running from the Nemiga metro station to the exhibition center at 14 Pobeditelei Avenue. Everyone will be invited to take a free-of-charge ride on it and listen to the works of famous writers. The entry to the fair will also be free. It is expected that the fair will be attended by about 50,000 people.
