The Spanish Ministry of Culture, through the General Directorate of Books, Comics and Reading, is participating in the eighth edition of the New York International Book Fair (FILNYC), which runs from today until 25 October in the United States. The event, organised by the Institute of Mexican Studies at The City University of New York (CUNY), celebrates and highlights Spanish-language literature, bringing together book professionals, writers, editors, librarians, and their audiences.
The Spanish delegation will consist of a group of authors and book industry professionals who will take part in various activities throughout the FILNYC programme. Among the scheduled events, there will be a particular emphasis on the figure of Federico García Lorca, marking the 90th anniversary of his assassination and coinciding with the centenary celebrations of the Generation of '27.
For the fourth consecutive year, the FILNYC will host the Velada Lorca, which will take place on Thursday, 22 October, at the Instituto Cervantes in New York. This edition will feature writer David Uclés, musician Miguel Poveda, and poet Àngels Gregori. During the event, illustrator Patricia Bolaños, who created the event's poster, will draw live, inspired by the evening's themes and the imagery evoked by the author of 'Poet in New York.'
Additionally, the fair will premiere the documentary 'Enlorquecido: Solo el misterio nos hace vivir' on Friday, 23 October, co-directed by Miguel Poveda and Manu Huelva. The film traces the footsteps of the Andalusian poet through the cities that shaped his life and work—Fuente Vaqueros, Granada, New York, Havana, and Buenos Aires—creating a dialogue between the past and present. Following the screening, Poveda and film and theatre director Ceres Machado will discuss the film and Lorca's influence on their artistic journeys at the NYU Cultures Space.
The centenary of the Lyceum Club Femenino, a pioneering feminist association in Spain founded in 1926, will also feature in the Spanish programme at FILNYC. On Friday, 23 October, Àngels Gregori and Carmen de la Guardia will participate in the discussion 'Relational Foci: The Lyceum Club Femenino of Madrid, Louise Crane, and Victoria Kent,' moderated by Mayra González Olvera.
In addition to the literary programme, the Ministry of Culture will engage in professional activities, particularly focusing on the publishing and translation sectors, along with workshops aimed at young audiences. For younger attendees, Galician author Ledicia Costas will conduct several writing workshops. Furthermore, Spanish publishers Ediciones Ekaré and Kalandraka, both specialising in children's and young adult literature, will participate in various activities at the fair targeted at this demographic. Writer and literary critic Jorge Carrión will also take part in two round tables, while publishers Galaxia Gutenberg and Consonni will discuss the internationalisation of Spanish publishing.
