Open with controversy Roberto Saviano (left out of the Italian delegation with several authors who had criticized the government of Giorgia Meloni in the past) and the speech of the Italian Minister of Culture Alessandro Giulijust appointed in September after the resignation of his predecessor, who nevertheless pleaded for “ defending freedom of expression », 76e Frankfurt Book Fair saw its attendance numbers increase this year. “ We had +6% visitors on Wednesday and +10% on Thursday », affirms to Weekly Books Jurgen Boosthe director of the Fair, believing that the meeting was a good year for discussions around the book industry.
Before finding several focuses in the International Newsletter of Weekly Books to be published this Tuesday, October 22, here is a summary of the highlights of the 2024 vintage of the FBM.
- On the French side, a market ” serious “
Sparse aisles but full appointment books, that’s the contrast on the French stand at Le Bief, a giant space of more than 1,200 m2where more than 167 publishing houses were exhibiting. A record linked in particular to the presence of Hachette houses on the common stand. In this period when everyone is careful about spending, “ we stay less long than in the past “, explain Genevieve Rudolph from Citadelle & Mazenod. This did not prevent the National Publishing Union from presenting its current concerns at the inauguration cocktail: the Fileas project for real-time sales monitoring. “ We hope to be able to launch this portal during the next Paris Book Festival in April », declared the vice-president of the union Marion Glénatwhile hot titles (read below) were beginning to emerge. “ The walk is woke up au beginning of the week, SO that he was Really plus atone what usually au beginning of month », remarked Pauline Buisson de l’agence V&P Scouting. « It’s a serious market, without excitement, but it changes in the long term: it is regulated », analysis for his part Philippe Robinet by Calmann-Levy.
“A very good fair for the French market”
According to Pauline Buisson, from the V&P Scouting agency, “it’s a very good fair for the French market and sales”. In addition to the Albin Michel preview, Alice in the land of ideas written by the philosopher Roger Pol-Droit which was sold in eight markets in three days, we should also note Flammarion’s romantic comedy, Paris-Hollywood of Cecile Mury which has had some success. Last on the list of Grégory Cingalpublished last August by Grasset, generated interest as did the testimony of Caroline Darian on chemical submission And I stopped calling you Dad published in 2022 by JC Lattès but returned to the forefront with the Pélicot d’Avignon trial, which was widely followed abroad. After Bonnier UK, the rights were sold to the American subsidiary as well as Seix Barral in Spain and Kiwi in Germany and the Netherlands…
Very popular book-to-screen
On the purchasing side, note the announcement of the next biography of Pope Francis, Hopewhose rights for France were acquired at auction this summer by Albin Michel and especially during the Fair the pre-emption by Grasset of the memoirs of the imprisoned Russian journalist Evan Gershkovichone of the “hot titles” of the German non-fiction meeting.
Finally, activity was also very strong in audiovisual rights due to a particularly strong presence of Netflix agents but also other broadcast platforms such as Apple TV or Amazon Prime at the Fair with a book-to-screen strongly followed on Friday. “ The producers were super attentiverejoices Maÿlis Vauterin from the literary and audiovisual agency Matriochkas, even if they meet in London to meet again ».
- The bosses get started, and confide…
In Frankfurt, the great leaders of the publishing world are never far from the stage. With more intimate accents this year. Starting with Arnaud Nourrythe former director of Hachette Livre and founder of Nouveaux éditions, came to talk about his three years of « full break », his grandchildren and his desire to leave the world of publishing… before returning to it with fresher ideas than ever.
For this part, David Shelleyat the head of Hachette Book Group US and UK, came to tell about his new transatlantic life, and his dual role as captain of an industry juggernaut in New York and London. “I have very strong ideas about what the ideal cover is for a book or a market. I have very, very strong ideas about marketing. And probably the hardest part of a role like this is always learning to step back and not interfere.”he declared, adding: “You can’t really be a perfectionist, or you can’t want everything to be done perfectly right away, because that’s not humanly achievable. »
Another well-attended speech, that of Jonathan Karp Simon & Schuster et al Richard Sarnoff of KKR, the investment fund which bought this leader in American publishing, during the Global 50 CEO Talk organized in partnership with Weekly Books. This will have discussed acquisitions and external growth projects. “We would be interested in the right deal with the right publisher, wherever the opportunity arises,” said Jonathan Karp, thinking of the British market in particular.
During the Frankfurt Rights Meeting, the former director of Penguin Random House US, Madeline McInstoshalso came to present the most followed start-up project in the American book world: Authors Equity, which she launched in March. With the aim of breaking away from the traditional publishing business model and reshaping the relationship with authors.
- AI: “A crucial moment for our industry”
Workshops, keynotes, debates and speeches of all kinds: obviously, artificial intelligence and its impacts in publishing and artistic creation were once again at the heart of the debates. “This is a crucial moment for our industry,” summarized David Shelley of Hachette Book Group US and UK. With an often more positive aspect than in recent months. “We are no longer at the stage of witch hunting or seeking hype above all else”, explains a representative of the Wiley company, an online bookstore, during a presentation. “ The but East NOW to integrate l’IA In notre daily of editor, sans cause damage the vie et the work of the auteurs et creators », Also launched Arnaud Nourry. “Digital marketing, pitching our works to foreign publishers, distribution, decision-making aids on print runs… what AI can bring us is very broad”he added.
- 2025: the Philippines reveals itself
Finally, in anticipation of their invitation of honor for 2025 (a great first), the Philippines revealed at the end of the show the first details of their program: visual identity and first names of guests, such as Jaya Jacobo, Ferdinand Benedict « Budjette » Tancreator of Trese Comics, tribute to the national hero José Rizal… The theme of this invitation of honor was also revealed: “Imagination populates the air”. “Even though the Philippines is the thirteenth largest nation in the world with over 109 million citizens, I think for many of us in Europe, Filipino literature is still rather uncharted territory. As the country assumes its role as guest of honor, we will learn a lot about the importance of storytelling and the current cultural scene for Philippine civil society. With as many as 183 different languages spoken across its 7,641 islands, the country’s diverse influences are one of the aspects I look forward to seeing in Frankfurt in 2025,” says Jurgen Boss.
At Buchmesse 2024, the Philippines already presented more than 70 publishers and 700 titles. Note that to develop translations from Philippine literature, the Philippine National Book Development Board will offer grants to interested global publishers.
