The Frankfurt Book Fair celebrates its 75th anniversary with a rich calendar of events inside and outside the fairground. In this special edition, ALDUS UP is present with a dedicated space, the Aldus Up Stage that will host a multi-faceted professional programme with panels, talks and presentations on topics ranging from education, inclusion and sustainability to translations, licensing, and digitalization with a special focus on Artificial Intelligence; a selection of most relevant events is offered here but we invite you to explore the entire programme for a complete overview.
Among the highlights of the Aldus Up stage programme, two appointments will present the research work done through the Aldus Up project: on 19th October the discussion will address the subject of reading surveys, how they can be harmonized in Europe and how they can be related to reading promotion policies for a more democratic society. On 20th October, Aldus Up will present the results of the survey on buying and selling rights in Europe and discuss best practices to support cultural and linguistic variety.
The Aldus Up stage will also offer the opportunity to know activities and results of other EU projects addressing technological innovation ( S+T+ARTS Day, Möbius) and social themes ( LITPRAX, Tales of EUkraine).
In particular the project Tales of EUkraine, that promotes bi-lingual children’s books in Ukrainian and EU language to foster inclusion of UA children refugees in Europe and support Ukrainian publishers, will not only present to professionals the EU funded initiative with testimonials from EU and Ukraine but will also organize two readings in German language for children during the period of the Buchmesse (more details here and here).
Other ALDUS UP appointments during the bookfair includes the presentation of data and trends of book markets in Europe by FEP and the celebration of European Union Prize for Literature with the 2023 winner authors.
Accessibility remains a key issue for innovation and inclusion in publishing; professionals will have the opportunity to hear success stories in the field and discuss with peers and experts in a seminar organized by Fondazione LIA followed by a networking event.
For the general public, adults and children, it will be possible to gain awareness of themes such as socio-cultural inclusion of people with visual disabilities thanks to the engaging experience of two “Reading in the Dark” an event format created by Fondazione LIA where, in an atmosphere of absence of light, famous writers and blind or visually impaired readers alternately read the same book revealing the different ways of using it.
18.10.2023 WEDNESDAY
10:30 – 11:00 h Lecture | Presentation
The book market in Europe 2022/2023: main data and trends
Presentation of the European book market statistics by FEP for 2022 and the first semester of 2023
In what is becoming a regular appointment at the Frankfurt Book Fair, the Federation of European Publishers presents the results of its annual statistical survey of the European book market. After an overview and some introductory remarks by the FEP President Ricardo Franco Levi, FEP’s Deputy Director and Economist Enrico Turrin will present the detailed data collected by FEP on the turnover from book sales and on the titles published by European book publishers in 2022, also looking at the evolution of formats and trade channels, and outline how main markets have performed thus far in 2023.
Promoter: Federation of European Publishers
Participant: Ricardo Franco Levi (Federation of European Publishers, President), Enrico Turrin (Federation of European Publishers, Deputy Director)
Event venue: Frankfurt Studio – Professional Programme (Foyer, Hall 4.0)
10:30 – 11:00 | Trade event
AI Transformation & Change in the Book Industry
Keynote
Over 375 lectures in front of more than 300,000 people in over 300 companies, teaching at European universities and colleges, over a dozen company foundations, ongoing consulting and coaching activities and always new impulses and inspiration for business and society – that is Sven Göth. As an impulse generator on stage, Sven Göth takes you on a fascinating journey into tomorrow.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Sven Göth
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
11:00 – 12:00 | Discussion
Artificial Intelligence -. how will it change writing and the book industry?
Panel discussion by AI Frankfurt Rhein Main e.V. and Frankfurter Rundschau.
AI is simply faster than humans when it comes to writing texts. Already, for example, ChatGPT can write reasonably usable and coherent essays. The learning progress is remarkable. AI tools are changing professional text production. What impact will this have on the literary profession? For example, in work processes where people make up stories. Or in work processes in which authors work with the text, in which a work is revised. Or also in pre-sorting; in the evaluation and analysis of manuscripts. The question here is: Does AI thus influence the quality and diversity of literature? And should it be allowed to do so?
Promoter: AI Frankfurt Rhein-Main e.V.
Participant: Jennifer Becker | Florian Reiling | Murat Durmus | | Lis Berins | Susanne Barwick
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
12:00 – 14:00 | Live event
Presentation and Networking Event ‘Exploring New Horizons’
Have you ever wondered, what it feels like to be a plant or an animal? And what about being in the body of another gender? This year, Frankfurter Buchmesse is again a partner of the S+T+ARTS Prize and is hosting the S+T+ARTS Day. The S+T+ARTS Community Event “Exploring New Horizons” will present four innovative projects of the B3 Festival of the Moving Image and S+T+ARTS Prize, followed by a networking reception in cooperation with Inova+, a partner of S+T+ARTS Prize. Afterwards, all participants and book fair visitors are invited to take a closer look and try out the VR projects “BODY OF MINE VR” and “Symbiosis”, as well as the video game “Hineini” and The Tides Within Us“ at the stand of the event partner B3 Festival of the Moving Image (hall 4.1, stand H19). The S+T+ARTS Prize has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme.
The projects: The virtual reality experience Symbiosis from the Dutch collective Polymorf is a unique experience for all the senses. Wearing a specially designed suit full of sensors, you temporarily escape the limitations of the human body. “BODY OF MINE VR” places you into the body of another gender for an exploration of gender dysphoria and trans identity. The Tides Within Us is a series of interactive screens that allow the audience to explore the human ecosystem. Hineini is an online game with the main character of Levi, a young Jewish boy discovering that he is gay and exploring the intersectional space between his religious culture and his sexuality.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Maro Pebo | Joshua Grundlach | Julia Finkernagel | Robin McNicholas | Marieke Nooren | Cameron Kostopoulos
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
13:00 – 13:30 Author Event
The European Union Prize for Literature – an opportunity to discover new European voices
A cycle of three years, 41 countries, as many emerging authors who are new voices on the European literary scene.
The audience will have the chance to be introduced to the 2023 winner of the EUPL: Martina Vidaic from Croatia and to be informed of the opportunities offered by the Prize. With authors coming from all corners of Europe, this gives a chance to publishers to get acquainted to new talents and bring to their readers new European voices. The presentation will be followed by a drink in presence of some of the nominated authors.
Promoter: EUPL
Event venue: Frankfurt Studio – Professional Programme (Foyer, Hall 4.0)
14:00 – 14:45 | Discussion
Data And Reading and Publishing Research
The panel will discuss how publishing statistics, reading survey and cognitive research on reading can be combined to get a clearer view on the state of reading habits in a given society.
Since the beginning of reading habit research, reading surveys have been conducted throughout Europe using different methods. Consequently, results were not comparable. Aldus Up conducted an exploratory survey on reading habits research in 2021 in 20 European countries and – on the basis of that – proposed European Item Core Set for Reading Surveys (ERICS) that is designed to help make reading surveys comparable across countries. But is this enough? What do the publishing data tell us about reading habits as measured by reading surveys? And what does all this mean for qualitative reading research?
Promoter: Guest of Honour 2023: Slowenien
Participant: Owena Reinke | Christoph Bläsi | Miha Kova | Porter Anderson
Event venue: Guest of Honour Pavilion Slovenia (Forum, Level 1)
14:00 – 14:50 | Trade event
The Möbius Project: How to effectively move to a digital transformation within a publishing house
Presentation of the pre-results of the Horizon2020 European Project Möbius
Möbius, an initiative funded under the European Commission Horizon 2020 programme, was born to invigorate European book publishing by remodeling the traditional value chains and business models. The main challenge to be addressed is to embrace the prosumers’ potential as valuable contributors, drivers of new products and services, including new enriched media experiences.
Promoter: EU Project Möbius
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
15:00 – 15:25 | Lecture | Presentation
AI and translations – giving books reach the audience they deserve
A perspective of the opportunities for the book industry made possible by the intersection of AI & translations.
Authors want to be translated and translators, editors and proofreaders want to work on their books. At the same time, publishers want to spread authorship to potential readers around the world. Despite this, the majority of books are never translated. We believe the advent of AI may change this. Equipped with the right tools, translators, editors and proofreaders can be more productive without sacrificing creativity. In this talk Robert Casten Carlberg, CEO and co-founder of Nuanxed, discusses three questions:
- How do we ensure quality while utilising AI?
- What does AI mean for translators, editors and proofreaders?
- What opportunities does it create?
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse
Participant: Robert Casten Carlberg
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
15:00 – 16:00 | Trade event
From Inclusion to Innovation: How Accessibility is transforming the Book Value Chain
This seminar will examine how accessibility-driven initiatives sparked innovation from content production to distribution and consumption.
In recent years, accessibility has emerged as a critical factor in transforming the book value chain. This seminar will explore the dynamic relationship between accessibility and innovation, examining how accessibility initiatives are reshaping the publishing industry and fostering inclusivity within the industry.
Through a series of success stories, this seminar will examine how accessibility-driven initiatives sparked innovation from content production to distribution and consumption.
The seminar will be held in the Frankfurt Studio (Hall 40, room Europa) and is organized by Fondazione LIA in collaboration with the Frankfurt Book Fair, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, the Federation of European Publishers, the International Publishers Association, in the framework of Aldus UP, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Tobias Streitferdt | Irene Enriques | Michael Tamblyn | Porter Anderson
Event venue: Frankfurt Studio – Professional Programme (Foyer, Hall 4.0)
16:00 – 18:00 Networking event
Accessibility networking event: meet international colleagues and experts!
Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Fondazione LIA and Frankfurter Buchmesse are glad to invite you to a networking event with international colleagues and accessibility experts.
Keynote: Cristina Mussinelli, Secretary General Fondazione LIA
Join the international crowd of accessibility experts for a drink and a snack and find your peers to discuss challenges of inclusive publishing. Participants will have the chance to further discuss with accessibility experts from the previous seminar “From Inclusion to Innovation: How Accessibility is transforming the Book Value Chain”.
Promoter: Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Fondazione LIA, Frankfurter Buchmesse
Event venue: Hall 4, room Concorde, Hall 4.C
16:00 – 16:40 | Lecture | Presentation
How to address professional challenges of reading, translating and editing in digital age?
The Erasmus+ project Litprax brings together academic and practical knowledge to build tools to improve the reading habits and practical skills of students in Slovenia, Serbia and Romania. Partner institutions such as publishing house Malinc (Slovenia), University of Ljubljana (Slovenia), University of Novi Sad (Serbia), West University of Timisoara (Romania), CSIC (Spain) aims to ponder practical skills for future and active professionals with three three main objectives of the project: academic syllabus, open access LITPRAX Database on literature in Spanish translated and published in Romanian, Serbian and Slovenian since 2000 to the present and the LITPRAX Manual that covers Spanish and Latin American literature written in the 21st century.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH Aldus Up / 2020-616812
Participant: Barbara Pregelj | Aleš Cigale | Katarina Kogej | Bojana Kovaevi Petrovi | Ivana Živanevi Sekeruš
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
19:30 – 20:30 | Author event
Reading in Dark® „Hundert Jahre Blindheit“, ein Roman von Roman Rozina (Klett-Cotta Verlag)
Event in German Language
The reading by the blind reader Sabine Lohner fits into the conversation with the author.
“One Hundred Years of Blindness” tells of the rise and fall of a family. The massive social upheavals that characterise the eve of modernity do not stop at blind Matija and his environment. A monumental family novel from Slovenia that brings the European heritage of the 20th century to life. The reading by the blind reader Sabine Lohner is integrated into the joint discussion with the author Roman Rozina, moderated by Gesa Ufer (radio eins). Reading without seeing – how does that work? And what are the challenges and solutions? Reading in the Dark®, developed by Fondazione LIA, is an experiential event format in the dark. Look forward to a special literary experience!
Organised by the Frankfurt Book Fair, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, mediacampus frankfurt, Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund in Hessen e.V. (BSBH), Fondazione LIA, Deutsches Zentrum für barrierefreies Lesen and Klett-Cotta Verlag. Supported by the EU project Aldus Up.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Sabine Lohner | Roman Rozina | Gesa Ufer
Event venue: Orangerie im Günthersburgpark
19.10.2023 THURSDAY
10:00 – 10:50 | Discussion
Understanding reading, promoting reading and defending democracy
Comparable reading surveys in (European) countries have been something, researchers as well as industry practicioners have been aspiring to for many years. With ERICS (EuRopean Item Core Set for Reading Surveys), Aldus Up, the Network of European Bookfair
Comparable reading surveys in (European) countries have been something, researchers as well as industry practicioners have been aspiring to for many years. With ERICS (EuRopean Item Core Set for Reading Surveys), Aldus Up, the Network of European Bookfairs, has contributed to real progress in this area in the last years.
To undergird our appeal, not to let up on efforts now, we will put reading surveys in a wider context in this panel: in democratic societies, freedom of speech is an indispensable prerequisite – but to make productive use of this freedom, it needs insight and the ability to express oneself. Both can be achieved by way of reading – and hence is an important contribution to defending democracy.
With a panel of experts, we will e.g. shed light on the fact that any systematic reading promotion needs reading figures and that top-notch reading promotion needs also benchmarks from other countries on the basis of comparable reading surveys. Moreover, we will try to sensitise for the fact that reading promotion can appear with very different objectives and measures for different target groups.
Promoter: Aldus Up European Bookfairs Network
Participants: Christoph Bläsi (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Moderator), Kristenn Einarsson (WEXFO, Norway), Luis González (FGSR Foundation, Spain), Owena Reinke (Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz , Germany)
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
12:00 – 12:50 | Discussion
Navigating Trends in Children’s Audio
Latest trends and promising opportunities in audio content for children
Join us for an insightful session with four industry experts as they delve into the trends and opportunities within the children’s audio space.
During the discussion, we’ll explore topics such as the growth of the children’s audio market, the importance of carefully designed audio content for young minds, and contemporary strategies in the dissemination of audiobooks in a digital world. Our speakers will also share valuable insights on different approaches to monetising audio content for children and how publishers can tap into a fast-growing sector of the industry.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH Aldus Up / 2020-616812
Participant: Rebecca Souster | Carla Herbertson | Stéphanie Simonin-Grenot | Colin Hauer | Philip Jones
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
13:00 – 14:00 | Interview | Conversation
The future of book illustration in sight – How does AI change the overall picture?
Artificial intelligence or AI is a topic that currently concerns and concerns not only many illustrators but also the publishing world in general.
Artificial intelligence or AI is a topic that currently concerns and concerns not only many illustrators but also the publishing world in general. But how justified are these concerns? In our panel discussion, we look at how illustrators currently work and let experts have their say about what artificial intelligence brings with it in creative applications and what questions need to be answered. This includes not only the legal aspects for creative professionals and publishers, but also a perspective look at the social changes that are coming to all of us.
Promoter: Illustratoren Organisation e.V.
Participant: Jennifer Daniel | Lena Falkenhagen | Tobias Wüstefeld | Jürgen Gawron
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
14:15- 15:00 | Trade event
Tales of EUkraine – Solidarity in the publishing sector
A European Project for the integration of children refugees and revitalization of the Ukrainian publishing sector
European publishers are getting involved in the Creative Europe project “Tales of EUkraine”: Why is this project so important? What are the learnings and best practices that publishers already involved can share with us? And what do they give to other publishers who want to get involved in the project? Answers to these questions will be given and discussed. Representatives of the European Commission will also take a closer look at the possibilities of the EU’s “Creative Europe” funding programme for the European book industry.
Promoter: EU Project Tales of EUkraine
Participant: Natasa Asik (Project Adviser), Georg Häusler (European Commission), Kateryna Ilchuk (Vivat publishing house, Head of SMM, Ukraine), Daniela Kollarova (Slovakian Publishers Association, Coordinator of Tales of EUkraine in Slovakia and representative of the publishing house DAJAMA), André Störr (Friedrich Mauke publishing house, Germany), Enrico Turrin (Federation of European Publishers, Deputy Director/ Economist)
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
Related events (Readings)
18.10.2023 | 09:00 – 10:00 h CEST
Struwwelpeter Museum
Reading by Tales of EUkraine Projekt
20.10.2023
16:00 – 17:00 CEST
Zentrale Kinder- und Jugenbibliothek – Stadtbücherei Frankfurt am Main
Tales of EUkraine – children’s books from Ukraine
20.10.2023 FRIDAY
10:00 – 10:50 | Trade event
Uncovering the routes of books translations in Europe and the ways to support cultural diversity
A reflection on the main results of Aldus Up survey on translation flows in Europe
What are the main translation flows in Europe? How to collect homogeneous data from different countries to create a European map? What can we learn from current trends? The Aldus Up project partners will present the key results of the survey on buying and selling rights in Europe and discuss best practices to support cultural and linguistic variety.
With Bruno Giancarli (AIE Research department), Renate Punka (President of LGA – Latvian Publishers Association), moderated by Piero Attanasio (Head of Institutional Affairs at AIE)
The event is organised by AIE (Italian Publishers Association) in the framework of Aldus UP, co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the European Union
Promoter: Aldus Up – European Book Fairs network
Participant: Bruno Giancarli ( AIE – Italian Publishers Association), Renate Punka (LGA – Latvian Publishers’ Association) , Piero Attanasio ( Moderator, AIE – Italian Publishers Association),
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
11:00 – 12:00 | Trade event
Animation, licensing, and publishing – a perfect match
While more and more animation projects are inspired by books, publishing is an important strategic asset for animation-related IPs and licensing programs. The publishing industry is not only a source of new content for the small and big screen, but also a strategic partner for those developing off-screen IPS. The secret ingredient here is licensing. This panel will have key players from publishing, animation,and licensing discussing their best practices and development strategies.
Promoter: LICENSING MAGAZINE
Participant: Joachim Knödler | Angela Schaaf de Lavado | Tuomas Sorjamaa | So Taniuchi | Claudia Mazzucco | Cristina Angelucci
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
13:00 – 13:30 | Trade event
Basics Lizenzrecht und der Einsatz generativer künstlicher Intelligenz.
Event in German language
Dr Ursula Feindor-Schmidt, LL.M. advises national and international clients on their digital strategies and is entrusted with high-profile test cases on platform liability and copyright compliance. In addition, she is a specialist in the developing field of artificial intelligence, the use of AI for legal tech and AI regulation. She is a regular speaker and expert contributor at national and international events, e.g. for the Academy of German Media, the International Publishers Association, the Rise of AI or the Fordham IP Conference.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Ursula Feindor-Schmidt
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
13:30 – 14:00 | Trade event
Event in German language
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Peter Hollo
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal
16:00 – 16:30 | Trade event
Global Licensing Trends including Anime & Manga
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Steve Manners
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
14:00 – 15:00 | Trade event
How can the digital transformation help the cultural and creative industries to take off?
CCI Thrive as offer for the cultural and creative industry to leverage cross sectoral IP.
The panelists are discussing how B2B platforms can be used to boost the competitiveness of the cultural and creative sector – with creative offerings, innovative business opportunities and the development of new markets.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Thierry Baujard (CCI Thrive), Brigitte Brylla (Travian Games, Community Communications Manager ), Iban Carrere (Frankfurter Buchmesse), Prof. Odile Limpach (Köln University of Applied Sciences), Rémi Tereszkiewicz (Betaseries, CEO)
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
17:00 – 18:00 | Trade event
From individual piece to cross-platform IP
Story development in the interplay between creatives, intermediaries, platforms and audiences
IPs like “Star Wars” have a global presence on numerous platforms and dominate the market. However, more and more creators are succeeding in building an active fanbase via social media channels, leading to success in self-publishing. With the continuing possibility of
classic distribution, via agencies to publishers or via production companies to film, TV, streaming or publishers, the opportunities for releasing content have increased significantly. This also increases the challenge of being perceived by the audience in the multitude of offers.
We present how the Academy for Children’s Media develops material for young audiences and discuss with alumni and partners how they realise their projects in this environment.
Promoter: Förderverein Deutscher Kinderfilm e.V./Akademie für Kindermedien
Participant: Margret Albers | Ulrike Lehmann | Olivia Vieweg
Event venue: Aldus Up Stage (4.1 / The ARTS+ Areal)
21.10.2023 SATURDAY
11:00 – 13:00 | Reading
Reading Braille – Eine Lesung für Kinder (10+ Jahre) im DIALOGMUSEUM
Event in German language
Reading in the Dark® – “Full speed ahead into adventure” by Katharina Reschke
You read with your eyes – it depends!
Braille is read with the fingers: it is tactile and consists of a 6-dot system that is almost 200 years old.
During the reading of the children’s book “Full speed ahead into adventure” (Katharina Reschke, 2023), visitors are invited to take a seat on a reading meadow and follow Petrine Waagö (team leader guides) as she reads Braille.
Afterwards, a hands-on workshop playfully teaches how tactile reading works, what Braille means for blind people and what writing has to do with inclusion.
Tickets for tours of the museum must be booked separately in advance.
Organised by DIALOGMUSEUM, Frankfurt Book Fair, Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels, Blinden- und Sehbehindertenbund in Hessen e.V. (BSBH), Fondazione LIA and Deutsches Zentrum für barrierefreies Lesen (dzb lesen). Supported by the EU project Aldus UP.
Promoter: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH
Participant: Petrine Waagö
Event venue: DIALOGMUSEUM
