Ukraine’s Participation in the Guadalajara International Book Fair
In December 2024, Ukraine was represented more prominently than ever before at one of Latin America’s most important literary events—the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL). The Ukrainian program featured four events that sparked deep interest among the Mexican audience in Ukrainian culture, literature, and contemporary realities.
On December 4, the Spanish-language edition of «Ukraine in Histories and Stories: Essays by Ukrainian intellectuals» (Ucrania en su Historia y sus historias. Ensayos de intelectuales ucranianos) was officially presented. The event featured contributors to the volume: Alim Aliev (Deputy Director of the Ukrainian Institute), philosopher and writer Vakhtang Kebuladze, and poet and translator Haska Shyyan. The presentation was moderated by renowned Colombian author and friend of Ukraine, Héctor Abad Faciolince, who is also a representative of the #AguantaUcrania communication campaign.
That same day, Ukrainian writer Yevheniia Kuznetsova met with Mexican students as part of the educational initiative “FIL ECO.” Fluent in Spanish, Kuznetsova shared her experiences of writing, translation, and life in wartime Ukraine, earning heartfelt engagement from the audience.
In the evening, celebrated Ukrainian author Yuriy Andrukhovych joined a roundtable discussion on European literature alongside Eva Meijer, Carolina Schutti, and Ulla Lenze. The conversation was moderated by Winston Manrique Sabogal. The authors explored literature’s role in a world marked by conflict and read excerpts from their works in Spanish and their original languages.
The final event of the Ukrainian program took place on December 5—a panel titled “With Humor and Irony: Storytelling in Difficult Times.” The discussion brought together Yuriy Andrukhovych, Yevheniia Kuznetsova, and Mexican writer Ana García Bergua, with Haska Shyyan as moderator. The audience actively participated in the conversation, highlighting the power of language and humor as tools for processing traumatic experiences.
In total, more than 250 people attended the Ukrainian events, which generated significant interest within Mexico’s literary community. Ukrainian books translated into Spanish were showcased at the European Union’s stand, and Ukrainian authors gave in-depth interviews to Mexican media, sharing insights into Ukraine’s cultural context, literary scene, and resistance during wartime.
This marked a record-breaking year for Ukraine at FIL in both the number of events and the depth of cultural representation. It is our hope that this participation marks the beginning of a long-term cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Mexico.
