Inclusion and accessibility, focus of the 42nd edition of the Filij

Mexico City. From November 8 to 18, the Bosque de Chapultepec will host the International Children’s and Youth Book Fair (Filij), whose 42nd edition will bring together 74 publishing houses, authors, illustrators and artists on the road known as La Milla.

Organized by the Economic Culture Fund (FCE) and the government of Mexico City, the cultural meeting stands out for its inclusive approach and the diversity of activities it will offer, including editorial presentations, talks, puppet and deaf theater, conferences and circus shows in five forums.

Trillas, Planeta, SM, Porrúa and Larousse, along with independent publishers such as Pura Pinche Fortaleza Cómics and Nostra Ediciones will join the program that includes more than 90 book presentations. Renowned authors such as Gabriela Peyron, Francisco Hinojosa and Ana Romero will share their works and experiences with attendees.

The Circo Inclusivo México company will present Circus Dream Galaand the Elastic Theater League will carry out The Beasts Dance or the Stealthy Spell of the Wild. In addition, the Musas Sonideras and Rumba San Feroz will offer the concert-dance titled Turning the page.

In addition, film screenings will be presented, such as Nosferatu: A Symphony of Terrorscored live by Seven Deadly Sins, as well as the work UGAfrom the Sign and Verb Theater of the Deaf.

One of the highlights of this edition is the organization of more than 650 unit workshops, designed to serve approximately 19,500 people, from children to adults. The subjects covered range from dance and music to writing and science.

Filij will also expand its reach beyond Mexico City, with activities in eleven states, such as Campeche, Baja California Sur and Veracruz. This decentralization seeks to bring literature closer to diverse communities and encourage reading in different corners of the country.

In interview with The DayMarilina Barona, one of the coordinators of the meeting, pointed out that “Chapultepec is the public park par excellence in the Mexican capital. It attracts people who plan to visit the fair, but also those who simply walk through the park.

“The location allows for a significant influx, with a potential for thousands of visitors, something that the Filij takes advantage of to attract a diverse audience. “School visits play a crucial role, since agreements have been established with the city’s public transport network to guarantee access for public school children, especially from areas with lower purchasing power.”

Meanwhile, the collaboration with different institutions, such as the System of Support for Creation and Cultural Projects and the Heroic Fire Department of the capital, “strengthens the scope of the fair.”

Book clubs, which have worked well in previous years, help spread the word about the fair and encourage an interest in books. Barona added that “we have started the creation of reading clubs in the Pillars (Points of Innovation, Freedom, Art, Education and Knowledge), which allows us to reach more corners of the city.”

Inclusion and accessibility are also priorities at Filij. Activities have been implemented with an inclusive approach, such as theater for the deaf and workshops that seek to bring literature to all audiences.

Barona emphasized that “we seek to balance the childish and the youthful so that each person can find their place at the fair. In this way, it will become a space where everyone feels represented and is part of the reading community. This year, we hope to surpass our attendance record, which last year reached between 1.5 and 2 million visitors.”

With free entry, the Filij can be visited from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the road known as La Milla, located in the first section of the Chapultepec Forest. The schedule can be consulted on the website: