RIYADH — Around 900 Saudi, Arab and international publishing houses are taking part in the Jeddah International Book Fair 2022, which kicked off at Jeddah Superdome on Thursday. More than 100 wide variety of cultural events and activities are being held as part of the festival of book fans that runs from Dec. 8 to 17. The Digital Publishing Conference and Science Fiction Conference will be held on the sidelines of the fair, organized by the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission, an offshoot of the Ministry of Culture. The cultural activities include dialogue sessions, workshops, and poetry evenings, in addition to the "Book Talk" that brings together readers with a group of their favorite authors and writers. The fair will feature lectures, cultural workshops, and seminars by experts and intellectuals who will discuss a diverse range of subjects. The fair will dedicate a section to drama, films, and theater featuring panel discussions on the future of Saudi theater and scenes from famous series and movies such as Game of Thrones, One Piece, and Shams Al-Maaref. Poetry evenings and drama performances as well as seminars related to novels, short stories, and arts of all kinds will be held. The fair will also feature multiple dialogue sessions regarding women's role in the Saudi Shoura Council, the fashion industry, Thamudic writings, and historic architecture. The book fair will include three-panel discussions on the first day of the cultural activities. Themes of seminars include 'Philology of the Arabic Language', 'Narrative and Bridges of Cultural Memory', and a behind-the-scenes interview with the stars of the 'Game of Thrones' drama series including Ian McElhinney, Jerome Flynn, and Tom Wlaschiha. Speakers at a symposium on the philology of the Arabic language include Nawaf Al-Baydani, Muhammad Saeed Al-Ghamdi, Amund Bjorsnes, and Muhammad Al-Safrani. The second symposium, titled "Narrative and Bridges of Cultural Memory" talks about historical narration and its connection to human and cultural existence and identity. Dr. Abdul Rahman Al-Fahd, Dr. Mujeeb Al-Adwani, Dr. Saleh bin Al-Hadi Ramadan, and Dr. Najla are attending the session. In addition to allocating platforms for a book signing, there will be a corner for the 'Saudi author,' which includes more than 400 titles of self-published authors, pavilions for audiobooks, the digital library, silent books, and reading sessions and zones. The Science Fiction Conference will host writers and authors with experience and expertise in creative writing, and provides the opportunity for writing enthusiasts to present and discuss drafts of their works in the world of science fiction, and exchange opinions, and benefit from their experiences to produce their works. The Ministry of Culture has published a guide detailing its cultural programs at the fair, which includes many dialogue seminars, workshops, and poetry evenings, in addition to children's activities. Children can get involved in educational and training programs in a dedicated area, and learn different writing and artistic skills. The book fair is returning to Jeddah after a hiatus of three years since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. The 5th International Book Fair was held at Events Land in south Obhur in December 2019.
