Between enthusiasm, modernity and art, the XXVI Santo Domingo International Book Fair (FILSD 2024), during an event held at the National Theater, located in the Plaza de la Cultura, headquarters of the great cultural event.
The ceremony began with the performance of the national anthem by the choral group Koribeunder the direction of the teacher Nadia Nicola.
This was followed by the presentation of “FIL”, the event’s mascot: an interactive hologram with artificial intelligence,who held a dialogue with the actor and theater director Fausto Rojasto whom he answered questions about the activities that will take place at the fair.
She will be available to all visitors at the Imagination Pavilion, which was widely received in 2023.
Moments of emotion
The writer Rhina Espaillat receiving her recognition.
(KEVIN RIVAS)
FILSD is dedicated to the writer Matthew Morrison, National Literature Award 2010, who with great energy thanked his family and all those who have supported him in every step of his life.
He also took the opportunity to advocate for cultural democratizationwhich – he said – does not discriminate beliefs, religions, or status… it simply develops and is enriched.
This year Washington Heights is the invited community and, in that sense, representing the Dominican community in the United States, the Dominican writer was recognized Rhina Espaillatwho left the country because of the Trujillo dictatorship.
Upon receiving the distinction he told his story in a very humorous way, but in depth resilient and of greatness.
“This recognition symbolizes the wave of the sea that separates us and at the same time connects us,” said the Minister of Culture, Milagros Germán, referring to the motto of FILSD 2024, “Books connect.”
Then Germán, who pronounced the keynote speech of the nightannounced details that will characterize the fair, current until Sunday, November 17.
He highlighted that this is “the most revolutionary, most democratic and most popular act that we present to our public; the best of the world of thought, the publishing world and the book industry”.
He added that It is an open fair and plural that welcomes without any type of bias all current currents of thought, celebrating freedom of ideas, publication, participation and expression.
Likewise, he announced that he is not only limited to Saint Dominic but other parts of the Dominican Republic have been involved, including La Romana, Santiago, La Vega and San Cristóbal.
Artistic participation
The event concluded with an artistic presentation that included Morrison’s poetry and a performance of musical pieces by artists such as Maridalia Hernández and Adalgisa Pantaleón.
Finally, to the sound of the merengue “I’m from here, I’m from there”, the official theme of the fair, the the ribbon cutting which officially marked the start of FILSD 2024.
