Beijing International Book Fair 2017: Animated Oddsockeaters as the main theme of the Czech participation, renowned Czech Sinologist receives National Book Award
31.08.2017 / 13:56 | Aktualizováno: 31.08.2017 / 14:02
The second half of August was devoted to Czech authors and literature. This year the Czech Republic left a significant footprint at the Beijing International Book Fair (BIBF) – the biggest event of its kind in Asia. Beijing experienced the biggest concentration of authors, translators, publishers and other relevant cultural institutions – including those from Czech Republic. The Deputy Minister of Culture Ms Katerina Kalistova led the Czech participation, under the theme of animated creatures called Oddsockeaters. Director of the Moravian National Library Mr. Tomas Kubicek took part and together with the Embassy organized the weeklong activities devoted to Czech literature and film. On the eve of the launch of the BIBF one of the most renowned Czech Sinologists Professor Oldrich Kral received the National Book Award for his lifelong devotion to translations of Chinese literature.
The 31st Beijing International Book Fair took place August 23-27. Czech authors Galina Miklinova, Iva Pekarkova and Petr Stancik presented not only their current work but also participated in a variety of side events including authors reading or movie screening and discussions. Galina Miklinova, author and director, personally presented her animated movie Oddsockeaters in Beijing for the first time. In additional a widely attended movie screening and exhibition launch took place at the Embassy. This year’s Book Fair was thus an opportunity for the Chinese audience to explore Czech contemporary children’s literature, popular novels and animated film.
The Deputy Minister of Culture Katerina Kalistova, Director of the Moravian National Library Mr Tomas Kubicek and the Director of the Czech Literary Centre Mr Ondrej Buddeus personally supported the Czech participation. The main message conveyed at various meeting with Chinese counterparts and publishers was that Czech Republic is willing to support an increasing number of translations of Czech contemporary literature to Chinese. Furthermore, Deputy Minister Kalistova supported future cultural exchanges between countries, including book and movie distribution in China.
Deputy Minister meeting with Chinese counterparts in Beijing
On the sidelines of the BIBF the Czech Embassy organized a reception bringing together authors, publishers, representatives of cultural institutions and faculty and students of Czech Studies in China. During the opening, Deputy Minister Kalistova recognized and thanked for the positive contributions to bilateral relations made by authors, teachers and students in both countries. Award-winning Sinologist Professor Kral was the guest of honor of this event. Participants had the opportunity to enjoy a performance by Piccolo Coro and Picolla Orchestra, mixed chamber choir and a chamber string orchestra, and Karromato, Czech marionette theatre.
Picollo Coro and Picollo Orchestra at the Czech Embassy in Beijing
In addition to the program in Beijing, the delegation led by Deputy Minister Kalistova visited the city of Xian where she gave support to the Czech language studies program (to be launched in 2018) at the Xian Foreign Studies University. The Czech Delegation held a meeting with the Mayor of Xian.