The “Organizing Committee Frankfurt Book Fair 2008 -- Guest of Honour Turkey” presented its Book Fair and cultural events program on 12 June 2008. The Guest of Honour program “Turkey in all its colours” features nearly 250 events in Germany, including readings, music acts, dance and theatre performances, art exhibitions and workshops,” explained Ümit Yasar Gözüm, co-chairman of the Organizing Committee Frankfurt Book Fair 2008 Guest of Honour Turkey.

To provide the public with a comprehensive overview, the literature program of the Guest of Honour will present around 350 writers and translators of all colours. These range from Orhan Pamuk, to young voices of Turkish literature represented by Asli Erdogan, Elif Safak and Sebnem Isigüzel. The literary program will feature about 200 readings and discussions on a wide variety of current topics.

Conference for international license managers

On 14 October 2008, there will be a conference where international experts present topics of current concern in rights and licence trade and provide reliable tips for the everyday professional activities of rights managers. The conference has been held annually since 1987. As last year, delegates from more than 25 countries are again expected to attend in 2008. Janice Potter of Simon & Shuster Publishers will provide an overview of new problems and pitfalls with licence contracts. Margaret Halton, Rights Director of Pan Macmillan Ltd. and Hans Jürgen Balmes, Programme Director at S. Fischer Verlage will present some case studies on the topic of rights sales from the English speaking world to a market of another language. The publishers Morgan Entrekin, President of Grove/Atlantic and Jordi Nadal of Plataforma Editorial from Barcelona will address the reverse scenario. The moderator is rights manager Diane Spivey, Rights and Contracts Director at Little, Brown Book Group in London. The conference will be held at Congress Centre, Level C3, Conference room "Illusion" at the FBF.