The Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), considered the most important in Latin America and a central reference for Spanish-speaking countries, once again confirmed its role as a major meeting point for the publishing sector. In its 2025 edition, which featured Barcelona as the guest city of honor, FIL welcomed nearly one million visitors, including book industry professionals and the public, who attended both to purchase new releases and to participate in the extensive cultural programming developed throughout the week.
Within this context, the International Authors Forum (IAF) had a prominent presence with its dedicated sessions, which established itself as a space for reflection and debate on the main challenges currently facing authors in the region and worldwide.
The IAF program included four roundtables featuring representatives from its member organisations, led by its Chair, John Degen, as well as experts from the publishing sector, collective management, and related fields such as translation, illustration, and literary works. The discussions addressed topics of highest relevance to the author community, creating a great attention from the audience, who participated actively and enthusiastically in each session.
During the first session, structural issues affecting professional authorship were discussed. The roundtable “What Do Authors Live On?” addressed employment instability, lack of social recognition, and the need for regulatory frameworks that guarantee fair and decent working conditions for those engaged in literary sector. Participants included Paula Casal from the Writers’ Union of Argentina, Carlos Wynter from SEA Panama, and John Degen, moderated by Jorge Comensal, a young and successful Mexican author. Later, the debate “Is Self-Publishing an Option for Authors?” critically analysed the role of digital platforms, the real costs of the publishing process, and the challenges posed by the relationship between authorship, the market, and emerging technologies, including generative artificial intelligence (AI). This panel featured Carmen Rodríguez, a Chilean-Canadian author, Rocío Martínez, CEO of one of Mexico’s most prestigious publishing houses, and Ana María Cabanellas, Argentine editor, Vice President of RRO Argentina, and President of the IFRRO Latin American Committee, moderated by Carlos Anaya, editor and former president of the Mexican Publishers Association.
The second session focused on one of today’s hot topics: Are generative AIs tools or competition for creators? Drawing on recent studies and the direct experience of writers, translators, illustrators, and literary agents, the discussion examined the impacts of AI on the book chain and the strategies needed to protect creative activity. Panelists shared their perspectives with the audience from their respective viewpoints: Alex Olvera, President of the Association of Translators of Mexico; Miryan Bahntje, President of the Argentine Illustrators Association; Vivian Lavin, journalist, editor, and former president of RRO Chile; and José Diego González, Manager of the Publishing Ecosystem at CERLALC, the regional international organisation for Latin America and the Caribbean. The session was moderated by Fernanda Mendoza, IAF Consultant for Latin America.
The IAF concluded its participation with a roundtable dedicated to Management of Image Use within Literary Works, a key topic in the context of the growing hybridisation between text and image. The discussion focused on authorisation procedures, rights management, and the aspects of using national and international visual works in publishing projects. Participants included Elizabeth Ambriz, President of the Mexican Visual Artists Society, and Quetzalli de la Concha, Vice President of RRO Mexico.
The presence of the IAF at FIL Guadalajara underscored the importance of fostering spaces for collective dialogue on authorship, cultural rights, and the advancement of the publishing sector. In a fair attracting millions of readers and professionals worldwide, the IAF sessions became a key reference for reflecting on the present and future of creative work, from a diverse, informed perspective committed to supporting those who make books possible.
