FIL Cali 2024: Japan Takes Center Stage at the Cali Book Fair! - Spiwak Hotels

November brings one of the most anticipated and beloved literary events in Colombia: the 2024 Cali International Book Fair!

Since 2016, this tradition has celebrated the literary arts of our country, uniting all of us in Valle del Cauca with pride for this great literary festival in Cali. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.

As with previous editions, this celebration honors the cultural legacy of various nations in building a better world. This year, Japan will be the guest of honor at this magnificent festival, showcasing an extraordinary artistic display never before seen in our region.

Here, you’ll find everything you need to plan your visit to this wonderful fair of words and ideas in our beautiful city.



This year's FIL Cali will be held from Thursday, November 14, to Sunday, November 24, 2024. The event will feature hundreds of activities for all ages and interests, offering a playful atmosphere, engaging entertainment, fascinating literary options, and of course, a delightful place where to read in Cali.

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In addition to the spacious Bulevar del Río, the festival returns to the renovated Paseo Bolívar, with its magnificent ceiba trees and beautiful landscaping, providing a stunning setting for our visitors.

Moreover, FIL Cali will expand to 12 municipalities in Valle del Cauca, including Buenaventura, Buga, Caicedonia, Cartago, Florida, Jamundí, Palmira, Roldanillo, Santander de Quilichao, Tuluá, Yumbo, and Zarzal. These towns will offer their own exciting cultural programs, featuring local, national, and international guests.

Of course, there will also be a vast selection of books available for purchase, both in the city and surrounding areas. If you're looking to buy a great book, this fair is the perfect place to find one!

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Much like Japanese visual arts, Japanese literature is deeply connected to graphic expression. As such, this year’s FIL Cali will feature several stands offering demonstrations, talks, and, of course, titles related to illustration, comics, animation, film, novels, and manga—perfect for children and young adults.

The event’s program will also include a wide range of cultural offerings across various disciplines, catering to diverse audiences. Expect to see presentations that appeal to martial arts practitioners, Japanese cuisine lovers, fans of Japanese business culture, enthusiasts of Japan’s many subcultures, and those who admire Japan’s rich history and traditions.

Over 40 special guests from the Land of the Rising Sun —including writers, musicians, and experts in calligraphy, haiku, ikebana, bonsai, tea ceremonies, and more— will participate in this edition of the fair. There will also be origami workshops and beginner Japanese language lessons taught by native instructors for those interested in learning Japanese in Cali.

For a full, up-to-date schedule, be sure to check out the official website or Instagram account for this amazing fair.

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In one of his essays, the renowned writer and professor Germán Patiño Ossa recounts the story of Yuzo Takeshima, a young man who was deeply moved by the tropical landscapes described in Jorge Isaacs' novel María. After translating the book into Japanese, Takeshima inspired a wave of Japanese migration to Colombia in the early 20th century.

As the Japanese community in Valle del Cauca nears its 100th anniversary in 2029, it takes center stage in this year’s fair. Literature serves as more than just a form of entertainment —it builds bridges between cultures that may seem geographically and culturally distant, but in reality, share many common stories, struggles, and emotions.

For this reason, Japan is a very special guest for the 2024 Cali Book Fair. (If you’d like to dive deeper into this beautiful intercultural history, we invite you to watch Carlos Palau‘s fascinating film El Sueño del Paraíso, available at this link.)

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Supported by the Embassy of Japan, the Colombian-Japanese Association, and the Colombo-Japanese Cultural Center, the FIL Cali is organized annually by the Spiwak Foundation, the University of Valle (Univalle), and the Mayor’s Office of Santiago de Cali through its Department of Culture and Public Library Network.

Additionally, the Government of Valle, the Ministry of Culture, over 15 Colombian universities, and numerous prominent regional and national companies come together to make this fair a shining example of how public, private, and academic partnerships can work for the benefit of culture, art, and community.

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Admission to the 2024 Cali Book Fair is absolutely free!

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Bring your loved ones and join us for this grand celebration of literature in the Branch of Heaven. Welcome to the Cali Book Fair!

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Spiwak Hotels: Your best lodging option in Cali and the third-largest hotel complex in Colombia. Located in the northern part of the city, with easy access to Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, in the luxurious Chipichape Shopping Center. We offer 462 rooms, two pools, a gym, parking, and access to all the services and entertainment you need: banking, supermarkets, pharmacies, shops, a cinema, a casino, and much more.

Our spectacular restaurant, La Zarzuela, features a fusion cuisine menu, combining ingredients from the Colombian Pacific with Mediterranean techniques. It's the perfect spot to savor the most innovative international cuisine in Cali.

We are the official host of FIL Cali 2024!