At the 2025 edition of the Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP). Image: Publishing Perspectives, Talita Facchini
By Talita Facchini | @talitafacchinii
The 23rd Edition of Brazil’s ‘FLIP’
Brazil currently hosts as many as 320 literary events, according to a recent survey made by the ministry of culture. That includes book fairs, literary festivals, and poetry gatherings. In addition to the book biennials held throughout the country, perhaps the best known such event is Festa Literária Internacional de Paraty, the Paraty International Literary Festival (FLIP). Established in 2003, it takes place in the state of Rio de Janeiro’s historic coastal town of Paraty and draws a diverse array of authors and contemporary artists every year.
This year’s edition of the festival marked its return to a traditional July schedule—something not seen since before the pandemic—and wrapped up a five-day run on Sunday (August 3) with a 10-percent increase in attendance compared to the previous edition.
More than just a literary event, FLIP—like comparable festivals in many parts of the country—plays a role in strengthening the bond between the publishing industry and readers.
In recent years, the festival has welcomed major international authors such as 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature laureate Annie Ernaux; French writer and translator Édouard Louis; Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr; Portuguese novelist Valter Hugo Mãe; Argentine writer Camila Sosa Villada; Spanish journalist and writer Rosa Montero; and Italian authors Ilaria Gaspari and Liza Ginzburg. Many of them have taken to the cobblestone streets of Paraty alongside festivalgoers.
“Over the years, FLIP has helped refine Paraty’s cultural vocation,” says Mauri Munhoz, who is an architect, the artistic director of Associação Casa Azul, and one of the festival’s founders.
“The festival operates as a kind of dynamic urbanism,” he says, “offering residents and visitors a unique experience of the city—one that invites people to imagine what Brazilian cities could be if artistic, cultural, and educational values were given the space they deserve.”
‘Connecting With People From the Publishing Industry’
Bookselling at a previous edition of the Paraty
International Literary Festival (FLIP). Image: Walter Craveiro
As for the publishing market’s outreach to festivalgoers, each year an increasing number of local houses—rented and curated by publishers and cultural collectives—become part of the festival’s parallel programming. This year, there were 35 such spaces, in which a rich schedule of events took place, featuring authors and book business professionals. At the festival’s official bookstore, more than 20,000 books were sold during the five-day event.
Marifé Boix García
“I think Paraty offers a fantastic setting for connecting with people from the publishing industry,” says Marifé Boix García, Frankfurter Buchmesse‘s (October 15 to 19) vice-president business development in Latin America and Southern Europe. She first attended the Paraty festival 15 years ago.
“At Frankfurt Book Fair, we’ve taken part in the co-working house organized by PublishNews and, on two occasions, in Casa Europa, together with a group of international publishers.” Those initiatives brought German books, publishers, and authors to the Brazilian festival.
Reflecting on FLIP’s evolution, Boix García says, “I found it especially interesting when the industry ‘took over’ Paraty with more than 30 partner-houses and a robust parallel program. Another highlight for me was when the festival’s curatorial direction became more inclusive and provided greater visibility for Black authors. When Brazil was the guest of honor at the Frankfurt Book Fair, we saw the impact of that shift in the lineup of Brazilian authors present in Frankfurt.”
In addition to Frankfurt, companies like MVB and Bookwire have also participated in the festival’s parallel programming for years, contributing to its reach and visibility through various industry issues.
During the five days of FLIP, Paraty welcomed 34,000 visitors and reached a 98-percent occupancy rate in local inns and guesthouses, further solidifying its status as not only a cultural hotspot, but also a valuable economic engine for the region and the broader book ecosystem.
At an iteration of the Paraty International Literary Festival, an audience listens to Spanish journalist and writer Rosa Montero. Image: Agenciasairas
More from Publishing Perspectives on the Brazilian book publishing industry is here, more on book fairs and trade shows in various parts of the world is here, more on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here.
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