The International Pacific Book Fair in Cali, known as Filcali 2025, has become a genuine cultural and educational celebration attracting thousands. Featuring over 150 publishers and activities for children and youth, the event successfully competes with major concerts and stands out for its focus on inclusion. Additionally, Celsia presented its new art book, emphasizing sensory experiences beyond traditional reading.
The International Pacific Book Fair, Filcali 2025, directed by Paola Guevara, is described as Colombia's largest “open-air bookstore”. This year, with over 150 publishers present, the event goes beyond literary offerings to become a cultural, recreational, and educational platform extending from Cali to Cartago and the entire Valle del Cauca department. A large space in Parque de la Retreta is dedicated to children's and teenagers' activities, promoting reading and creative imagination through institutions, cultural managers, and teachers.
Activities take place outside the fairground in various city spaces and other locations, prioritizing inclusion and drawing youth into a world traditionally reserved for “very serious adults”. Interest grows yearly; for instance, on the past Saturday and Sunday nights, Filcali competed with Shakira's concert at Estadio Pascual Guerrero after 19 years, yet its aisles remained crowded despite heavy traffic.
Colombia is the guest country, highlighting its diverse cultures and regions, though suggestions include inviting more Latin American nations to open windows to global publishing. The fair amplifies local writers, independent publishers like Ediciones El Silencio and Librería Oromo, and revitalizes the Boulevard with food stalls, artisan sales, and encounters among book lovers. However, the absence of women poets in Parque de los Poetas is noted.
In parallel, Celsia presented its art book collection at the fair, collaborating annually with Taller de Edición. These are not mere books but works to feel and hear: “The book itself is a work. It's not just to see art, but to feel it from the moment you touch it”, explain the editors. Examples include Naturaleza y asombro by Memo Gómez, with QR codes for bird songs; Contra la oscuridad by Catalina Estrada, bursting into color when opened; and Bajo las estrellas by Camilo Jaramillo, featuring astrophotographs from Colombia, Iceland, and Mexico. Democratizing art, they are given to shareholders and donated to museums like La Tertulia. So far, nine titles, with the next dedicated to Débora Arango alongside an exhibition at Museo de Arte Moderno.
“We don't make books for curators, we make them for the citizen, the investor, the shareholder, the reader who lets themselves be surprised”, state the organizers. This initiative connects energy and culture, transforming art into an accessible experience.