PRESS RELEASE: Frankfurt Fellowship Programme 2018, applications are now open.

This year, the renowned Frankfurt Fellowship Programme of the Frankfurter Buchmesse is in its 20th year. Established in 1998, the international programme promotes the exchange of information and the creation of an international network between publishing professionals from all around the world. Applications for the 2018 edition of the funding programme are now being accepted; the deadline to apply is 30 April 2018. Young publishing professionals, including publishers, editors, agents and rights managers, are encouraged to apply.

As part of the two-week programme, Frankfurt Fellows will learn about various international book markets, take part in matchmaking events and expand their professional networks. Beginning on 30 September 2018, the 16 chosen participants will visit publishing houses and bookshops in three German cities and attend networking events. The highlight of the programme is the Frankfurter Buchmesse (10-14 October 2018).

“The Fellowship Programme has widened my perspective of the industry and broadened my network. I always consider what I do locally within the much wider framework of various world markets. This perspective, I think, contributed to my being chosen for the job I have now”, says Andrea Pasion-Flores, General Manager of Anvil Publishing (the Philippines) and a former Frankfurt Fellow.

“A strong international network is essential in our industry. In the past two decades, more than 330 publishing talents from 59 countries have participated in our Fellowship Programme. The programme allows young professionals to increase their knowledge about foreign publishing markets and often results in long-lasting business contacts and friendships across the world”, says Bärbel Becker, Director International Projects at the Frankfurter Buchmesse.

One of the 2018 Fellowship participants will receive funding as a “Fred Kobrak Frankfurt Fellow”. Established by his family in 2017 in memory of Fred Kobrak – a dedicated and long-serving player in the international publishing industry who passed away in December 2016 – the fund will cover the travel and accommodation costs for one Frankfurt Fellow each year for ten years. Fred Kobrak attended the Frankfurter Buchmesse for 56 years in a row. Through this fund, his family wishes to help give young publishing professionals an opportunity to participate in the Frankfurt Book Fair.

Applicants should have several years' experience in the publishing industry and a good command of English. The application form and other relevant information about applying to the Frankfurt Fellowship Programme 2018 is available online at www.book-fair.com/fellows

Applications must include the completed application form, three letters of recommendation from international business associates as well as a recommendation from the management of the applicant’s own publishing house.

Please send your complete application via e-mail to the address indicated below:

• Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: German Book Office (GBO) New Delhi,
Ms Prashasti Rastogi, rastogi@newdelhi.gbo.org

• China, Hong Kong, Taiwan: Book Information Centre (BIZ) Beijing, Ms Yingxing Gong, gong@biz-beijing.org

• Russia: Book Information Centre (BIZ) Moscow, Ms Anastasia Milekhina,

milekhina@biz-moskau.org

• USA, English-speaking Canada: Frankfurt Book Fair New York Inc. Ms Michelle Claussen Claussen@book-fair.com

• Other countries: Frankfurter Buchmesse GmbH, Frankfurt, Ms Niki Théron 

theron@book-fair.com