Program

The Jerusalem International Book Forum brings together publishing professionals from around the world. The 2025 JIBF will take place between May 18^th and May 20^th in a different and more intimate format. The JIBF will address, as usual, issues which stand at the heart of the publishing world as well as the events which have transpired in Israel since Oct. 7^th, 2023. Participation in the JIBF’s events requires pre-registration and confirmation of registration and is contingent on availability.

Please note that the 2025 JIBF events will take place at Mishkenot Sha’ananim.

For pre-registration and confirmation of registration please contact us: sharon@ariel.org.il

Please mention your professional role (author, editor, publisher or agent), affiliation (name of publishing house, agency or freelance) and which events you would like to take part in.

The 2025 JIBF will include the following events and activities:

Sunday, May 18^th

Ceremony: awarding of the Jerusalem Prize for Literature to French author Michel Houellebecq*, Mishkenot Sha’ananim (for invitees only)

Monday 19.5

09:30   Call of the Siren: Writing, Reality, and the Israeli Imagination

A panel with contemporary Israeli authors, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

Featuring:

• Asaf Gavron
• Dorit Rabinyan
• Kinneret Rosenblum
• Yaniv Iczkovits

Moderated by Sarai Shavit

11:00   Kafka’s Final Trial, a screening of the documentary and a meeting with author Benjamin Balint, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

13:00   Departure to Museum on the Seam, Cheil Ha’handassa 4

13:30   Buffet Lunch

14:15   Visit to the museum’s current exhibitions

Tuesday 20.5

09:00   Dispatches from A Crisis: On Journalism, Conflict, and Perspective

A conversation between Ruth Margalit (contributing writer to for the New York Times Magazine) and Matti Friedman (author and journalist), Mishkenot Sha’ananim

10:30   When the World Intrudes: Publishing in Political Times

Round tables with fellows and alumni, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

Discussion groups led by alumni Michael Gaeb (Gaeb & Eggers), Carmen Pinilla (Arago & Pinilla) and Geula Geurts (The Deborah Harris Agency)

12:00   A Room Without a View: on the Perspectives of Literature in Times of War, a talk between Dror Mishani (author) and Marc Koralnik (agent), Liepman Agency. Lunch Included, Fostel Hall, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

14:15   Freedom to Publish: From Banned Books to Cultural Boycotts, a panel discussion, Mishkenot Sha’ananim

Featuring:

• Volker Weidermann, author and cultural correspondent for Die Zeit
• David Harel, The Weizmann Institute of Science, and President of the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities
• Julia Fermentto-Tzaisler, author and artistic director of the Writers’ Festival
• José Borghino, secretary General of the International Publishers Association

Moderated by Ziv Lewis, head of acquisitions and foreign rights, Kinneret Zmora Dvir

*Michel Houellebecq will take part in a public event during the Writers Festival of Mishkenot Sha’ananim.