From May 11 to 13, 2020, at the initiative of the Regional Library "Sava Dobroplodni" - Sliven in partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Sliven Municipality, Regional Administration - Sliven, the Bulgarian Children's Book Association, the largest children's publishing houses, etc., the XXII National Children's Book Festival was to be held in our city - the only forum in Bulgaria dedicated entirely to children's books, to the problems related to their publication, distribution, and reading.
Unfortunately, in connection with the restrictions caused by the spread of the coronavirus not only in Bulgaria, but also in the countries from which there are participants in various events of the festival program /from Hungary, the Czech Republic, Romania, Greece, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina/, it was necessary to change the dates for holding the Festival. After a number of consultations with various institutions and an analysis of the development of the pandemic and the resulting restrictions in individual countries, various dates for its holding were discussed with the festival partners, and it was decided, if the situation allows, that it would be held in September - from September 23 to 25.
The preparation of the festival is at a fairly advanced stage. The acceptance of works for participation in the National Literary Competition traditionally held on the eve of the festival has already ended, this year on the theme: "Untold Stories of an Adventure Hunter". The works of the participants are currently being judged and a collection of the awarded works is about to be published, and the awards will be presented at a special ceremony during the festival. After the state of emergency is lifted, the works of the participants in the IX National Competition for the Production of Theater Puppets of Favorite Literary Characters will also be judged, because they must be judged on site. It is interesting to note that despite the children's prolonged absence from school due to the extended flu vacation and the closure of schools due to the state of emergency, over 700 participants participated in the competitions, and the large number of participants from Bulgarian schools abroad is also very pleasing, and the most active were the children from the Bulgarian school in Paris.
The acceptance of works for participation in the first International Student Illustration Competition on the theme: "From the Fairytale World of Valeri Petrov" /based on the fairy tales "White Fairy Tale", "Softly Spoken", "Sleep Button", "Puk"/, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the birth of the great Bulgarian poet, screenwriter of feature and animated films, playwright, author of children's books and translator Valeri Petrov, who is also the first winner of the National Award "Konstantin Konstantinov" - for overall contribution to children's book publishing /2004/, awarded within the framework of the festival. The competition was held with great interest, despite the restrictions caused by the pandemic - closed universities, difficulties in sending works, etc. Currently, the members of the jury are judging the participants' works online.
Within the framework of the XXII edition of the Festival, a scientific forum on the topic: "Times, Spaces and Characters in Contemporary Children's Literature" is planned. Reports have already been sent by established artists, literary critics, researchers, library specialists, publishers, etc. from the country and abroad, and they will be presented in a collection in Bulgarian and English, which will be distributed in the EU countries after the forum. Work is underway to publish the collection.
Within the previously specified deadline, 38 nominations were also sent for the National Award "Konstantin Konstantinov" for contribution to children's book publishing in the categories: "for overall contribution", "author", "illustrator", "publisher". This year too, the nominations are numerous and valuable, which is proof of the prestige of the award. After the lifting of the state of emergency, the first meeting of the jury to determine the award winners is coming up. The composition of the children's jury to determine the award winner in the "author" category will also be approved.
Preparations continue for other interesting events that will be included in the program. For some of them, there is already a new concept for holding them, resulting from the changed realities.
The hopes of the organizers, partners and supporters of the festival are that our country will quickly cope with the pandemic and its consequences and that its holding will become possible in September, because in these months of restrictions it has become clear to everyone that despite technology, not only adults, but especially children need live communication, contact with books, opportunities for creative expression.
Therefore, the preparation of the twenty-second edition of the festival continues with the ambition that it will become an unforgettable celebration, where children will meet the best new achievements in the field of Bulgarian children's literature and a stage on which many young talents, who through words and drawings, through the magic of song and dance, will send their first messages to artists. Bulgarian children deserve this celebration.
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