The Frankfurt Book Fair is going to the techies. At least it's trying to. This year's fair, scheduled for October 6-10, will feature an increased focus on technology with two programs geared at education and networking. The trade show is launching what it dubs the SPARKS initiative, which will feature two central programs, Frankfurt Hot Spots and Frankfurt StoryDrive. Through the Hot Spots program, six areas or "hot spots" on the fair grounds will be dedicated spaces for publishing professionals to network with people who work in the technology field. The StoryDrive program will unfold over two days in the Film & Media Forum, and will focus on the various ways narratives are being told and packaged across mediums like print, film, and gaming.
The Hot Spots program, designed to offer publishing professionals greater insight into the process and possibilities in digital publishing, will touch on the following topics: publishing services, information management, devices, education, and literature & special interest. Exhibitor stands will be at each hot. More information about the program can be found at http://hotspotfrankfurt.com.
StoryDrive, which also aims to bring publishing professionals together with those who work in other media and entertainment fields, will, as fair director Juergen Boos explains, provide the first platform at Frankfurt "on which the media industries can meet on equal footing." Over the course of the event's two days will be a conference addressing topics randing from copyright to trans-media storytelling, matchmaking pitch sessions, and film previews.
