It’s Finland again! Finnish literature in German-speaking Europe in 2024 is a project jointly launched by FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange, the Finnland-Institut, the Embassy of Finland in Germany and Visit Finland. The project is a follow-up to Finland’s Guest of Honour year at the 2014 Frankfurt Book Fair, marking the ten-year anniversary of that event in October 2024. The purpose of the project is to gain maximum visibility for Finnish literature, particularly for new translations to be published in 2024 in German-speaking Europe.
During the project, publishers and organisers of literary festivals and related events can apply for promotional grants from FILI to fund author visits and programmes in conjunction with book launches of new and forthcoming German translations. Grants can be used to cover authors’ travel and accommodation costs as well as production costs for promotional materials commissioned for the event. Up to €2,000 may be granted for more extensive author tours (encompassing multiple appearances at different locations/events). This is a great opportunity to organise individual author visits as well as larger-scale tours to reach new readers!
Publishers can also apply for translation grants to help cover the costs of translating fiction, children’s/YA literature, comics and general non-fiction books into German in the Autumn 2023 application round and throughout 2024. 70 per cent of the translator’s fee (subject to a maximum of €8,000) is guaranteed for publishers in Germany and German-speaking Europe whose applications meet the grant criteria. For more details, visit FILI’s website at www.fili.fi.
Throughout the project, the Finnland-Institut in Germany will be working closely with publishers, bookshops, literary festivals and other events to organise author visits and tours. The Finnland-Institut’s traditional programme at the Leipzig and Vienna book fairs is also part of the project.
As part of its efforts to promote Finland abroad, the Embassy of Finland in Germany organises many readings and literary events to showcase Finnish literature. The Embassy also fosters networking and contact between Finnish and German media and cultural practitioners. Nordic embassies and the Finnland-Institut will also join forces to put on a joint programme at the Leipzig Book Fair.
Visit Finland aims to boost the profile and popularity of Finnish literature and culture even further through the It’s Finland again! project, which also provides an excellent opportunity to enhance Finland’s image as a travel destination in the key German market.
A project kick-off event will take place on 19 March 2024 at the Nordic embassies’ joint complex in Berlin, ahead of the Leipzig Book Fair. A special It’s Finland again! programme will be produced together with German publishers in conjunction with the Frankfurt Book Fair in October 2024.
According to FILI’s translation database, over 30 Finnish authors have one or more works coming out in German translation in the next couple of years. All in all, nearly 70 new translations are due to be published. New German translations of books by popular Finnish authors including Rosa Liksom, Matias Riikonen, Pirkko Saisio, Meri Valkama, Karin Erlandsson, Maria Turtschaninoff, Satu Rämö, Arttu Tuominen, Max Seeck, Linda Bondestam, Timo Parvela, Elina Pitkäkangas and Salla Savolainen are due to be published in 2024.
We would be delighted to tell you more about this project, available grants and opportunities to get involved. More information will also be provided in our regular It’s Finland again! press releases.
For more information, please contact:
Johanna Pitkänen, Project Manager, FILI – Finnish Literature Exchange
, tel. +358 40 5385 232
You can also discuss grants with FILI staff at the Gothenburg and Frankfurt book fairs in September and October 2023.
Suvi Wartiovaara, Literature Programme Coordinator, Finnland-Institut , tel. +49 30 40 363 1893
Sofie Backman, Cultural Affairs Officer, Embassy of Finland in Germany , tel. +49 30 50 503 205
Jyrki Oksanen, Director, Visit Finland DACH & Benelux , tel. +49 15 22 867 7233
