2026
CIBF

CIBF FELLOWSHIP

CIBF offers fellowships to selected publishers/publishing professionals around the world to make the program truly global.

The CIBF Fellowship includes the following

1

Travel, accommodation and hospitality during the fair days, for non-Indian foreign participants from the publishing and rights industry.

2

Fellows will receive complimentary booths (a spot in the country booths) or tables at the rights hub, and they can also apply for a chance to speak at the publishing conference.

3

Buyers of rights from Tamil publishers and applicants for Tamil Nadu Translation Grants are prioritized. The grant is available year-round.

CIBF 2024 was an impeccably organized event that opened up a new market for me to explore.

 

Vitor Manuel Silva (Portugal)

Foreign Rights Manager - LeYa

CIBF 2024 was a remarkable experience that deepened my understanding of Tamil culture and literature. The fellowship provided invaluable connections and showcased the region's deep passion for literature.

Nevena Milojević (Serbia)

Literary agent - Laguna

I am really surprised and honored to be part of a wonderful fair where I can meet many publishers, agents, and writers, and many people who belong to this wonderful book industry here in India. All the organizers are so generous to invite people from different countries. So Chennai definitely is not only the place where the Tamil language can be spoken but also be spread to the world.

Vivian Paola Lavin Almazán

Literary Agent and Journalist - Chile
I’m representing South Africa. I have to say this was a great opportunity for me to travel and get to see what Chennai has to offer. What I found is that we have quite a few things in common. We are rich in culture, there is such diversity, and there are a lot of languages, just like South Africa. That’s what I found we have in common. I see that this is how I’m going to select my books when it comes to buying some of the right books—those that are rich in culture and that have different languages. I really, really hope that my South African market will enjoy some of Chennai’s stories.

Nkemiseng Molefe

Publisher - South Africa
This is my first time here in Chennai. It has really been a great pleasure to be here interacting with fellow publishers from across the world, and I’ve learned a lot. I’m getting to know a little bit more about publishing. Basically, my reason for being here is to get rights, to buy rights, especially from publishers in Tamil Nadu. The people are very welcoming, they’re very loving, and I like Chennai because it is a very fantastic place to live.

Munyaradzi Gunduza

Publisher - Zimbabwe
I have had some really interesting conversations; I’ve met some fantastic people from all around the world. Chennai itself, I think, has lots to offer culturally. There is rich diversity here in Chennai, and I have never been to the south of India, so I have been absolutely intrigued and delighted by all the books on offer.

Jacqueline Louise Thomas

Guest Director, BolognaBookPlus - United Kingdom
I’m French but I live in Luxembourg, and I represent a lot of publishers from France, Germany, Greece, Poland, and Italy. I’m here in Chennai having an amazing experience, meeting a lot of Indian publishers from Chennai and elsewhere. This is giving me an excellent opportunity to meet people from around the globe. So, this is a perfect setting for me.

Aude Beatrix Marie Bernard Lavielle Konidaris

Literary Agent - Luxembourg

Side bar

A list of nations represented by fellowship recipients in the initial two editions of CIBF.