In the heart of Sadr City, where the hustle and bustle of life coexists with a genuine passion for knowledge, the third season of the Book Festival commenced amidst a distinctive cultural and artistic atmosphere. The event, which hosted free book exhibitions, dialogue seminars, and various corners, was not just a fleeting activity but a gathering that reaffirmed the status of this city as a treasure trove of awareness and a vibrant center for reading. The lens of the News Video Agency captured the ambiance of the gathering and documented the views and suggestions of several cultural and official figures participating.
Baghdad Provincial Council member Ayat Al-Muthaffar confirmed to the "News Video Agency" the importance of the festival and the messages it carries, saying: "I would like to congratulate the success of this festival; this is the second time I attend it. It is very important and carries profound messages affirming that this city is the city of culture and reading, and the true focal point for gathering various personalities with different orientations and positions."
Al-Muthaffar added: "We support and back all qualitative cultural initiatives, and we encourage young people to participate, but the festival needs extensive media marketing and a variety of topics that interest youth, in addition to showcasing genuine youth models to serve as role models for others. These are positive points from which we draw a roadmap to motivate youth to attend."
For his part, playwright Na'im Khalaf shared his impressions and evaluative observations with the "News Video Agency," explaining: "The festival, in its general form, is a beautiful stimulus for young people to read books, but the distribution of books was random, and we want youth to become more cultured instead of just acquiring quantities of books without distinction. Without books, knowledge cannot form, and understanding cannot mature."
Khalaf continued: "Reading a physical book is much better than an electronic one; it allows you to extract ideas, add them, and discuss them to reach a true cognitive understanding. We hope that the festival will expand in future editions to be more beautiful in terms of location and vision, supported by theatrical performances and poetry recitals alongside intellectual seminars."
For his part, Omar Al-Sarai, the Secretary-General of the Union of Writers and Authors, highlighted to the "News Video Agency" the value of adhering to printed books, stating: "The printed book remains the greatest bearer of knowledge and culture despite the spread of electronic books. Its physical presence represents an emotional value that preserves information more firmly in the mind and memory, and it will remain eternal over time."
Al-Sarai emphasized the importance of stimulating reading through various methods, pointing out that: "Initiatives such as 'Sadr City Reads,' 'Zafraniya Reads,' and 'I Am Iraqi, I Read' effectively encourage society, along with the necessity of reinstating school libraries in every classroom and institute, and providing public libraries in cities, districts, and alleys to encourage citizens to read and study continuously."