The Great Book, Record, and Movie Sale returns with a venue and promotes the right to culture for all
by the El Reportero staff
Mexico City once again became a major cultural forum thanks to the 19th edition of the Great Book, Record, and Movie Sale, an event eagerly awaited by thousands of Mexico City residents seeking access to literature, film, and music at affordable prices. Held over five days at the Monument to the Revolution, this cultural gathering brought together nearly 200 exhibitors and offered an impressive array of content for all tastes, ages, and interests.
Organized by the Mexico City Ministry of Culture, the sale’s main objective was to guarantee the right to culture and combat the backlog of materials stored by publishers, distributors, and specialty stores. Far from limiting itself to clearance sales or outdated titles, the event surprised with an eclectic and valuable selection: from classics of world literature to cookbooks, science, history, and philosophy; from Latin American trova CDs to jazz, rock, and classical music vinyl records; and from art films to contemporary Mexican cinema.
Attendees—many of them young people, students, entire families, and collectors—found unique editions, out-of-print books, and materials difficult to find in conventional bookstores. All of this with discounts of up to 80 percent, turning the sale not only into a celebration of knowledge, but also into an economic opportunity to promote reading, musical appreciation, and film enjoyment.
One of the great successes of this edition was its inclusive and accessible approach. Complementary activities included public readings, book presentations, author signings, and short concerts, which turned the event into a complete cultural experience. Furthermore, the presence of independent labels and alternative publishers gave visibility to new voices, critical approaches, and fresh proposals that typically don’t find space in large retail chains.
In a country where the average person reads 3.9 books per year, according to INEGI data, initiatives like the Gran Remate are vital to reversing this trend. But beyond the numbers, the event reinforces the idea that access to culture should not be a privilege but a right guaranteed by the State, a vision that Mexico City has promoted through policies that favor cultural decentralization and the strengthening of local consumption.
Thus, among secondhand books, new releases, cult films, and beloved records, thousands of people embraced a public space that had become a marketplace of knowledge and emotions. And although the event has concluded, its impact continues: many readers started or completed collections, discovered unknown authors, or simply found another reason to love art. The Gran Remate demonstrates that when the doors to cultural access are opened, citizens respond enthusiastically and demonstrate that culture, far from being a luxury, is an essential necessity.
