AGP Executive Report

Venice Film Festival Buzz: Edoardo De Angelis’s The Fire Within You (based on the autobiographical book Il fuoco che ti porti dentro) is in the Golden Lion race, turning a memoir into a single Christmas Eve day of family friction, class and identity clashes, and a very Italian kitchen-sink of emotions. Pope Francis in Print: Hope, Unfailing (La Speranza non delude mai) lands in English on Nov. 10, 2026, with Measure Publishing, bringing the Pope’s message of hope to a new readership after its Italian release for the 2025 Jubilee. AI & Reading Habits in Italy: A new EU Kids Online survey finds AI use for school is far lower in Italy than in many European peers (with Italy among the lowest shares of children reporting any AI use in the past month), adding fresh context to the debate on AI in education. Poetry Recognition: The Poetry Foundation announces Robert Pinsky’s $100,000 lifetime achievement award and names Nikki Grimes as the next Young People’s Poet Laureate. Science, Italy, and Authorship: Italian astrophysicist Giorgio Galanti is cited in a new study explaining how an “impossible” gamma-ray burst could have survived its journey—another reminder of how research stories keep feeding publishing.

Antisemitism Rallies Ban: Hundreds protested in Rome against an Italian Senate bill that would extend a 1931 public-safety law to antisemitic events, using the IHRA definition and opponents warn it could chill pro-Palestinian speech. Publishing & Books: Pope Francis’s “final book” is set for a November English publication, while HarperCollins is also moving to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir in India after a dispute. Design & Culture: Maserati’s design boss at Goodwood rejected AI for car design, arguing luxury craft can’t be prompted. Health Research: A Cagliari study suggests orbital ultrasound plus eye-function tests can flag Graves patients at higher risk of developing orbitopathy. Business/Industry: Renaissance Partners agreed to buy Genoa’s De Wave Group from Platinum Equity in a deal reportedly valued around €400m, pending approvals. Sports/Italy: Arsenal open Champions League play in Naples against a struggling Napoli side.

Publishing & Books: Pope Francis’s final work, “Hope, Unfailing” (Italian “La speranza non delude mai”), lands in English this fall: Measure Publishing will release it on Nov. 24, with themes spanning hope amid war, tech change and social uncertainty. International Literary Culture: A French historian’s book on the Ulus of Jochi and the Golden Horde is presented in Kazakhstan, highlighting research across Arabic, Turkic, Russian, Old Italian, Latin and Persian sources. Book-to-World Storytelling: A new Greek translation of Taleb Alrefai’s “Shadow of the Sun” marks the first Gulf novel translated into Greek, published by Irini Publications. Arts & Media: Venice screens “Musk,” Alex Gibney’s documentary using AI voice and CGI to stage an “interview” with Elon Musk. Italy-Linked Reading/Publishing: Palmetto Publishing releases “The Boy with The Love Kiss,” a coming-of-age novel set in a 1950s Italian-American neighborhood. Culture & Learning: A study on classroom dust in Europe links exposure to certain bacteria types with slightly reduced lung function in children.

Cultural Diplomacy & Publishing: The Abu Dhabi International Book Fair returns with a packed literature, music and art programme (1,500 events, exhibitors from 95 countries), spotlighting Don Quixote as “Book of the World” and featuring Balkan publishing as Guest of Honour. Italian Books & Publishing: In Italy’s publishing scene, Penguin’s new novel The Renovation (Kenan Orhan) lands with a sharp exile-and-prison premise set in Italy after Turkey’s crackdown. Trade & Industry: Vicenzaoro September reports a 33% jump in hosted buyers (910 from 73 countries), signaling strong international pull for the Italian jewellery trade show. Food & Place-Based Travel: RetreatBoss Magazine spotlights a shift toward culinary heritage as wellness travel—highlighting Sardinia, Italy among destinations where food, producers and hospitality drive the experience. Local Culture: A new Caviste wine bar opens, while a community market in Ashland expands specialty food access—both pointing to continued appetite for local, curated tastes.

Publishing & Books: HarperCollins is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging in India on Nov 10, after a dispute with Penguin over edits—another high-profile imprint shake-up with major implications for rights and editorial control. Italian Culture & Church: Ten Italian bishops attended a national conference in Rome on pastoral ministry with LGBTQ people, with about 200 participants and presentations on “good practices” from multiple dioceses. AI in Hospitality (Italy): Fondazione ENIA appointed Gianni Buonsante to coordinate an “AI & Hospitality” R&D commission, aiming to spread AI literacy and practical, responsible adoption guidelines for hotels and tourism. Books & Media (Italy-linked): A Super Metroid remake is rumored for Nintendo Direct, with an Italian creator hinting at a pixel-art approach—another reminder of how Italian media voices shape global fandom. Literary History: Historian Marcello Flores’ essay Bella ciao. Historia de un himno popular explores how the antifascist anthem keeps resurfacing across movements and countries.

Longevity & Books/Publishing: A new wave of “immortality” coverage spotlights biotech bets on cellular reprogramming (Altos Labs, Calico) and self-experimentation claims, feeding a broader cultural appetite for science-as-magic narratives. Screen Industry & Rights: The Lumière Summit adopted five thematic declarations covering AI, piracy, image education, gender and the environment—setting shared terms for how European screen industries handle generative tech and protected works. Italian Publishing/Media Jobs: ARTE is hiring an English digital content editor for localisation and editorialisation across English-speaking Europe, including Italian-language workflows and subtitle/voice quality checks. Netflix & Crime Books: Richard Osman’s next cozy-mystery franchise is moving from print to TV, with “We Solve Murders” in development at Netflix. Italy in the News Cycle: Giorgia Meloni’s government is framed as the longest-lasting since 1945, with implications for the EU’s rightward shift. Tech & Media Metrics: Footballco says an AI assistant helped it surge to 1bn+ World Cup page views, using AI-assisted translation and content formats.

Publishing & Books: HarperCollins is set to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging in India on Nov 10, stepping in after a Penguin deal row—an autumn-season reminder that publishing bets can swing fast. Literary Awards: Australian author Holden Sheppard’s King of Dirt (a gritty gay coming-of-age set among FIFO workers) has been shortlisted for the South Australian Literary Awards. Book Culture & Craft: A new essay explores how medieval chroniclers reused earlier texts—showing borrowing as a meaningful bridge between past and present. Publishing Industry Watch: A roundup highlights “the 16 best new books to read this autumn,” pointing readers toward major releases and hidden gems. Italian Spotlight (Books/Arts): Lucia di Lammermoor—Naples-born Italian bel canto—opens the Maria Biesu Opera and Ballet Festival in Chisinau, with the performance in Italian.

Publishing Roundup: Autumn reading season is in full swing, with lists spotlighting new releases and reviews, including a feature on Eric Hobsbawm’s legacy and a deep dive into how punctuation reshaped writing. Book Culture & Language: A history piece revisits William Tyndale’s 1526 English New Testament—banned, burned, and credited with influencing both Reformation ideas and the development of modern English. Venice & the Arts: Venice’s film-festival world keeps colliding with modern life, from ticketing tech mishaps to Nanni Moretti’s latest adaptation of Eshkol Nevo. Italian Publishing/Books for Kids: A Maltese translation of Luigi Garlando’s “Gowl! 1: Kick-Off” (originally Italian “Calcio d’Inizio”) brings the inclusive football story to new readers. AI & Media Literacy: A test comparing major chatbots highlights how easily they can repeat wrong facts—plus how they “correct” themselves.

Venice Film Festival Buzz: Robert Pattinson debuted at Venice with “Primetime,” a doc-style thriller about Chris Hansen, while “Oasis: Don’t Look Back in Anger” brought Gallagher reunion-tour energy to the festival screens. Literary Adaptation Spotlight: Nanni Moretti returned to Eshkol Nevo with “It Will Happen Tonight,” a Venice competition melodrama built from multiple Nevo stories. Art & Culture in Focus: “Jerusalem of Gold” opened at the Jerusalem Theatre, spotlighting five Israeli artists and turning disruption from light-rail construction into a more accessible showcase. Publishing/Books Roundup: Fall 2026 mystery releases are getting major hype, with lists spotlighting new thrillers and whodunits. Tech & Privacy: Apple faces a proposed £2bn UK class action over alleged anti-competitive app tracking rules. Ukraine War Reporting: A new piece argues coverage often misses the worsening civilian reality as Russia shifts toward near-constant drone attacks. Italian Angle in the Mix: A portrait-looting restitution case approved in Argentina involves an 18th-century Italian painting tied to WWII-era Nazi-era sales.

Publishing Watch: HarperCollins India will publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging on Nov 10, after Penguin Random House India stepped away over a dispute tied to proposed edits. The book’s international edition is already set for the same date, and the controversy centers on claims that passages referencing Modi, the RSS and China’s role were targeted. Tech & Regulation: Apple is hit with a £2.7B UK lawsuit over alleged unfair app tracking rules, with developers arguing Apple’s App Tracking Transparency treats third parties more strictly than Apple itself. AI Governance: The EU is weighing whether to classify ChatGPT-style systems as high-risk under the AI Act, which could tighten compliance requirements. Cybersecurity: Panzer ransomware is advertising a new RaaS operation, listing 16 victims across 11 countries, including Italy. Culture & Books: Bulgarian writer Georgi Gospodinov wins the Jean Monnet Prize for European Literature for Death and the Gardener. Italy in the spotlight: A Freedom Flotilla mission plans stops in Spain, Portugal and Italy before attempting to reach Gaza in October.

AI Regulation: The EU is weighing whether to classify ChatGPT-style generative tools as “very high” systemic-risk AI under the AI Act, which could narrow GDPR exemptions meant for research and statistical processing. Publishing Deal Watch: HarperCollins India will publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir “Belonging” on Nov 10, after a dispute with Penguin Random House India over reported editorial changes—while the international edition will also land the same day. Italian Politics: Giorgia Meloni marked her government’s longevity at a Bari rally, celebrating 1,414 consecutive days and arguing stability has strengthened Italy at home and abroad. Book-to-World Culture: A new “Horror of Dracula” 4K limited collector’s edition is up for pre-order, promising restored footage and major bonus material. Retail Expansion: Legami opened its 200th standalone store in Italy and is pushing further into the US via new Barnes & Noble corners, plus a new Harry Potter collaboration. Music & Books Crossover: Behemoth’s “I, Scvlptor” release features Shagrath on “In League With Satan,” with a Milan stop on Oct 13.

Publishing Shake-Up: HarperCollins India has stepped in to publish Sonia Gandhi’s memoir Belonging: A Journey of Love in India on 10 November 2026, ending weeks of uncertainty after Penguin Random House India backed out amid an “impasse” over editorial changes; PRHI denied any external pressure and said it was willing to publish. Film Adaptation: Sandra Hüller will star as Wolfgang Herrndorf in Maria Schrader’s feature Work and Structure, adapted from his autobiographical diary; Germany’s Komplizen Film leads, with StudioCanal handling worldwide sales and an Italy release planned for 2028. Climate & Food: Europe’s summer heat, drought and wildfires are already showing up in crop damage—dried rice fields in Italy, scorched Mediterranean olive groves, and reduced harvests elsewhere—pushing food-price pressure higher. Tech & Society: Sam Altman admitted the AI industry “botched its message” as Europe faces data-center backlash tied to power, grid strain and water use. AI in Marketing: A new wave of AI-generated food ads is drawing backlash for looking unappetizing and uncanny, raising fresh questions about how brands use generative images. Italian Lens: A profile on Italy-based life and identity highlights how migration stories connect personal history to place.

Italian Politics: Giorgia Meloni’s rightwing government is being framed as Italy’s longest-running since WWII, with Bari set for a festival-style showcase of her coalition’s stability and messaging. Publishing & Books: A new handbook, “Mishna Companion: Maseches Yoma,” is reviewed for making complex study more accessible with illustrated materials and translations. Tech & Media: Peacock’s “The Paper” returns for Season 2, leaning into the pressures on newspapers—AI-written stories, falling traffic, and misinformation—through comedy. Global Tech Policy: A G7 working group urges governments to speed up post-quantum encryption defenses, warning that quantum risks are also an economic and business threat. Consumer Tech/Competition: Apple faces a £2bn London lawsuit over “unfair” app tracking rules, with developers alleging Apple’s gatekeeper power harms third parties. Science & Health: Research in Science finds cancer-fighting T cells need small amounts of ROS—and tumors can block them by removing ROS—pointing to new immunotherapy targets.

Publishing & Archives: Brill releases The Postal Revolution: Courier Networks in Italy, 1260–1600, tracing how Italy’s messenger systems grew from ad hoc runs into professional courier business driven by merchants and diplomacy. Book Culture & Festivals: The Iași International Literature and Translation Festival (FILIT) returns in October with guests including Paul Lynch, David Foenkinos, Aleksandar Hemon and Italian author Laura Pariani, highlighting translation and international literary exchange. Italian-Language Publishing Ecosystem: A new Classics label launch by Studiocanal points to continued catalog strategy for heritage titles. Tech, Media & Competition: Apple faces a £2bn UK lawsuit over App Tracking Transparency rules, with developers arguing the policy unfairly restricts third parties—an issue that matters for publishers and app-based content businesses. Citizenship by Descent: A guide spotlights how Italy and other European states enable citizenship through ancestry, tying legal access to family history for diaspora families.

Publishing & Rights Fairs: South Korea’s culture ministry is bringing a traveling Korean book fair to New York on Sept. 2-3, with 15 publishers, rights meetings for 101 titles, and 40 U.S. buyers including major groups; Italy is also listed as a future stop. Poetry & Books in the Spotlight: Kiki Petrosino is launching her poetry collection “Perfect Italian” with a Sept. 25 reading at New Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville, focusing on heritage and belonging. Italian Publishing Industry: Bayer says its “blockbusters” push is already delivering in Italy via its Preceon smart corn system, tying seed and crop protection innovation to local farm needs. Copyright & AI Music: Canada’s SOCAN sues Suno over alleged copyright infringement tied to the platform’s outputs and streaming in Canada, joining similar cases in Germany and Denmark. Literary Culture: “On the Road” is spotlighted for its 120-foot scroll origin and lasting impact, as a new feature revisits Kerouac’s breakthrough manuscript story.

Film & Culture: SIFF 2026 spotlights Italy as country of honour, aiming to bring Italian storytelling to young audiences through cultural exchange with the UAE and international filmmakers. Publishing & Books: Studiocanal launches “Studiocanal Classics,” a new worldwide label for restored catalogue titles, betting on renewed cinephile demand (including in Italy). Book Launch (Italy-themed fiction): Vermont author Elizabeth Wellington Rollins celebrates her debut novel “The Three Graces of Pearl Street,” centered on three generations of Italian American women and their family secrets. Rights & Religion in Print: Pope Francis’ preface helps bring “A Christian on Death Row” (Italian edition) to English readers, detailing lay chaplain Dale Recinella’s ministry on Florida’s death row. Food & Italian Reading Culture: A new panzanella-style salad recipe leans on Italian tradition for summer-to-fall tables, while a cookbook author’s tip pairs fennel with roast sausages for an Italian-inspired one-tray meal. Industry/Trade: Korea’s “Outreach New York Book Fair” connects Korean publishers with major US buyers and includes Italy in its outreach stops.