International Literature Prizes

A selection of international literary prizes awarded to international writing in and out of translation

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Commonwealth Writers

Commonwealth Writers is the cultural initiative of the Commonwealth Foundation. It  inspires, develops and connects writers and storytellers in a range of disciplines. It builds communities of less-heard voices and links them to groups which seek to bring about social change. Commonwealth Writers runs projects throughout the Commonwealth. Their website provides a number of useful opportunities and resources.

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize identifies talented writers who will go on to inspire their local communities.  The Prize unearths and promotes the best new writing from across the Commonwealth, developing literary connections worldwide.

The Short Story Prize is awarded for the best piece of unpublished short fiction (2000-5000 words). Authors writing in languages other than English are also able to enter stories translated into English.

European Union Prize for Literature

The European Union Prize for Literature (EUPL), established in 2009, awards annually 11-13 emerging prose writers from different European countries. The prize winning authors are selected by national juries and winners’ names are announced in spring, with an award ceremony held in Brussels in autumn. Some of the writers were translated into numerous languages after receiving the award.

www.euprizeliterature.eu

International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF)

The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is the most prestigious and important literary prize in the Arab world.

Its aim is to reward excellence in contemporary Arabic creative writing and to encourage the readership of high quality Arabic literature internationally through the translation and publication of winning and shortlisted novels in other major languages.

Extracts from the 2020 shortlisted novels are available to read online in the Book of Excerpts here.

In addition to the Prize itself, IPAF supports other literary initiatives. In 2009 IPAF launched its inaugural Nadwa (writers’ workshop) for emerging writers of fiction in Arabic.

The Prize is run with the support, as its mentor, of The Booker Prize Foundation in London and funded by Department of Culture and Tourism, Abu Dhabi (DCT).

Although the Prize is often referred to as the ‘Arabic Booker’, this is not instigated nor endorsed at all by IPAF or the Booker Prize Foundation which are two completely separate, independent organisations. IPAF is not in any way connected with The Booker Prize.

arabicfiction.org/en

Jan Michalski Foundation

The Jan Michalski Prize for Literature is attributed each year by the Jan Michalski Foundation (based in Switzerland) to a work of world literature. An original feature of the prize is its multicultural nature. It is open to authors from the world over and is intended to contribute to their international recognition. The prize will be awarded for works of fiction or non fiction, irrespective of the language in which they are written. The winner will receive an amount of CHF 50,000, offering the possibility of greater dedication to his or her art. The authors of short-listed works will be invited for a three-month period of residence at the Maison de l’Ecriture.

The Foundation also promotes and supports literary projects, particularly through the granting of financial support. Find out more at: http://www.fondation-janmichalski.com/en/bourses/.

www.fondation-janmichalski.com/en/prix-jan-michalski/

Swedish Arts Council

The Swedish Arts Council (Kulturrådet) is the authority responsible for promoting Swedish literature in translation. Through Swedish Literature Exchange it coordinates a number of efforts in this field, publishes the magazine New Swedish Books and provides grants for translation and presentation of Swedish literature abroad, and for international collaboration.

The council also administers the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award, an international prize for children’s literature.

FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards

FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards aims to recognise extraordinary artistic talent in three categories – fiction literature, film-making and art across more than 100 emerging market nations. Includes an award for writers in Africa and the Middle East for works of fiction published in English:  https://www.eiseverywhere.com/ehome/112396

Bologna Children’s Book Fair

Since 1964 the Bologna Children’s Book Fair is the most important international get-together for professionals involved in children’s publishing.

With a distinguished focus on copyright exchange, each year publishers, literary agents, authors, illustrators, editors, translators, librarians, booksellers meet in Bologna to enjoy the best in children’s books and digital products, thus making the Bologna Fair the hub of the cultural debate. The Fair also issues prizes for the best children’s literature from around the world.

www.bookfair.bolognafiere.it/en/home-page-bologna-childrens-book-fair/878.html

Books Magazine (France)

Books offers a profound vision of the news, culture and international issues, from high-quality articles on global editorial production.

www.books.fr/

Euro Crime

Euro Crime is a website dedicated to crime fiction, both in English and in translation from other languages. It reviews the latest books to be published in English; other features of the website include a summary of upcoming titles, details of events, links to book reviews, crime fiction prize results and the occasional competition.

http://www.eurocrime.co.uk/

Euro Crime is also available as a blog: http://eurocrime.blogspot.co.uk/

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