The BBC has announced the launch of its annual literary prize for the best works of fiction in the Ukrainian language – BBC Book of the Year (Книга року BBC 2016) and BBC Children’s Book of the Year (Дитяча Книга року BBC 2016) - in partnership with the Cultural Programme of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).
From this year, the awards will also consider translations of books by Ukrainian authors writing in all languages of Ukraine. BBC Ukrainian Editor, Nina Kuryata, commented: “The BBC Ukrainian Book Awards are now even more representative of Ukraine’s literary talent. We are looking forward to new discoveries.”
Following a long-established tradition, this year’s Book of the Year selection starts at the annual International Book Fair and Literature Festival in Lviv, Ukraine, where BBC Ukrainian hosted a round-table discussion asking if print publications will survive the digital age.
Since 2012, the awards have been presented in partnership with the Cultural Programme of the EBRD. Svitlana Pyrkalo, EBRD Cultural Advisor, added: “The BBC Book of the Year awards play a unique role in the Ukrainian publishing industry, drawing readers’ attention to high-quality, often complex and challenging, books, sometimes by virtually unknown writers. This year, we will be searching for exciting voices originating from all of Ukraine’s many languages.”
The BBC Book of the Year awards will be judged by:
- Vira Ageyeva, professor, Ukraine National University “Kiev-Mohyla Academy”
- Olga Gerasymiuk, journalist
- Andrei Kurkov, writer
- Svitlana Pyrkalo, EBRD Cultural Advisor
- Marta Shokalo, BBC Ukrainian.
The winning author in each category will be awarded a Ukrainian hryvnya equivalent of £1,000. The publishers of the BBC Book of the Year and BBC Children’s Book of the Year 2016 will have the right to use the logos of the BBC Ukrainian book awards on subsequent editions.
Publishers can submit up to three books in each category, and up to two new books by previous winners. Submitted books must be works of fiction in the Ukrainian language (original works or translations), and published within the last 12 months. For detailed terms and conditions, go to bbc.ua.
The longlists in each category are selected by the BBC Ukrainian team. The panel selects shortlists and winners.
The deadline for nominations is 1 October 2016. The winner will be announced in December 2016.
Last year’s winners were: “The House by Bating Hallow” by Vasyl Makhno (“Дім у Бейтінг Голлов” Василь Махно) - BBC Book of the Year; and Andriy Bachynsky’s “140 Decibels of Silence” (“140 децибелів тиші” Андрій Бачинський) – BBC Children’s Book of the Year.
