OREANDA-NEWS. On November 21, 2008 As was informed by the Ukrsotsbank press service with the reference to Bank Austria.
 
Eastern and Southeastern European literature award with the highest prize money. Award ceremony held during book fair on November 20.

Staged for the second time in 2008, the Bank Austria Literaris award is a sponsorship award for literary works from Eastern and Southeastern Europe. Currently, its total prize money of 100,000 euros is the highest awarded for literature from this part of the world.

This focus corresponds to the economic activities of Bank Austria, which is a part of UniCredit Group and stands as the market leader in this growth region. Above all, however, it complements the bank’s wide-ranging existing cultural partnerships. What’s more, with KulturKontakt Austria and Wieser Verlag publishers, it has teamed up with two partners who have gained extensive experience in Eastern Europe.

Chaired by Czech writer and President of the international P.E.N. Club, Jiri Grusa, the jury again discussed this year’s numerous candidates. After looking through some 800 texts, it compiled a short list of 25 titles, from which the winners of the Bank Austria Literaris 2008 were finally chosen:

and the winner of the Bank Austria Literaris 2008 is Slovakian author Agda Bavi Pain with his "Koniec sveta" (At the End of the World).

the second is Srdjan Valjarevic, Serbia, with  "Komo" (Como) and the third place takes Palmi Rancev, Bulgaria, with “Malko kasmet za po-kasno” (A Little Luck for Later).

a special prize for poetry was awarded to Slovakian poet Rudolf Jurolek for his book "Zivot je mozny" (Life is Possible).

Microcosm of change
Eastern European literature is experiencing a new awakening. Like no other region and  for many years now, it has reacted to the radical changes sweeping our world.

The narrative expression of a new beginning, imagination living up to the freedom to determine form and content, and the courageous exploration of what is by now not all that novel anymore, these are just a few of the characteristics of this relatively young literary scene. What’s more, the writing skills of these authors are remarkable and form the basis for a highly original narrative style that makes Eastern European literature an important current of the early 21st century – a major contribution to the literature of our day.

Roadmap to the breakthrough
The award winning works by the three main award winners of the Bank Austria Literaris 2008 competition have already been translated into German and published by Wieser Verlag with support from KulturKontakt Austria; additionally, the winner will receive a sponsorship award carrying prize money of 7,500 euros. The winning texts along with further writings by seven excellent authors will be presented at a series of readings in Vienna.