The Observator Cultural Awards Gala

the observator cultural awards gala A new section was introduced in this year's edition

The 13th edition of the Observator Cultural Awards Gala was held on April 9, 2019 at the Odeon Theatre in Bucharest. On this occasion we talked to Ovidiu Simonca, deputy editor in chief with the Observator Cultural magazine, about the latest edition of the gala and contemporary Romanian literature. One of the novelties this year is Observator Universitas, an award bestowed by students of philology faculties to a volume of poetry. The starting point for the discussion was the Observator Lyceum award, which has reached its fourth edition, bestowed by students from the I.L Caragiale, George Cosbuc, Iulia Hasdeu, Gheorghe Lazar, Mihai Viteazul, Sf. Sava, Gheorghe Sincai and Tudor Vianu high schools in Bucharest. Observator Lyceum is a project started in 2016 by the Observator Cultural magazine, with support from the National Museum of Romanian Literature, similar to the prestigious French award Prix Goncourt des Lyceens. The purpose of the project is to create a communication platform between contemporary Romanian writers and the young readership, in an attempt to bring the latter closer to Romanian literature and encourage them to read more. Ovidiu Simonca.


"It was a very interesting experience, the students who made up the jury came to our office and together we talked about all the books nominated in the fiction award. I'm glad these young people will become future critics and professional readers of Romanian literature. We should say the students who bestowed the Observator Lyceum award are coordinated by an exceptional teacher, who encourages them to read contemporary literature. As regards the novelty of this year's edition of the Observator Cultural Awards Gala, the Observator Universitas award, we had students from the philology sections of the University of Bucharest, the Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, the Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Iasi and the Lucian Blaga University in Sibiu who selected a poetry volume from the shortlist. So the readership is there, the future of Romanian literature is secure and the books are there as well. The only problem is we need to be more visible at international level".


The Observator Lyceum award was given to Cristina Andrei for her volume Matriarchate, released by Nemira Publishers. The Observator Universitas award was bestowed to Robert Gabriel Elekes for the volume A Drone Just for Me, published by Max Blecher Publishing House. We talked to Ovidiu Simonca about the publishers' growing propensity for Romanian literature.


"I want to say the decision of Humanitas Publishers to publish more Romanian literature books was very inspired. Writer Andreea Rasuceanu, the coordinator of Romanian Writers collection, selected good titles last year and continues to publish high-quality literature. At any rate, the competition between Humanitas, Nemira and Polirom publishers in this respect is most welcome, it means publishers are relying on Romanian literature more and more. Based on the books released so far, I believe we will have a very good year, with lots of books bought and discussed. In fact, 2018 was good year as well in that respect".


Romanian literature is increasingly diverse, and readers and publishers alike appreciate it more and more. Yet the important thing is to promote and translate it, Ovidiu Simonca believes. In other words, Romanian publishers need to get involved more to find professional translators of Romanian literature. It is the only way we can make a difference at international level, Ovidiu Simonca believes.


"In recent years we had translations of Romanian works in German and Spanish, which were very well received by international critics. And I refer to the volume 'Lost Morning', translated in German by Eva Ruth Wemme and published by Aufbau publishers, and the success of Mircea Cartarescu's volumes 'Orbitor' and 'Solenoid' published in Latin America and Spain. Orbitor was actually declared Book of the Year 2017 in Spain. I would also like to mention the success enjoyed in Germany by Nora Iuga's books, proof of which are the numerous eulogies her books have received. More often than not, however, we don't manage to reach the big publishing houses, which after all give an author his prestige, to the extent to which that author is part of universal literature. Before 2007, before our EU accession, there was a growing interest for Romanian literature. It was then that the Romanian Cultural Institute implemented a translation programme, by means of which 20 volumes reached the big publishing houses in Europe, and Romanian authors were guests in big book fairs, in Leipzig, London and Paris. Right now, my feeling is that the big European publishing houses are not publishing Romanian literature, with few exceptions".


At the 13th edition of the Observator Cultural Awards Gala the Gheorghe Craciun award for Opera Omnia was granted to poet, writer, playwright and translator Constantin Abaluta. The award for fiction went to Gabriela Adamesteanu for her novel Fontana di Trevi brought out by Polirom Publishers. The poetry award went ex aequo to Cosmin Perta, for his volume Lullaby for My Generation, which was brought out by Paralela 45 Publishers, as well as to Vasile Leac's Monoideal, released by Nemira Publishers.




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Publicat: 2019-05-04 12:26:00
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