2016

On June 5, at Iliauni Book House Ligamus, winner of Ilia State University literary contest, Author of the Best Georgian Novel, was announced. The winner of the contest became Archil Kikodze for his novel “The Southern Elephant” (Bakur Sulakauri Editorial Office), which brought the author the highest literary prize in Georgia amounting to 10,000 GEL.

This year, 12 Georgian novels, the best out of which was chosen by the jury of professors and teachers at Iliauni, were presented at the contest. 

Iliauni literary contest was introduced in 2010. Before 2014, the award was bestowed upon 5 nominees. In 2010, Aka Morchiladze got the award for her novel “Mamluk,” and in 2011, Zaza Burchuladze for his novel Inflatable Angel; in 2012, the award was not issued; in 2013, the award was shared between Ana Kordzaia Samadashvili for her novel “Who Killed Chaika” and Jaba Zakrua for his novel “Readers Must Die”; in 2015, Iliauni award was granted to Nana Ekvtimishvili for her novel "The Pear Field".