Contests

Ilia State University (ISU) announces a literary contest to select the best Georgian novel published in the last two years.

The winner of the contest will be awarded a pecuniary award of 10,000 GEL, the highest literary award in Georgia. According to the terms and conditions of the contest, literary works must be published in 2014 – 2015, with authors being granted the opportunity to present a number of works.

The information regarding the composition of jury is confidential. The members of the jury are the professors and students at ISU.

History of Iliauni Literary Contest

The Literary Contest of ISU has existed for as long as 7 years. In 2010, the academic board of the university made a decision to foster the development of novel writing practice in Georgia through introduction of a literary award for the best novel.

By 2014, 5 nominees had been awarded the prize. In 2010, the prize was granted to Aka Morchiladze for her novel “Mamluki”, while in 2011, Zaza Burchuladze received the same prize for his “Inflatable Angel.” In 2012, the prize was not issued; however, in 2013, the pecuniary award was shared by Ana Kordzaia-Samadashvili for her novel “Who Killed Chaika” and Jaba Zarkua for his novel “Readers Must Die.”

In 2014, the academic board of the university decided to grant the award to the best translator of a foreign language novel; the prize was awarded to Zaza Chiladze for his translation of William Faulkner’s novel “Flags in the Dust.”

Conditions for participation in the contest of this year

1. The novel should be published between 2014-20015; 

2. Books must be presented by publishing houses of authors; the award will b granted to authors;
3. Applications can be submitted from January 5, 2016 to January 31 to the chancellery of ISU (Kautsa Cholokashvili Ave., #3/5, Tbilisi). 3 copies of the book must be provided together with the application.
4. The winner will be announced in May, 2016; 
5. The winner will be awarded a pecuniary prize of 10, 000 GEL.

ISU wishes you success!