Sawiris Cultural Award Aannounces Emerging Writers Shortlists for its 19th Edition

The Sawiris Foundation for Social Development, and the Sawiris Cultural Award Board of Trustees, are excited to unveil the carefully selected shortlists in the categories of novels, short stories, and screenplays for emerging, and young writers. These selected works have been meticulously evaluated by members of the nineteenth edition’s jury committees.

The shortlisted nominees for the best novel award for emerging writers’ includes the following 5 novels: “Happy Endings” by Ahmed Naji, “The Forest and the Cage” by Talal Faisal, “Victoria” by Karoline Kamel, “There Where the River Ends” by Maryam Abdel Aziz, and “American Residences” by Heba Khamis.

The shortlist for the best short story collection includes “Space for Maneuver” by Ahmed Fouad El-Din, “A Personal Portrait of Death” by Islam Ahmed, “Replica Archive” by Basma Naji, “This Is Not Your Room” by Karim Mohsen, and “The Days of Samir Homs” by Hind Jaafar.

The best screenplay shortlist includes “The Joys and Sorrows of the Girls’ House” by Ahmed Ehab Abdel-Wareth, “Moon Dust” by Ahmed Essam, “Searching for a Way Out for Mr. Rambo” by Khaled Mansour, “Once Upon a Time in Cairo” by Khairy Al-Fakharani, and the “Assassination of the Sheriff” by Ali Sayed Muhammad.

In this edition, a total of 1,202 applications were submitted to the different categories of the award, and evaluated by impartial arbitration committees consisting of distinguished writers, filmmakers, critics, and drama professors in Egypt.

It is worth noting that the value of the awards has increased this year across all categories that include novel, short stories, screenplays, playwritings, non-fiction & literature critique, and children’s literature. Additionally, a new award (second place prize) has been introduced for the top book targeting children under 12 years old, in response to the high demand and exceptional quality of the submissions in this category.

Respectively, the members of the Board of Trustees of the Sawiris Cultural Award have expressed their gratitude to the writers who enthusiastically participated in the competition’s nineteenth edition. They have also congratulated the writers who have made it to the shortlists, wishing them success in the final stages. Additionally, the Board has underscored their commitment to showcasing the selected works chosen by the jury committees, and the final results will be announced during the annual ceremony scheduled for January 8,2024.