Sunday 4 December 2016

Katara brings prize-winning Arabic novels to Doha International Book Fair

Source: Katara. The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) made prize-winning works available at the Doha International Book Fair.
Source: Katara. The Cultural Village Foundation (Katara) made prize-winning works available at the Doha International Book Fair.

The Cultural Village Foundation-Katara, a platinum sponsor of the 27th edition of the Doha International Book Fair,  showcased 28 publications that have won Katara’s Prize for Arabic Novel at the expo.

​The winning novels include translated copies of English and French publications as well as the work of Qatari novelists Shama Al-Kuwari and Ahmad AbdulMalek, which were distributed free to readers.



Winners of the second Prize for Arabic Novel included:

In the published category, Ibrahim Nasr Allah for Kilmanjaro Souls, Ilyas Khori for Sons of Gitto, Eman Hamedan for Fifty Grams of Heaven, Nasser Iraq for Al Azbakia, and Yahia Yakhalf for Wind Rider.  

In the unpublished category, Salmi Al-Nasser for Blue Tongues, Saad Mohamed Raheem for Desire Banks, Ali Ahmad Al-Rifai for Mero Family Genes, Mohamed Al-Gharbi Omran for Heights Queen, and Mostafa Al-Hamdawi for Princess Shadows.

Katara's prizes for research and studies went to Dr Ibrahim Al-Hajri, Dr Hassan Al-Mowadn, Dr Hossam Safan, Dr Zohor Karam and Dr Mohamed Abo Azza. ​

Nasser Iraq wrote the best drama in the published category, which was awarded US$200,000, while Ali Ahmad Al-Rifai took home US$100,000 for the best drama in the unpublished category. The top five published submissions were also awarded US$60,000 each, while the top five unpublished submissions received US$30,000 each.

The top five unpublished studies from the research, evaluation and literary criticism category were each awarded US$15,000. The top five unpublished young-adult novels won US$10,000 each.

Five awarded authors from the first Katara prize for Arabic Novel from the non-published novels category were also present to sign their works throughout the event.

The Doha International Book Fair had Read as its theme. Four hundred and ninety publishers from 33 countries presented more than 104,000 books, including 15,219 new titles.