Literary Award “Ana” Celebrates Georgian Writers

Georgia: The Rustaveli National Theater was the venue for the prestigious Literary Award “Ana”, which honors the best works of Georgian literature. The award, established by the Ministry of Culture of Georgia, was presented by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia, Thea Tsulukiani, who praised the creativity and diversity of the Georgian literary scene.

The award ceremony was attended by prominent figures from the fields of culture, politics and human rights, including Chairman of the Committee for Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration of the Parliament Mikheil Sarjveladze, First Deputy Chairman of the Culture Committee Irakli Mezurnishvili, Director of the House of Writers of Georgia Ketevan Dumbadze, and members of the competition commission.

The Literary Award “Ana” consists of four categories: fiction, poetry, children’s literature and literary criticism. The winners of each category received a cash prize of 10,000 GEL (about 3,000 USD) and a certificate of recognition. The winners were selected by a jury of experts from among hundreds of submissions.

The winners of the Literary Award “Ana” for 2023 are:

• Fiction: Nino Kharatishvili for her novel “The Eighth Life”, a sweeping saga of a Georgian family through the turbulent 20th century.
• Poetry: Zurab Karumidze for his collection “The Book of Tbilisi”, a poetic tribute to the capital city and its history, culture and people.
• Children’s Literature: Ana Kordzaia-Samadashvili for her book “The Adventures of Shmagi and Tika”, a humorous and imaginative story of two friends who explore the world of fairy tales and legends.
• Literary Criticism: Lela Ochiauri for her study “The Poetics of Nostalgia in Georgian Literature”, a comprehensive analysis of nostalgia’s role in various Georgian writers’ works.

The award ceremony also featured the winners’ and nominees’ musical performances and readings. The event was broadcast live on Georgian Public Broadcasting and streamed online. 

The Literary Award “Ana” aims to promote national and international Georgian literature and support the development of new talents and genres.