The announcement of the first shortlistees for the new Sharjah Rights Connection Awards was made on October 18 at a reception on the eve of Frankfurter Buchmesse, hosted by Sharjah Book Authority’s Ahmed Al Ameri. Image: WAM, Nabs Ahmedi
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Winners To Be Named at Sharjah Publishers Conference
At a reception on October 18 at The Hof in Frankfurt, Sharjah Book Authority announced the first shortlist for its new Rights Connection Awards program, designed to honor publishing-house rights professionals with one annual prize and independent professionals working with translation rights agencies with a parallel prize.
The authority’s chairman Ahmed Al Ameri—as we’ve reported, newly elevated to the emirate’s executive council by the author-emir Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi—made the announcement of the shortlists, with Bodour Al Qasimi of Sharjah, the outgoing president of the International Publishers Association (IPA).
Publishing Perspectives readers are aware of this new awards program from our article on September 20 announcing its establishment.
Countries represented in this inaugural year’s round of entries for the two categories are led by Egypt, India, and the United Kingdom—the world’s biggest producer of book and publishing awards programs. Also represented among the entries: the Untied Arab Emirates, Albania, Argentina, Argentina, Canada, Finland, Germany, Lebanon, Lithuania, Mexico, and South Africa
Winners in this two-pronged award receive a payout worth US$2,500.
Rights Connection Awards Shortlist: Publishing House Rights Pros
- Elle Brenton-Rounding, Bonnier Books UK LTD, UK
- Gabriel Nieto, Editorial Planeta, Mexico
- Ahmed Mohamed Mohamed Rashad, Al Dar Al Masriah Al Lubnaniah, Egypt
Rights Connection Awards Shortlist: Independent or Agency Rights Pros
- Benas Berantas, Book Smugglers Agency, Lithuania
- Aoife Lennon-Ritchie, The Lennon-Ritchie Agency, South Africa
- Mauro Spagnol, Books-Everywhere, UK
The winners of the inaugural competition are to be announced during the Sharjah International Book Fair Publishers Conference in November.
Ahmed Al Ameri and Bodour Al Qasimi at the Sharjah Connection Awards shortlist announcement during a reception in Frankfurt. Image: Nabs Ahmedi
This is Publishing Perspectives’ 183rd awards-related report published in the 189 days since our 2022 operations began on January 3.
Our Frankfurter Buchmesse Show Magazine now is out—in print on the Messe Frankfurt for trade visitors and exhibitors, and here in a free digital download for our world readership online.
The magazine has extensive coverage of issues and trends that are leading discussions and debates at the trade show this year, along with interviews, profiles, and commentary in this strongly attended Frankfurt year. Click here for your download (PDF).
More on Frankfurter Buchmesse is here, more on the international rights trade is here, more on this year’s Guest of Honor Spain is here, more on guest of honor programs and markets is here, more on international book fairs is here, and more on industry statistics is here.
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