Chytomo Award announced winners

Winners of the Chytomo Award for Outstanding Achievements in Publishing were announced. This has been announced during the awarding ceremony on Nov. 2 2023.

Laureates were announced in three categories:

Book Publishing Market Trendsetter category:

• The Old Lion Publishing House

For setting high standards in the book industry, for serving as a role model and demonstrating resilience that inspires others to persevere, and for Additionally, for pioneering a system for selling the rights of Ukrainian books to international audiences.

Book Initiative That Promotes Reading category:

• Translatorium NGO

For creating a platform for communication between translators and interpreters, for putting Podillia region and Khmelnytskyi on the cultural map of Ukraine and for pushing through silence to conversation.

Translatorium fest's Tania Rodionova, after winning the award for reading promotion, stresses the significance of holding events to celebrate Ukranian cultural achievements.

"The Russian war against Ukraine is also against our culture…" pic.twitter.com/pt5rzHifha

— chytomo_eng (@ChytomoE) November 3, 2023

Ukrainian Book Ambassador category:

Art Studio Agrafka (Romana Romanyshyn & Andriy Lesiv)

For an artistic expression that unveils individual identities, the nuances of their world, and the essence of Ukraine through books, thereby gaining international partnerships and recognition.

Ukrainian writer Victoria Amelina received a Special Jury Award posthumously.

For continuing to connect people and communities through many unseen bridges, and for creating opportunities and pathways that continue to guide the Ukrainian cultural community forward.

There was a Special Award of the Frankfurter Buchmesse with a financial payment of 4000 EUR and the opportunity to participate in the Frankfurter Buchmesse (Frankfurt Book Fair) 2024. Publisher Oleksandr Savchuk received the award for preserving cultural heritage through projects related to local history and book, and for reintroducing significant names, phenomena, and artifacts into Ukraine’s cultural discourse. The Special Award of the Frankfurt Book Fair was given by Germany’s Deputy Ambassador to Ukraine, Mr Tim Prange.

“It was extremely difficult for the jury to choose the winners, as the number of strong projects submitted for the award exceeded our expectations. This serves as a testament to the vitality of the Ukrainian book industry, the strength and development of the national book market and the eagerness share Ukrainian narratives internationally. Furthermore, the entrants’ commitment extended beyond achievements in publishing, with many deeply involved in volunteer efforts. They provided aid to the Ukrainian military, contributed to the restoration of ravaged cultural landmarks and supported families of fallen soldiers. This incredible resolve to resist, create, defend and support gives us hope for the recovery of Ukraine and the preservation of Ukrainian culture after our victory.,” underlined Iryna Baturevych, Chytomo co-founder.

Chytomo Award winners (Mariana Savka, the Old Lion Publishing House, Oleksandr Savchuk, Savchuk Publisher and Tania Rodionova, Translatorium NGO)

The winners were selected by a jury consisting of seven Ukrainian and foreign experts in the book publishing and literature industry. Among them are representatives of both Ukrainian and international institutions.

A cash prize is EUR 4,000 in each of the five categories.

The award ceremony took place at the Generator coworking space. The evening was hosted by Alexandra Gontar, and the awards were presented to a DJ set by Nil Tarasov.

The award was established by Chytomo, media about books, with the support of the German Publishers and Booksellers Association (Börsenverein des Deutschen Buchhandels), the Frankfurt Book Fair and the Ministry of Culture and Media of Germany.

Chytomo is the largest Ukrainian media outlet covering book publishing in the country. Chytomo forms a community united by a love for texts and visual culture. The media serves as a platform for communication and discussion among participants of the publishing market, literary and artistic circles, reading communities, as well as specialized institutions engaged in legislative, executive, and program activities.

Image: Dmytro Larin