The President of the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores (ALRAA), Luís Garcia, yesterday highlighted the “great success” of the first edition of the Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize, which attracted more than 400 writers from mainland Portugal, Brazil, Switzerland, and several Portuguese-speaking countries.
The public ceremony to announce the winner of the first edition of the Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize, held yesterday in Praia da Vitória as part of the Outono Vivo literary fair, honored writer António Avelar for his work “Irmã,” which the jury chose “for its literary quality, consistency of writing, and originality of its narrative voice,” as stated by the President of the Azorean Parliament.
In addition to honoring the winner, the Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize also awarded an Honorable Mention to the competitor Natanilson Pereira Campos, author of the novel “As Cercanias do Silêncio” (The Surroundings of Silence). In the opinion of the President of the Azorean Parliament, “the distinction of both works confirms the initiative’s objective of promoting literary creation and the vitality of the Portuguese language as a space for thought.”
The President of the Legislative Assembly gave special recognition to the jury of this first edition, composed of “personalities of recognized merit in the literary and cultural scene,” such as Eduardo Ferraz da Rosa, as president, curator Manuela Bulcão, and Onésimo Teotónio de Almeida, Susana Goulart Costa, and Urbano Bettencourt, highlighting “their rigor, seriousness, and essential contribution to the excellence and credibility of this award.”
On this occasion, President Luís Garcia also acknowledged the partner entities that made this first edition possible, highlighting the Praia da Vitória City Council “for its willingness to welcome the initiative from the outset,” the support of Caixa Económica da Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Angra do Heroísmo, “for its generous and immediate contribution,” and the publisher Letras Lavadas, “for the rigor and dedication put into the publication of the winning work.”
After the public ceremony announcing the winner, there was a presentation of the work “Irma,” part of the Outono Vivo program, featuring several writers and recognized figures from the Portuguese literary scene.
The Vitorino Nemésio Literary Prize, created by the Legislative Assembly of the Autonomous Region of the Azores, pays tribute to one of the greatest figures in Azorean and Portuguese-speaking culture, reaffirming the Azorean Parliament’s commitment to promoting literary creation, encouraging reading, and valuing the region’s cultural heritage.
If you enjoy these stories and want to contribute to our annual PBBI-Fresno State crowdfunding event, please do so using the link below. We are truly grateful.
Filamentos (artes e letras) 