Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair

Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair
TT

Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair

Preparations Underway for Riyadh International Book Fair

Saudi Arabia's Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission continues to prepare to hold this year's Riyadh International Book Fair, scheduled to take place from September 26 to October 5 at the King Saud University campus in Riyadh.

The event feature writers, intellectuals, and thought leaders from the Kingdom and abroad, as well as over 2,000 local, Arab, and international publishing houses from 30 countries, which will further solidify the fair’s status as one of the most significant international cultural platforms in the Arab world.

The fair will feature 800 pavilions and over 200 events suitable for all age groups and activities focused on promoting the culture of reading and fostering cultural creativity.

An area dedicated to children will offer literary, cultural, and recreational activities and competitions that aim to nurture creativity in children and youths. Activities will also focus on developing young people’s love for reading, nurturing curiosity, and discovering and honing their talents.

The fair will also contain a special area for self-published Saudi authors, reflecting the commitment of the Literature, Publishing, and Translation Commission to fostering a supportive environment for cultural creativity, strengthening the local publishing industry, empowering Saudi writers, and providing them with a platform to present their literary works to a broad audience.

Qatar will be the guest of honor at this year's fair, showcasing its cultural and intellectual heritage through a special pavilion featuring rare manuscripts and publications from its Ministry of Culture.

Commission CEO Dr. Mohammed Alwan underscored the significance of the Riyadh International Book Fair, which, he said, spans five decades and is one of the region's foremost cultural events. Its success, he added, reflects the Saudi leadership's unwavering support for the cultural sector and solidifies the Kingdom's role in shaping the Arab cultural landscape.

The fair provides culture and book enthusiasts with a journey that integrates the latest modern technologies and digital solutions, he stated. It offers them the opportunity to explore thousands of new publications in various fields, and to take part in a diverse and rich cultural program that involves prominent figures in culture, art, and literature from Saudi Arabia, the region and the world.



Writers Invited to Submit Works, Compete for Saudi Arabia’s Golden Pen Award

The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA
The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA
TT

Writers Invited to Submit Works, Compete for Saudi Arabia’s Golden Pen Award

The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA
The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA

Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority (GEA) Turki bin Abdulmohsen Alalshikh has announced that Arabic-speaking writers may start submitting their works to compete for the Golden Pen Award, granted for the most influential literary work.

The winning scripts may be made into movies by GEA, Alalshikh said Sunday.

Applications for the award, sponsored by Minister of Culture Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan, will be received until September 30.

A first list will be announced on November 30, and the shortlist on December 30. The awards will be distributed at a ceremony scheduled to take place in February that is expected to draw an elite group of writers, intellectuals, filmmakers and actors.
The six award categories are: The grand prizes, the novel, the screenplay, the best translated novel, the best Arab publisher, and the audience award, with a total prize value of $740,000.
For each of the grand prizes and screenplay categories, the first-place prizes will be $100,000 and the production of a movie, the second-place prizes will be $50,000 and the production of a movie, while the third-place prizes will be $30,000.

As for the novel category, there will be eight prizes worth $25,000 each, including the best suspense and thriller novel, the best mystery and crime novel, the best romance novel, the best fantasy novel, the best comedy novel, the best historical novel, the best horror novel, and the best realistic novel.

The best translated novel will be awarded $100,000, while the best Arab publisher will be granted $50,000, and the audience award will be $30,000, with public voting opening on the award website at a later time.