A total of 90 books by 88 authors participated in the competition this year. The winner will be announced on March 25 at 7:00 PM during an official ceremony at the Atrium of Burgas Free University.
CLOSE NOMINATION IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER OF AUTHORS
Jury's reasons:
- Bina Kals. "Litany". Publ. "East-West" - due to the space and positioning of man over great ancient mythological symbols and time, with accepting without illusions; for the hope that light will be experienced, and the striving towards poetry as opposition to "bitter flesh"; due to ethical and biblical steep cliffs; due to readiness to climb the peak of the mountain alone, through the word.
- Dimitar Kenarov. "Plowed Gardens of Love". Publ. "Janet 45" - for profoundly transcending the traditions of Bulgarian love lyricism; for difficult confessions and striving towards rediscovering the Other and oneself; for thematic treatment of love life with straightforwardness; for joy from understanding and recognizing losses as trophies; due to outlining a loving geography between Vitosha, Perlovska River, Varvara, Starevo, San Francisco; for intertwining of the language of politics, nature and love in humanism.
- Mario Savchev. "The Universe in Your Eyes". Publ. "Signs" - due to skills of scientific achievements being placed on the basis of new poetic visions; for feeling of immersion in "the indisputable empire of pain"; for shared anxiety, whether humanity believes in dead ink or living letters; for visionary poems that strive towards intelligent communication with readers.
- Olya Stoyanova. "How Natural Laws Save Us". Publ. "Janet 45" - due to wise awareness that the world is not endless and just, but when you understand this, then years of generosity come; for listening to various voices - from the chattering of neighborhood madmen to words of children from Syria and Iraq; for joy that poetry is strength, not cataclysm; for awareness of the limit of contemporary man and wisdom to look at everything around us.
- Petar Chufov. "At the End of the Bed". Publ. "Janet 45" - for the laconic insights of the lyrical man before the existential horizon; for everyday conversations with God as parables; for the art of philosophical paradoxes in poetry; for delicate balance between "uttered" and "silent"; for skill to achieve pantheism as an art of deep explosion.
The "Hristo Fotev" Award is among the most significant distinctions for poetry in Bulgaria. It is awarded every two years by the Burgas Municipality and partner cultural institutions. The ceremony traditionally takes place on March 25 - the birthday of poet Hristo Fotev.