International Prize for Arabic Fiction

The International Prize for Arabic Fiction (IPAF) is a prestigious literary prize managed in association with the Booker Prize Foundation in London, and supported by the Emirates Foundation in Abu Dhabi. The Prize is specifically for prose fiction by Arabic authors, along the lines of the Man Booker Prize. Each year, the winner of the Prize receives US$50,000 and the six shortlisted authors receive US$10,000 each.

The aim of the award is to recognise and reward excellence in contemporary Arabic fiction writing and to encourage wider readership of quality Arabic literature in the region and internationally. The Prize is also designed to encourage the translation and promotion of Arabic language literature into other major world languages. An independent Board of Trustees, drawn from across the Arab world and beyond, is responsible for appointing 6 new judges each year, and for the overall management of the Prize.

Rules and entry

*The IPAF is dedicated to the novel literary genre. Neither a book of short stories nor a novella are eligible.
*The writer cannot submit his work himself: Submissions are to be made by the publishers, in consultation with the writers.
*The novel has to be written in Arabic: No Arabic translation of a book written originally in any other language is eligible.
*Authors must be living at the time of the award.
*Only one novel is accepted per author.
*The novel has to respect publishing rights and copyrights of the Arab country where it has been published.
*Every publisher can submit up to 3 novels published by him during the previous year.
*Each publisher may also submit a list of up to 3 further recommended titles, published by him during the same time frame mentioned above. *Manuscripts entries are not acceptable, but publishers' proof copies are, as long as the hard book is published two months prior to short list at latest.
*No book entered by publishers or called in by the judges will be returned to the publishers.
*Any title by an author who has previously won the IPAF, and any title by an author who has been shortlisted for the IPAF, may be submitted.
*The Administration of the prize, in consultation with the Chair of the Judges and the trustees, reserves the right to reject any novel that does not comply with the conditions mentioned above.
*The decision of the judges is irrevocable and not subject to objection.
*All submissions are made on a confidential basis.

Trustees (2007-2009)

*Jonathan Taylor, Interim Chairman, Chairman, Booker Prize Foundation,UK
*Marie-Therese Abdul Messih, Professor of English, University of Kuweit, Egypt
*Peter Clark, Consultant, Middle East Cultural Advisory Services, UK
*Omar Saif Ghobash, Publisher, UAE
*Sasha Havlicek, Executive Director, Trialogue Educational Trust, UK
*Khaled al Hroub, Writer and academic, Palestine/UK
*Ibrahim Al Moallem, Publisher, Egypt
*Farouk Mardam-Bey, Writer and publisher, Syria/France
*Zaki Nusseibeh, Intellectual, UAE
*Margaret Obank, Publisher, Banipal Magazine of Modern Arab literature, UK
*Riyad El-Rayess, Publisher, Riad El-Rayyes Books, Lebanon
*Yasir Suleiman, Professor of Arabic, University of Cambridge, Palestine/UK
*William Sieghart, Chairman & Founder, Forward Publishing, National Poetry Day, UK
*Evelyn Smith, Company Secretary, Booker Prize Foundation, UK

2007/2008 Award

The novels shortlisted for IPAF 2007/2008:

*(winner) "Sunset Oasis" by Bahaa Taher, Egypt
*"June's Rain" by Jabbour Douaihy, Lebanon
*"The land of purgatory" by Elias Farkouh, Jordan
*"In praise of hatred" by Khaled Khalifa, Syria
*"Walking in the dust" by May Menassa, Lebanon
*"Swan Song" by Mekkaoui Said, Egypt

External links

* [http://www.arabicfiction.org International Prize for Arabic Fiction] , official multi-lingual site.
* [http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1205261315909&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull "Arab 'Booker' stirs up passion"] , by George Walden, "The Jerusalem Post", Mar 12, 2008
* [http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4725c800-ef0c-11dc-97ec-0000779fd2ac.html "Prize to rekindle Arabic fiction"] , by Simeon Kerr, "Financial Times", March 11 2008