Newmag will organize an unprecedented festival with Francophone content on the occasion of the Translator's Day / Francofest-2024

For the first time in its distinguished, century-long history, the prestigious Goncourt Prize is officially coming to Armenia. This extraordinary cultural milestone has been realized through the collaborative efforts of Newmag, the French Institute, and the French University in Armenia. At a press conference organized by Armenpress, the co-organizers unveiled the history behind the establishment of the Goncourt Prize in Armenia.

The official inauguration of the National Jury will coincide with FrancoFest, a celebration of Francophone culture. Artak Aleksanyan, the founder and director of Newmag publishing house, remarked that bringing this renowned literary accolade to Armenia—an honor central to the Francophone world—was the result of two years of dedicated work and negotiations. Every October, the Goncourt Prize announces a shortlist of eight finalists, with one ultimately being crowned the laureate.

David Tursz, Executive Director of the French Institute of Armenia, emphasizes the significance of this year for both the Francophone world and Armenia. "While Armenian readers are well acquainted with French literature, their familiarity leans more towards classical authors, often through Russian translations. The goal of this initiative is to promote the dissemination of contemporary Francophone literature, a task that Newmag publishing house has already begun by translating and introducing modern French works."

On October 12, the official commencement of Goncourt will be held. In honor of this occasion, renowned French writer and philosopher Pascal Bruckner, a member of the Goncourt Prize jury, and Françoise Rossino, chief delegate of the Goncourt Academy, will arrive in Yerevan.

Following the official launch, Armenia will annually announce its own Goncourt laureate. In conjunction with this, Newmag will publish the winning work in Armenian, chosen from among the eight finalists. Salvan Nakuzi, Rector of the French University and co-organizer of Francofest, revealed that Armenian students will be responsible for selecting the Armenian Goncourt laureate.

"Occasionally, the national jury's choice aligns with the primary Goncourt laureate, but more often, they recognize different authors. The Armenian Goncourt jury will not consist of literary specialists; instead, it will be composed of students from the French University, Yerevan State University (YSU), and Brusov State University. Participation will be voluntary, with selection criteria primarily focused on proficiency in the French language," Nakuzi explained.

From each university, ten students will be selected to form part of the Armenian Goncourt jury. The process of selecting the Goncourt Prize laureate unfolds in two stages: the Goncourt Academy first narrows the selection to ten works, before reducing it to a shortlist of eight. Armenian students will then engage with these eight finalists, ultimately casting their votes in a secret ballot to determine the winner.

Each year, from October to March, students from the three participating universities will immerse themselves in the study of these eight works. Throughout this period, they will contribute reviews and engage in critical discussions, deepening their appreciation of contemporary Francophone literature. The winning author's work will be translated into Armenian and published by Newmag, further enriching the literary landscape in Armenia.

Artak Aleksanyan, head of Newmag publishing house, outlined the upcoming highlights of Frankofest 2024, a celebration of Francophone literature and culture, alongside the introduction of the Goncourt Prize in Armenia.

"We will present five notable French works," Aleksanyan announced. "These include "Life According to Charles", a unique reflection on Charles Aznavour, composed by his son Nikola Aznavour, "Misak Manushyan: Through the Eyes of an Eyewitness", a memoir penned by his wife Meline Manushyan, Amélie Nothomb's "The Enemy's Cosmetique", Agnès Martin-Lugand's bestselling novel "Happiness Hanging on a Thread", and the 2021 Goncourt Prize-winning novel "The Most Secret Memory of Men" by Senegalese author Mohamed Mbougar Sarr." 

These literary presentations promise to add depth to Frankofest’s rich cultural program, celebrating both classical and contemporary voices.

FRANCFEST 2024  OFFICIAL PAGE

Partners

·       Embassy of France in Armenia, 

·       French Institute 

·       French University of Armenia

·       Aznavour Foundation

Sponsors

·       AUF

·       Infinity Travel Armenia by Luxury Voyage

Media Partners  

·       Courrier d'Erevan,

·       Nouvelles d'Arménie