TEHRAN – Iranian writer Mansour Alimoradi has been officially announced as one of the 10 finalists for the prestigious BRICS Literature Prize, an international literary award established in November 2024.
The announcement was made at a press conference held on Monday at the HB Jasin Literary Resource Center in Jakarta, an event that was accessible online by participants from multiple countries.
The press conference, attended by many cultural figures from member countries, highlighted the important role of the award in promoting cultural exchanges, humanitarian cooperation and common values among BRICS countries.
The BRICS Literary Award, launched during last year’s BRICS Forum, aims to recognize writers whose works embody the cultural and spiritual values of BRICS countries and beyond. The award also highlights contemporary themes rooted in traditional values and promotes the translation and dissemination of literature across member countries.
Among the notable nominees is Iran’s Mansour Alimoradi, who joins a distinguished list of authors that includes Brazil’s Ana Maria Gonsalves, Russia’s Alexei Varlamov, India’s Sonu Saini, China’s Ma Boyon, South Africa’s Ntavisen Jarooz Jafta, United Arab Emirates’ Reem Al Kamali, Ethiopia’s Abele Adam, Indonesia’s Deni JA and Egypt’s Salwa Bakr.
The shortlisting process involved a rigorous three-stage selection process, and the shortlist was announced at the Brasilia Forum in September. The final winner will be announced on November 27th in Khabarovsk, Russia.
Mansour Alimoradi is a writer, poet, and cultural researcher. He has conducted extensive research on the local culture of his native Kerman province. His other works include a collection of short stories, a collection of poems, and several novels. He has won numerous awards at national festivals for over 15 years.
In September, Iran announced three writers who will represent the country at the first BRICS Literature Awards.
Along with Mansour Alimoradi, Reza Amirkhani and Majid Ghaisari were among the Iranian candidates on the event’s shortlist.
From the beginning, the Islamic Republic of Iran has played an active role in this international effort. The Iranian Library and Literature Museum, in cooperation with the Cultural Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Russia, compiled the nominated works and submitted them to the BRICS Prize Secretariat. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to promote the translation and international publication of Iranian literature.
Masoud Ahmadvand, Director of the Cultural Center of the Iranian Embassy in Russia, is the director of this event. The Board oversees the strategic direction of the Prize, determines the composition of the National Council of Experts and the Jury, and manages the Executive Secretariat.
The BRICS Literary Award goes beyond traditional literary awards. It serves as a platform for cultural diplomacy. By nominating prominent writers, Iran aims to introduce its literary culture and identity to the international community, promote opportunities for translation and dissemination of Iranian works, and strengthen cultural ties between BRICS countries.
The award celebrates writers whose work reflects the traditions and cultural diversity of the BRICS countries. Its overarching goal is to deepen mutual understanding among member countries by highlighting their histories, traditions, and stories through literature.
SAB/