XIV NATIONAL CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL

/SLIVEN, MAY 9-11, 2012/

Third day

The third and final day of the XIV National Children's Book Festival began with a press conference of the winners of the National Award “Konstantin Konstantinov” for lifelong contribution to children's book publishing for 2012. From 9.00 a.m. in the press room of the Festival in the theater’s building representatives of national and regional media had the opportunity to meet in personal the winners of the awards:  Lilyana Stefanova - in category “Lifelong Achievements”, Angelina Zhekova - in category “Author”  and Peter Stanimirov - in category “Illustrator”, to learn more about their first reactions after receiving their awards.

The National Award “Konstantin Konstantinov” for contribution to children's book publishing was established in 2004 by the Ministry of Culture, Municipality of Sliven, “Sava Dobroplodni” Regional Library and Rotary Club - Sliven. The award is given annually in the days of the National Children's Book Festival for contribution to book publishing for children in the previous year. It includes a small sculpture, an honorary diploma and money and it is handed into four categories: a Grand Prize for lifetime achievement and awards for: a publishing house, an author and an illustrator. The first winner of the award in category “Lifetime Achievement” was the poet Valeri Petrov, and in category “Publishing house” – “Fiut” publishing house. Other winners of the Award for Lifetime Achievement throught the years have also been the famous Bulgarian writers Leda Mileva, Georgi Konstantinov, Marko Ganchev, Ivan Tzanev, Katya Vodenicharova, Kina Kadreva. In category “Author” - Victor Samuilov, Sevda Sevan, Petya Alexandrova, Pancho Panchev, Maya Dalgacheva, Julia Spiridonova - Julka, Vesela Flamburari. In category “Publishing house” – “Fiut” publishing house, “Hermes” publishing house, “Janet 45” publishing house, “Pan” publishing house, “Zlatnoto pate” publishing house, “Egmont – Bulgaria” publishing house, “Damyan Yakov” publishing house. In category “Illustrator” - Spas Spasov, Ralitsa Manuilova, Oleg Topalov, Yasen Gyuzelev.

The fun game with prizes “Tell me your favorite poem!” again gathered together many candidates for fame in 10.30 a.m. in the open stage of the festival on the main street “Tsar Osvoboditel”. Young and older readers had the opportunity to meet the writers and the publishers and their favorite children's books.

In “Stefan Kirov” drama theatre’s Grand Hall was held the official ceremony for rewarding the participants in the National Literary Competition on the theme: „In a Magical Starry Night” and the national plain air of painting on topic: „A Visit to the Land where Wishes Come True”. More than 1050  children and adolescents aged 7 to 16 years from the country and the Bulgarian communities abroad took part in the literary contest with their specially written for the competition stories, tales or poems. In the three age groups were awarded 38 young artists. The names of the winners can be seen on the site of the festival in Internet http://childbookfest.iradeum.com. Along with all other prizes the winners in the literary contest also received a medley with the tales and stories- winners in the competition „In a Magical Starry Night”, published with the financial support of the Ministry of culture.

In the National Children's plain air of painting were involved more than 250 children from all over the country aged 7 to 14 years. They all were divided into two age groups. Twelve participants were awarded.

After the ceremony in the crowded hall of “Stefan Kirov” drama theatre the play “Dangerous adventures with silver-tongued heroes” by Nedyalko Yordanov was performed by the young actors from the Children's Theatre Studio “Fairy Theatre” – Burgas.