The State Literature Prizes for 2024 were awarded on Monday night despite weeks of internal dispute within the judging committee. During the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture Dr Vasiliki Kassianidou announced the creation of a new prize category for “Folk Poetry” as well as a forthcoming support scheme for publications focused on Cypriot studies.
The announcement came as the literary awards, the highest state distinction for authors in Cyprus, continued to face public scrutiny after the committee president attempted to discredit both members of the panel and the institution itself, even taking his objections to the Deputy Minister’s office.
New category and support scheme
In her address, Kassianidou said the 2025 State Literature Prizes will, for the first time, include a dedicated “Folk Poetry” category. The decision, she noted, acknowledges the significance and wide creative expression of folk poetry, an art form deeply rooted in Cypriot culture.
She also revealed that a new state plan to support Cyprological publications is being prepared and will be announced in 2026, with the aim of strengthening research, publishing and cultural production related to Cyprus.
“The Deputy Ministry firmly supports the work of creators and publishers,” Kassianidou said, highlighting existing initiatives that promote literary creation, translation into foreign languages and overall infrastructure for the cultural sector.
Award categories and winners
The Deputy Minister presented the prizes in Poetry, Novel, Short Story/Novella, Study/Essay, New Writer, Children’s Literature, Young Adult Literature and Illustration.
Congratulating the recipients, she emphasised that “with their pen, they offer us new perspectives, remind us of the value of human experience and defend the power of language amid the challenges of our time.”
Winners of the 2024 State Literature Prizes:
• Poetry: Eleni Kefala – Direct orient: ποιήματα (Perispomeni)
• Novel: Kyriakos Margaritis – Συμβάν 74 (Ikaros)
• Short Story/Novella: Andreas Maloris – Σχεδόν τα πάντα: διηγήματα (To Rodakio)
• Study/Essay: Pantelis Voutouris – “Κάπου στην Κύπρο, στον νομό Πρεβέζης...” Εισαγωγή στην ποιητική του Κώστα Μόντη (Erato)
• New Writer Prize: Alexandros Chronidis – Ἐπὶ τῶν ποταμῶν Βαβυλῶνος (Almyra)
• Children’s Literature: Marina Michailidou-Kadi – Ζεστή Σοκολάτα (Teleia)
• Young Adult Literature: Anna Kouppanou – Όταν μας άφησε η θάλασσα (Patakis)
• Illustration Prize: Chryso Charalambous for Η Σελήνη στο Παρίσι by Areti Katsantoni (Fourfouri)
The award rationales were read by Dr Katerina Karatasou, chair of the Children’s and Young Adult Literature Committee; Dr Konstantinos Georgiou, chair of the Illustration Committee; and Dr Konstantinos Bouras, member of the State Literature Prizes Committee.
A ceremony under scrutiny
This year’s process unfolded under unusual tension, following public objections by the committee president, who claimed the winning New Writer’s book “had no relation to poetry” and expressed doubts about the panel’s composition.
The remaining four committee members responded collectively, rejecting the accusations with documented evidence, calling the claims unfounded and stressing the integrity of the procedure.
The ceremony’s staging and artistic direction were overseen by Achilleas Grammatopoulos.