Kobzar Literary Award 2016 Shortlisted Authors Featured at International Festival of Authors

TORONTO, Sept. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - The Kobzar Literary Award celebrates narratives that address Ukrainian Canadian themes. 

Jury members Karen Connelly, Tamas Dobozy and Shandi Mitchell stated that they were "inspired by the many literary works, histories, life stories, and documentaries that were entered for this prize. We were grateful, as well, for the insights they offered us into a cultural and historical tradition that was not necessarily our own. Throughout the course of reading and viewing these works we developed a greater understanding of and appreciation for Ukrainian culture, and its importance that seems especially pressing today. We wish all of these writers continued success along their chosen paths, and thank them for bringing us into their worlds."

The 2016 Kobzar Literary Award shortlisted nominees are:

Buday, Grant			The Delusionist. Anvil Press; Vancouver, B.C., Canada, 2014
Martynowych, Orest			The Showman and the Ukrainian Cause: Folk Dance, Film, and the Life of Vasile Avramenko. University of Manitoba Press; Winnipeg, MB, 2014
Mierau, Maurice			Detachment: An Adoption Memoir.  Freehand Books; Calgary, Alberta, 2014
Skrypuch, Marsha Forchuk			Underground Soldier.  Scholastic Canada Ltd., Toronto, 2014
Zembrzycki, Stacey			According to Baba: A Collaborative Oral History of Sudbury's Ukrainian Community. University of British Columbia Press; Vancouver, BC, 2014

The Kobzar shortlisted authors will read from their works at the International Festival of Authors (IFOA) on Sunday, October 25 at Harbourfront. Tickets for the IFOA are available at www.IFOA.com.

About Kobzar Literary Award: Launched in 2003 by the Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko, the biennial $25,000 Kobzar Award recognizes outstanding contributions to Canadian literary arts through presentation of a Ukrainian Canadian theme with literary merit. A winner will be announced at the award ceremony on March 3, 2016 at Palais Royale in Toronto. www.kobzarliteraryaward.ca

About Shevchenko Foundation: The Ukrainian Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko is a national, chartered philanthropic institution providing leadership by building and nurturing a permanent endowment fund dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Ukrainian Canadian cultural heritage and the advancement of a flourishing Ukrainian community for the enrichment of Canada. www.shevchenkofoundation.ca

SOURCE Shevchenko Foundation

Image with caption: "Kobzar 2016 Shortlist at IFOA (CNW Group/Shevchenko Foundation)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20150907_C5019_PHOTO_EN_491311.jpg

MEDIA CONTACT: Dr. Christine Turkewych, [email protected], Tel: [phone]