Description
The main objectives of the AICW-Bressani Literary Prize are to inspire and recognize books by Canadian authors of Italian origin. We seek to celebrate the richness of the Italian-Canadian experience by honouring the literary expression of our writers.
Submission Guidelines
The AICW-Bressani Literary Prize is awarded to the Italian-Canadian author of the best literary work in six categories: Fiction, Poetry, Playwrighting, Children’s Book, Non-Fiction, First Book. E-books and self-published books are eligible. Submissions must be first editions.
Submissions are accepted from Canadian citizens and permanent residents of Italian ancestry. Authors must be 18 years or older. Submitted works must be in Italian, English, French or Italian dialect. Translations are not eligible. Works must be published between June 1, 2021 and August 31, 2024.
Each submission must be accompanied by the Entry Form, which can be found at the end of this document, or at www.aicw.ca/literaryprize. The entry fee for each submission is $50 to cover administrative costs. Go to https://aicw.ca/donate/ or send an e-transfer to treasurer@aicw.ca or include a personal cheque payable to AICW with the entry form.
For each category, each submission must include 4 copies of the book. E-Books should be submitted in ePub or mobile format and will only be accepted if paper copies are not available. Submitted works will not be returned. An author can submit only one title per category.
A title submitted to First Book can also be submitted to one other category. In that case, 8 copies of the title must be submitted with a $100 fee and 2 entry forms. Each submission must be the work of a single author. No co-authored books and no edited books or anthologies will be accepted.
Submissions must be sent or delivered in a sealed package along with the entry form to the address below and must be postmarked no later than November 4, 2024.
Selection and Adjudication
The winner in each category receives $1,000 and a certificate. Finalists receive a one-year AICW membership and a certificate. For each category, a three-member Jury selects three finalists and then chooses the winners. The Jury’s decision is final.
Finalists in each category are publicized two months before the Jury announces the winner. The AICW and the Jury are not responsible for issues arising from any alleged plagiarism in the winning works.
In the case of insufficient or inadequate entries, the prize will not be assigned in one or more categories. The decision of the Jury in this respect is final.
All participants are invited to attend the award ceremony. Winners are encouraged to attend or to delegate a person of their choice to accept the prize. The award ceremony will be held in 2026; details will be released when the finalists are announced. Neither subsidy nor reimbursement is available for travel or accommodation expenses.
Background and History
The Italian Cultural Centre in Vancouver established the biennial F.G. Bressani Literary Prize in 1986, accepting the proposal brought forth by the late C. Dino Minni and Anna Foschi Ciampolini. The creation of the Bressani Prize coincided with the city’s centennial celebrations and the launch of the First National Conference of Italian-Canadian Writers, held in Vancouver in 1986. The Prize is named after Fr. Francesco Giuseppe Bressani (Italian Jesuit missionary, born in Rome in 1612, and author of Breve Relatione), considered to be the precursor of Italian-Canadian writing. In 2020, the Italian Cultural Centre relinquished all rights to the Association of Italian-Canadian Writers, which is now the sole manager and organizer of the AICW-Bressani Literary Prize.
