On 11 November 2024, a jury chaired by Prof. Milena Kirova, with members Prof. Ivaylo Hristov; Prof. Plamen Doynov, Dr Habil. Hist.; Yanitsa Radeva, PhD; and Prof. Myumyun Tahirov, PhD, chose ‘Wound’ as Novel of the Year in the competition organised by the Fund. Writer Zahari Karabashliev is the author and three-times winner of the prize. ‘Wound’ was published in 2023 by Ciela Publishers.
Following the second jury meeting, the award ceremony took place in the Sofia City Art Gallery. Prof. Milena Kirova presented the nominated novels in detail and spoke about the work of the jury.
Ms Bisera Yosifova, Executive Director of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’, thanked the jury and announced the winning novel. Mr Nayden Todorov, Minister of Culture and Chair of the NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ Management Council, presented the prize. Mr Miroslav Alexandrov, Editor-in-chief of Ciela, accepted the award as a representative authorised by the writer.
Among those present at the event were Plamen Slavov, Secretary of Culture, Spiritual Development and National Identity at the Presidency of Bulgaria; Kalin Velyov, Deputy Minister of Culture; Assoc. Prof. Petko Stefanovski, Deputy Minister of Health; Iavor Koynakov, Chief Expert at the Cultural Policy Department of the State Institute for Culture under the Minister of Foreign Affairs; Raina Mandzhukova, Executive Director of the State Agency for Bulgarians Abroad; and the shortlisted authors and journalists.
The ceremony ended with a musical performance by students from the Prof. Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music. Georgi Raychev and Stefan Velikov performed Duet No. 1 for Two Violins, by Carl Stamitz. NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ traditionally provides excellent students of the Academy with the opportunity to study and perform on their violins free of charge during their studies.