The jury of the 66th International Belgrade Book Fair considered and evaluated the publishing production in the categories for which awards are given.

The jury decided that the following publishing houses will be in the final selection for 2023 Publisher of the Year:

  1. BELGRADE CITY INSTITUTE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS, BELGRADE,
  2. ORTHODOX WORD, NOVI SAD
  3. ACADEMIC BOOK, NOVI SAD
  4. SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, BELGRADE
  5. CLIO, BELGRADE

The 2023 PUBLISHER OF THE YEAR Award is awarded to the publishing house:

BELGRADE CITY INSTITUTE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS, BELGRADE

The Belgrade City Institute for the Protection of Cultural Monuments enhances knowledge about immovable cultural heritage through expert monographs, presenting it as a dynamic field of interplay between the influences and stimuli of cultural, social, and political processes. The uniqueness and value of the books published by the Institute independently or in collaboration with scientific institutions since last year’s Book Fair lie in the fusion of fieldwork experience and knowledge of conservation and restoration with all the requirements of scholarly publications. Thematic, methodologically rigorous, and graphically well-designed publications examine the impact of Central European architectural ideas on the theory and practice of architectural and urban planning in Belgrade. This is exemplified through general influences and specific perspectives of prominent architects and university professors. The published comprehensive monographs contribute to a deeper understanding of the issues related to shaping identity within the broader social, cultural, and private context of the capital, which is more relevant than ever.

The jury members have selected the following works for the PUBLISHING VENTURE OF THE YEAR:

  1. PRESIDENTS OF THE SERBIAN SLAVIC LITERACY SOCIETY, SERBIAN LEARNED SOCIETY, SERBIAN ROYAL ACADEMY, SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS
  2. MIROSLAV A. LAZIĆ, BOŽIDAR VUKOVIĆ: BETWEEN HISTORY AND IMAGINATION, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SERBIA, BELGRADE
  3. DANKO LEOVAC: PRINCE MIHAILO OBRENOVIĆ (1823–1868), HUK PUBLISHING, BELGRADE
  4. RASTKO PETROVIĆ: AFRICA, OFFICIAL GAZETTE, BELGRADE
  5. PABLO NERUDA: UNIVERSAL POEM, COSMOS PUBLISHING, BELGRADE

The award for the 2023 PUBLISHING VENTURE of the year is granted to the book titled:

PRESIDENTS OF THE SERBIAN SLAVIC LITERACY SOCIETY, SERBIAN LEARNED SOCIETY, SERBIAN ROYAL ACADEMY, SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS I-III, SERBIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES AND ARTS, Belgrade

In the rich selection for the Publishing Venture of the Year Award, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts stood out with a series of scientific collections, special editions, and monographs. The importance and value of this series are particularly highlighted by the three-volume edition dedicated to the presidents of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

This edition aims to demonstrate, in an original way through biobibliographies of all the presidents over the past 180 years, the contribution of each of these individuals to the development of the Academy, its successes, and achievements in the fields of science, arts, and culture as a whole.

The publication about the presidents of the Academy and the societies that preceded it (the Serbian Slavic Literacy Society and the Serbian Learned Society) contains 42 biographies, authored by thirty-two academicians, university professors, and scientific collaborators. The biographies are presented in chronological order, according to their first term, covering the historical period from 1841 to the election in 2023. The complete text, spanning over 1200 pages, is divided into three sections: the first volume covers the presidents of the Serbian Slavic Literacy Society and the Serbian Learned Society; the second volume covers the presidents of the Serbian Royal Academy, and the third volume covers the presidents of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts.

This edition, with the richness of its content, represents not only the life and work of the most significant institution in Serbia but also the entire life of Serbian science and culture over the past 180 years.

The publication is abundantly equipped with original and other source materials.

We believe that, with its overall content and significance, it deserves this great recognition.

In the final selection for the 2023 DIASPORA BEST PUBLISHER AWARD, the following works are nominated:

  • ANDRIĆ INSTITUTE – Editions of SERBIAN STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC MONOGRAPHS, PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE, ABOUT SERBIAN CLASSICS, ANDRIĆGRAD – VIŠEGRAD
  • DUŠAN SALATIĆ, OLGICA STEFANOVIĆ: EX LIBRIS OF MILENKO D. ĐURIĆ, EX LIBRIS SOCIETY OF VOJVODINA, SERBIAN CULTURAL SOCIETY PROSVJETA, ZAGREB

The 2023 DIASPORA BEST PUBLISHER AWARD was given to the publisher:

ANDRIĆ INSTITUTE, ANDRIĆ GRAD – VIŠEGRAD: Editions of SERBIAN STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC MONOGRAPHS, PHILOSOPHY AND LITERATURE, ABOUT SERBIAN CLASSICS.

The jury members, in the final selection for the SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF SCIENCE, proposed the following:

  1. DANKO LEOVAC: PRINCE MIHAILO OBRENOVIĆ (1823–1868), HUK PUBLISHING, BELGRADE
  2. MIROSLAV A. LAZIĆ, BOŽIDAR VUKOVIĆ: BETWEEN HISTORY AND IMAGINATION, NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SERBIA, BELGRADE
  3. SAŠA MIHAILOV: ARCHITECTURAL CREATION OF JOSEPH NAJMAN, BELGRADE CITY INSTITUTE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CULTURAL MONUMENTS, BELGRADE
  4. EVEL GASPARI: SLAVIC MATRIARCHY, CULTURAL ANTHROPOLOGY OF THE PROTO-SLAVS, PROMETEJ, NOVI SAD
  5. BRANKO TOŠOVIĆ: ANDRIĆ’S CRYOPOETICS, ČIGOJA, BELGRADE

The SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR CONTRIBUTION TO THE FIELD OF SCIENCE is awarded to the book:

DANKO LEOVAC: PRINCE MIHAILO OBRENOVIĆ (1823–1868), HUK PUBLISHING, BELGRADE

The special recognition for contribution to the field of science is granted to the book “Prince Mihailo Obrenović (1823-1868)” written by Danko Leovac and published by Huk Publishing from Belgrade. This is an exhaustive and comprehensive study that academically illuminates the life and work of Mihailo Obrenović. Based on comprehensive research of historical sources and secondary literature about Prince Mihailo, the author has created a capital work that, in all its qualities, belongs to the top of contemporary historiography and significantly contributes to our understanding of Mihailo Obrenović’s place and role in the history of Serbia.

In the final selection for the CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR, the jury have chosen the following works:

  1. DR. DRAGANA MALEŠEVIĆ: BOOKS THAT MAKE US GROW, ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS PROVENS, NOVI SAD
  2. GERTRUDE KJEL: WHAT THE SKY TELLS US, POINT, STORIES ABOUT SCIENCE, ODISEJA, BELGRADE
  3. SIMEON MARINKOVIĆ: MY SERBIA, CREATIVE CENTER, BELGRADE
  4. MLADEN MILOSAVLJEVIĆ: ABRACADABRA, ABRAK ZA DABRA, BEDEM KNJIGE, BELGRADE
  5. BRANKO STEVANOVIĆ: BLESS US WITH ANIMALS, LAGUNA, BELGRADE

The AWARD FOR CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE YEAR is presented to the series:

“BOOKS THAT MAKE US GROW” BY DR. DRAGANA MALEŠEVIĆ, ASSOCIATION FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF PROFESSIONAL SKILLS PROVENS, NOVI SAD

Among a large number of exceptional children’s books published between the two fairs, six titles in the “Books for Growing Up” series by Dr. Dragana Malešević, published by the Professional Skills Development Association PROVENS, stand out with novelty and technological advancement. Equipped with QR codes and matrices, these books are dedicated to animals and plants, shapes and numbers, the body and the world around us. They encourage active participation of children through various media such as text, illustrations, audio recordings, video recordings, and matrices for testing acquired knowledge. This approach encourages children to independently explore, discover new content, and express their observations and thoughts. The classic form of content intended for children, printed or illustrated books, uses the irresistible appeal of new means and methods of communication – mobile phones, tablets, and the internet – putting them in operation for children’s learning and development. One of the advantages of this approach is that the books can be used without digital aids, serving as picture books for learning to read and multimedia tools for familiarizing children with reality.

The jury members have decided to award a 2023 SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR PUBLISHER, BOOK, OR COMIC to the following candidates:

  • GEOPOLITIKA, BELGRADE, FOR 30 YEARS OF EXISTENCE
  • ZAVOD ZA UDŽBENIKE, BELGRADE, FOR THE BOOK “SURGERY OF AORTA,” LAZAR B. DAVIDOVIĆ AND COLLABORATORS
  • SRPSKA KNJIŽEVNA ZADRUGA, BELGRADE, FOR THE EDITION „SERBIAN LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN“
  • BANATSKI KULTURNI CENTAR, NOVO MILOŠEVO, CULTURAL CENTER VOJVODINA “MILOŠ CRNJANSKI,” NOVI SAD, FOR SELECTED ZENITISTIC WORKS, KOLO

This year’s jury for granting awards and recognitions at the International Belgrade Book Fair consisted of the following members: Zlata Bojović (President), Anđelka Cvijić, Bojan Jović, Zoran Paunović and Marko Krstić.

AWARD FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BOOK AT THE 66TH BELGRADE INTERNATIONAL BOOK FAIR

THE “BOGDAN KRŠIĆ” AWARD for the most beautiful book at the Belgrade International Book Fair in 2023 was given to the book “Kod kuće” (At Home), written by a group of female comic authors under the name “Stripotetke,” published by “Besna kobila.”

The collection of original comics, “Kod kuće,” portrays the current moment we live in from the perspective of the comic authors who sign collectively as “Stripotetke.” With a clear and unobtrusive design style free from trends and extravagance, coupled with a very precise message that correlates with the front and back cover of the book, this edition irresistibly draws you into its narrative and doesn’t let go from cover to cover.

In addition to the awarded book, the jury wishes to highlight the design quality of the “Nor” series published by “Treći trg,” as well as the substantial monograph “Afrika” by Rastko Petrović, published by “Službeni glasnik.”

AWARD FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN’S BOOK is given to the book “Tri, četiri, sad!” (Ready, steady, go!) by Dragana Mladenović, published by the “Creative Center.”

This exceptionally rich book, filled with highly attractive and visually uniform illustrations by the experienced master Boris Kuzmanović, will be an essential reading for generations growing up. The “Creative Center” once again demonstrates its superiority from idea to execution to realization, quietly nurturing the creativity of our new generations.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION FOR A YOUNG DESIGNER is awarded to the book “Udovica i papagaj” (The Widow and the Parrot) by Virginia Woolf, published by Bulevar Books.

This book has a distinctive identity from cover to cover. The choice of paper, binding, and meticulous illustrations create an exceptional, global impression. Illustrator and designer Marina Milanović skillfully envelops us in her visual world, with a specific illustration style and unobtrusive typography, which allows room for the aesthetic narrative of strong line drawings and muted pastel shades.

The jury, composed of Slavimir Stojanović Futro (President), Jovan Čekić, and Jugoslav Vlahović, reached all decisions unanimously.