Belgian, Croatian publishers win big at LBF Excellence Awards
While the shortlisted Indian publishers, Duckbill, Rupa, and Aadarsh, the Indian creators of Purple Turtle, could not make it to the top, publishers from every corner of the globe, from Belgium to Bangladesh; from the US to the UAE, took home the honours at the LBF International Excellence Awards, held in partnership with The UK Publishers Association. The awards celebrate success in 18 categories, representing the breadth of the international publishing industry.
15 Apr 2015 | 3046 Views | By Dibyajyoti Sarma
The awards were announced on the first day of The London Book Fair, which is on from 14-16 April 2015.
Publisher of Children’s books, Duckbill, lost to Clavis Publishing, Belgium, in the International Trade Children’s category. Last year, India’s Tara Books had clinched the awards. In the International Adult Trade Publisher category, Rupa & Co lost to Fraktura from Croatia. Aadarsh, on the other hand, lost to Sweden-based Mojang.
The Belgian publishing industry was in the joint first spot at this year’s awards. Judges identified Belgian publishers as some of the world’s most innovative in children’s and educational publishing. Clavis Publishing triumphed in The International Trade Children’s and Young Adult Publisher category and was commended for its “innovation” and “brilliant international sales and marketing”. On the other hand, Uigeverij Van In won The International Educational Learning Resources Award for its digital learning platform Bingel, which takes children on an educational tour of fantasy islands.
The US continued its excellent record this year with two wins overall. In The International Academic and Professional Publisher category, independent publisher Sage Publications took the prize from last year’s winner the University of Chicago Press. New York-based non-profit Library for All picked up The International Education Initiatives Award for its work helping people in developing countries “lift themselves out of poverty through education”.
In The Bookseller International Adult Trade Publisher Award, Croatian publisher Fraktura took the crown. Judges declared Fraktura winners for its “unique combination of quality publishing, innovation and digital marketing”. The award caps off a year of global success, in which the leading literary publisher has brought writers from more than 40 countries to Croatian readers.
“In the last few years, we have seen the rise and rise of international publishing and it is brilliant to see this celebrated at The London Book Fair International Excellence Awards. Each one of our winners brings something special to the industry. We are proud to give them the recognition they deserve, as they are the people and organisations who make publishing the significant, powerful global industry it is today,” said Jacks Thomas, director, The London Book Fair.
Richard Mollet, chief executive, The Publishers Association (UK), said, “It is great to see publishing innovation and excellence receive such international recognition. The sheer spread of countries whose publishing industries are recognised tonight demonstrates the continuing global relevance of our industry in the digital age.”
The London Book Fair (LBF) is the global marketplace for rights negotiation and the sale and distribution of content across print, audio, TV, film and digital channels. The Publishers Association is the leading trade organisation serving book, journal, audio and electronic publishers in the UK.