The Costa Smeralda Prize, organized and promoted by the Costa Smeralda Consortium, returns for its fourth edition with names of absolute prominence on the world literary scene.

After the announcement of the great guest, the French writer Emmanuel Carrère , the other two winners of the Special Awards and the three finalists for the two Fiction and Non-Fiction categories were unveiled at the press conference in Milan, selected from the vast panorama of production Italian editorial throughout the year.

The Mediterranean Culture Award , assigned to a personality who has distinguished himself for the enhancement of the cultures of our sea and of the peoples who inhabit it, this year goes to Mario Tozzi, the famous television broadcaster, first researcher at the CNR, president of the Appia Antica regional park and member of the WWF Scientific Council, for his latest book "Mediterranean unexpected. The history of the Mare nostrum told by its inhabitants" (Mondadori).

The Alghero designer Antonio Marras wins the Special Prize, not only for his deep bond with Sardinia, which he has brought all over the world, but for the mingling with the world of art, music, dance, theater and cinema that they are worth   in 2013 the Honorary Degree in Visual Arts from the Brera Academy of Fine Arts.

THE FINALISTS – As for the finalists , here are the names that could win the prestigious award during the awards ceremony (conducted by journalist Roberta Floris) which will be held on Saturday 6 May at the Porto Cervo Conference Center.

For Fiction «three books that go deep into the human soul», says Stefano Salis, artistic director of the Prize: Bruno Arpaia with "But who are you" (Guanda), Andrea Canobbio with "The night crossing" (La nave di Teseo) and Valeria Parrella with "La Fortuna" (Feltrinelli).

For Nonfiction, a triplet of women only ("It wasn't done on purpose, we reward quality", Salis guarantees): they are Teresa Cremisi with "Cronache dal disorder" (La nave di Teseo), Paola Italia with "Gaddabolario" (Carocci editore ) and Benedetta Tobagi with "Women's Resistance" (Einaudi).

They are chosen by the jury made up of Lina Bolzoni, Marcello Fois, Elena Loewenthal and Chiara Valerio, led by Stefano Salis.

The presence in Porto Cervo of Emmanuel Carrère has been confirmed: after last year's Nobel victory Orhan Pamuk he will receive the International Prize. The great Parisian author, also appreciated for his work as screenwriter and director, author of masterpieces such as "Limonov" and "L'Adversario" and published in Italy by Adelphi, recently returned to bookshops with the awaited "V13", the book that collects his judicial story relating to the 2015 Bataclan massacre.

«The Award, which intends to present itself as one of the quality appointments of the national program - recalls Renzo Persico, President of the Costa Smeralda Consortium - is aimed at an international public as a symbol of excellence and Italian culture . The success of the last edition, with the presence in Porto Cervo of the Nobel Prize for literature Orhan Pamuk, who won the Costa Smeralda International Prize, together with other high-profile protagonists of Italian culture, confirms that the road taken for the purpose the prize aims to be the right one .'
«Culture, study, attention to detail and passion for beauty and well done - the words of Mario Ferraro, Vice President of the Costa Smeralda Consortium - have always been values that characterize every single element of the Costa Smeralda, exactly as for the literary works that are protagonists of this important Award. We are proud to host and welcome names of national and international excellence for the Costa Smeralda Award, which once again marks the start of the season".
«Once again this year – declares Stefano Salis, Artistic Director of the Prize – we aim, both in the special prizes and in the triads of Fiction and Non-Fiction, at the absolute quality of writing and outstanding personalities. These are names and books that the jury carefully evaluates, during a year of readings and continuously exchanging information. We are delighted to have these names with us in Porto Cervo because it is thanks to them that the Award will be able to continue to grow and consolidate its importance and positioning in the national cultural panorama».
The winners will also receive a work by Giuseppe Sanna: a stone of natural form - symbol of concreteness, ability to resist over time, typical of the Sardinian landscape - for each category, in basalt for Fiction, trachyte for Essays, granite for International Award, marble for the Mediterranean Culture Award and limestone for the Special Award. During the ceremony there will also be a performance by the Sardinian musician Moses Concas.
Partner and main sponsor of the event is Smeralda Holding . The operational organisation, scenographic set-up and production of the award event is entrusted to Filmmaster Events, which also created the logo, the coordinated graphic image and the concept of the material award.

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