São Paulo Prize for Literature

さんぱうろぶんがくしょう

Literary award targeting full-length novels in Portuguese published in Brazil. Established in 2008. Awards in established authors category and debut authors category.

NovelFull-length novelPortuguese-language literatureEstablished authors categoryDebut authors categoryDebut authors category (under 40)Debut authors category (40 and over)

Established: 2008
Organizer: São Paulo State Secretary of Culture (Secretaria de Cultura do Estado de São Paulo)
Category: General Fiction and Popular Fiction
Selection Method: Open call
Target: Newcomer
Frequency: 1 per year
Application Deadline: around July
Announcement Period: around September–November
Status: Active

Description

Prêmio São Paulo de Literatura (São Paulo Prize for Literature) is a literary award established in 2008 by the São Paulo State Secretariat of Culture, targeting novels in Portuguese published in Brazil. Held annually in principle, with Best Book award for established authors and award for debut authors. Initially 5 finalists per category, but since then often 10 finalists per category. Prize money traditionally R$200,000 per category (established and debut), and in 2013 debut category split into under 40 / 40 and over with R$100,000 each. Winners usually announced at Museum of the Portuguese Language, finalists at Festival da Mantiqueira.

Prize

Main Prize: Best Book of the Year (Established Authors) and Best Book of the Year (Debut Authors)
Cash Prize: 200,000 BRL

Each category winner receives R$200,000 in principle (historical main prize)
Since 2013, in some years debut category split into under 40 / 40 and over, R$100,000 each
Usually 10 finalists per category
Winners often announced at Museum of the Portuguese Language

Selection

Selection Process

Stage	Judges	Pass Rate	Announcement
Preliminary selection (initial screening)	Initial judges (composed of university professors, librarians, publishers/booksellers, critics, readers, etc.)	Approx. 5% (e.g., approx. 200 entries yield 10 finalists per category)	Finalists announced at venues like Festival da Mantiqueira (around May each year)
Final selection (finals)	Final judges (panel of writers, critics, researchers, etc.)	Approx. 10% (1 winner from 10 finalists)	Winners announced at Museum of the Portuguese Language (in principle: first Monday in August)

Preliminary selection (initial screening)

Judges Initial judges (composed of university professors, librarians, publishers/booksellers, critics, readers, etc.)

Pass Rate Approx. 5% (e.g., approx. 200 entries yield 10 finalists per category)

Announcement Finalists announced at venues like Festival da Mantiqueira (around May each year)

Final selection (finals)

Judges Final judges (panel of writers, critics, researchers, etc.)

Pass Rate Approx. 10% (1 winner from 10 finalists)

Announcement Winners announced at Museum of the Portuguese Language (in principle: first Monday in August)

Criteria

Literary quality and expressiveness
Originality and novelty of theme
Written in Portuguese and published in Brazil (publication year matches target year)
Debut authors category: must be debut novel (age criteria apply in some years)
Quality of editing and publication (presence of ISBN, etc.)