PRESS RELEASE , 17 September 2020

Fourth edition of the ATOMIUM Prizes: €100.000 for comic strips, awarded in Brussels

The winners of the Atomium Prizes, organised as part of the Comic Strip Experience, will be announced on Friday 18 September. The announcement will be made exclusively online this year, due to the current health measures. Ten prizes, totalling €101,500, will be awarded to the 2020 winners. Three new prizes will be awarded this year: the Atomium Children's Prize, the Atomium Spirou Junior Prize and the Atomium Spirou Young Authors' Prize.

Creating comic strips has become more difficult in recent years - it is often difficult for comic book professionals to make a decent living from it. Brussels authorities are awarding the Atomium Prizes to support comic strip creation and authors. Most awards are cash prizes so that the winners can finance their work. This year, over €100,000 will be distributed among the 10 winners.

As the usual ceremony could not take place due to the health crisis, the winning authors and books will be announced online tomorrow, Friday 18 September.

Raymond Leblanc Prize for Young Artists

Nico Julia Reynaud

Subject: the Raymond Leblanc Prize was launched twelve years ago by the Raymond Leblanc non-profit association, whose goal is to publicise, collect and preserve all the cultural heritage created by Raymond Leblanc, founder of the "" magazine, Éditions du Lombard, the advertising agency Publiart and the animation studios Belvision, among other things. It aims to reward the work of a young author who has not published more than two comic books.

The jury’s opinion: "A graduate in illustration and comic strip from the Estienne and Saint-Luc schools, Julia Reynaud likes to tell intimate and moving stories in pictures, and pays particular attention to the details of daily life and the world in which she is evolving.

Noa is in love with Nico, a very confident young woman. Even though they have a good time together, Nico does not want a serious relationship. To please Nico and win her love, Noa tries to transform his body to match the standards of male beauty portrayed by the media and social networks. How far will this take him?

Julia Reynaud is a thorough author with a graphic style that is both original and accessible. Her story is modern, questioning the stereotypes linked to traditional male and female roles. The jury appreciated the fair, natural tone she adopted in her story and her creation of a very coherent personal universe. It is an intimate, introspective story, full of finesse and nuance, that meets the expectations of a large part of today's comic book readership."

Prize: €20,000 in cash and a publishing contract from Les Editions du Lombard, Les Editions Futuropolis and Les Editions Casterman (the latter since 2020).

More information: http://www.raymondleblanc.be

Wallonia-Brussels Federation Comic Strip Prize

Dominique Goblet

Subject: This prize is designed to reward the work of authors from the Wallonia-Brussels Federation who have produced something original and innovative. The prize is awarded on a proposal from the 'Commission for supporting Comic Strips', a cultural advisory body made up of professionals from the sector.

The jury’s opinion: Dominique Goblet has been part of the independent comic strip revival movement since the 1990s. She has consolidated her place over the years, with publications that attracted the attention of the Association and publisher Fréon (FREMOK), namely "Souvenir d'une journée parfaite", and "Faire semblant c'est mentir", which is centred on her relationship with her parents and represents a rebirth of the autobiographical comic strip genre. It has also become a reference piece and is being translated into various languages. Dominique Goblet is a complete author, autonomous, with her own narrative and graphic language, but she has also incorporated other creative dimensions.

Approaching autobiography from its most universal perspective, this Brussels artist turns each of her books into a significant and major piece. She constantly changes her technique to best suit her purpose, playing with the page and the lettering, as well as with the rendering of the material to convey her emotions" (Thierry Bellefroid).

Prize: €10,000 in cash

Partner: Ms Bénédicte Linard, Minister for Culture of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.

More information: www.bandedessinee.cfwb.be

Brussels Atomium Prize

Sisco T.11, Belgian Rhapsody Legrain and Benec - (NL&FR)

Subject: The Brussels Atomium Prize is awarded to an author who has succeeded in highlighting Brussels in his or her work.

The jury’s opinion: " French screenwriter Benec had the bright idea of bringing his hero to the Belgian capital, the epicentre of diplomatic relations in Europe. Thomas Legrain's drawings were very faithful to the various emblematic places in Brussels represented in the comic book. Every reader can recognise the streets of Brussels. They were so accurate that even the location of the white lines was calculated to be as credible as possible."

Prize: €7,500 in cash.

Partner: Mr Rudi Vervoort, the Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.

The Première Graphic Novel Prize

Les oiseaux ne se retournent pas Nadia Nakhlé - Delcourt

Subject: In 2017, the RTBF (Belgian Radio-Television of the French Community) launched this new prize, to award a genre which resonates with listeners of La Première. Based on a list of finalists drawn up by journalists from the RTBF specialising in comic strips, a jury (made up of RTBF listeners, bookstores and personalities) was put together to select the winning work.

The jury’s opinion: "This year, the jury of listeners of radio station La Première voted to give the award to a poetic, political work. Nadia Nakhlé's "Les oiseaux ne se retournent pas" talks about barbarity and hope. In Europe, at least a quarter of people in exile are unaccompanied minors. What goes through the mind of a child escaping war? This is the question the author asks as she leads us in the footsteps of Amel, a 12-year-old orphan forced to flee her country. During her perilous journey, she meets a musician deserter. Together, they succeed in rebuilding a form of humanity. Combining the talent of a storyteller with the finesse of graphic design, there is no pessimism but a great deal of modesty in the way Nadia Nakhlé immerses us in this clearly revealed reality." (Laurent Dehossay)

Prize: €20,000 in advertising space, as well as considerable editorial presence on the media channels of La Première.

The Cognito Prize for historic comic strips

Django: Hand on Fire Efa & Rubio – Aire Libre

Subject: the Cognito Prize for historic comic strips is awarded by the Cognito Foundation to the best historical comic strip. This private foundation aims to help people discover or rediscover history through comic strips. It organises this competition to crown the authors who have succeeded, through their work, to bring the past to life.

The jury’s opinion: "The jury was sensitive to the way in which the authors brought an entire era to life, restoring Django Reinhardt's endearing and complex personality throughout his formative years. The story, always clear and lively, is supported by drawings that beautifully evoke the atmosphere of the Gypsy community whose musical tradition fed into the guitarist's work. The drawings make us relive the struggle of a self-taught creator to establish himself in an environment that did not initially suspect his genius.

One of the merits of the comic book is undoubtedly that it attracts the attention of a young public currently interested in other forms of musical expression (rock, rap, etc.) to Django Reinhardt."

Prize: €3,000 in cash.

More information: www.cognito-fondation.be

The Prize for News Report Comic Strips

The Fall Jared Muralt - Futuropolis

Subject: the Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir has always been the reference newspaper in terms of comic strips. With this prize, it made the decision to award the book that, every year, has stood out in examining the world around us in the form of a news report comic strip.

The jury’s opinion: "Published on 4 March, at the beginning of the COVID-19 health crisis, "The Fall" is a premonitory account of a world destabilised by a virus that resembles a serious summer flu. Hospitals are overwhelmed. Deaths are increasing. Both experts and politicians seem powerless to stop the epidemic. The economy is virtually at a standstill. Schools are closed and classes are taking place online. Quarantine zones are set up. Jared Muralt wrote the worst- case scenario, anticipating in his story the trauma that a highly contagious virus could have on the balance of human society in the 21st century. Le Soir wanted to award him the Atomium

Prize for News Report Comic Strip for the visionary force of this ultra-realistic work which is tied up in the contemporary history of the pandemic that destabilised the planet in 2020."

Prize: €20,000 in advertising space, as well as considerable editorial presence on the media channels of the newspaper Le Soir.

The Atomium Spirou Junior Prize (new for 2020)

Air Tropique Raphaël Vicat, 14 years old (France)

Subject: awards comic strip short stories (maximum 4 pages) featuring Spirou and Fantasio. Prize for under 18s.

The jury’s opinion: "Raphaël charmed us with his completely crazy story, in which the Fantasio character doesn't even realise the exploits achieved by his friend Spirou. It is exuberant and cartoonish, and we loved it!"

Prize: a one-year subscription to the journal Spirou or 10 comic books if the winner is already a subscriber.

The Atomium Spirou Young Authors Prize (new for 2020)

Jimanju Jean-Sébastien Duclos (Quebec)

Subject: awards comic strip short stories (maximum 4 pages) featuring Spirou and Fantasio. Prize for over 18s who have published a maximum of 3 comic books.

The jury’s opinion: "The editors have chosen to reward the ingenious story by Jean-Sébastien Duclos, who has tackled the classic quartet of Spirou, Fantasio, Spip and Champignac with humour and traits that match the round, smiling style of the Spirou classics."

Prize: story published by Spirou magazine, and all publications will be paid at the professional rate.

The Bronzen Adhémar Prize (L'Adhémar de Bronze)

Charel Cambré

Subject: since 1977, this biennial award has been the most important distinction in the comic strip field in Flanders. It rewards a Flemish author for one or more works.

The jury’s opinion: "The jury chose to reward Charel Cambré, a multitalented author considered a true pioneer in the field of Flemish comics. He appeals to all types of audience. With "Amoras", he is truly entering the history of comic strip. Ask him to draw the most unlikely thing that comes to mind, and he will find a way to make it happen without too much effort. Charel Cambré is a talented draftsman with a very accessible style. He produces his drawings with ease and creates new characters with a few strokes. Wonders emerge from his pencil when he sits at his drawing board."

The jury was made up of Jeroen Janssen (Bronzen Adhemar winner 2018), Patrick Van Gompel (journalist at VTM Nieuws and founding father of Stripgidsdagen), Chris Mokken (Media Management Scratch Books), Lieve Quadflieg (communication manager of the City of Turnhout), Mila Van Goethem (author and member of the Stripgids editorial staff), Wouter Porteman (Stripspeciaalzaak.be contributor), and Chris Van Camp (author). Prize: €10,000 and an exhibition in Turnhout.

Partner: Strip Turnhout/Stripgids.

The Atomium Children's Prize (new for 2020)

Lucien and the Mysterious Phenomena, T1 Delphine Le Lay and Alexis Horrellou - Casterman

The Brussels Comic Strip Festival and La Foire du Livre de Bruxelles were pleased to announce the creation of a new prize at their previous event: The Atomium Children's Prize 2020. The purpose of this prize is to reward a comic book for its educational nature. Indeed, both events are committed to promoting comic strips as a teaching tool and encouraging very young children to read.

The jury responsible for choosing the winner is usually made up of students from a selection of Brussels schools. This year, following the closure of schools between March and June due to the health crisis, a jury of adults took on the task.

The jury’s opinion: "For young readers, this comic book is worthy of interest in many respects. It is an adventure story with elements of ecology and fantasy. A comic book in keeping with the times, it subtly tackles themes such as uprooting, secrecy, the transition from the city to the country, integration, fear, challenge, friendship, solidarity, precariousness, unemployment and more. While Lucien is the central character, his sister Violette also plays an important role and adds a wonderful boy-girl balance.

So I liked the idea of a return to a simpler life and respect for nature, particularly in these times when it may become necessary to legislate to protect the climate or at least change our behaviour. It is a beautiful story, well written and also offering food for thought. Lastly, the comic book has from a superb and very aesthetic graphic construction (it refers to Art Nouveau), green/orange tones that evoke calmness and poetry with a slight atmosphere of mystery. In conclusion, it has all the ingredients for a great read for young children: adventure, suspense, twists and turns, and fantasy."

Prize: €3,000 for the author and €7,500 to be used to create a travelling exhibition entirely dedicated to the award-winning album and accompanied by an educational file. This exhibition will be available free of charge to Belgian schools and libraries upon request.

Partners: this prize is co-created and financed by the Comic Strip Festival and La Foire du Livre. The Comic Strip Museum is supporting the prize by creating the exhibition and the educational file.

The Comic Strip Experience continues throughout this weekend…

The unmissable event for comic strip aficionados continues until Sunday 20 September. For its 11th edition, the Comic Strip Festival is marking the occasion by demonstrating its ability to deal with the COVID-19 crisis. Book signings took place in book shops, partner conferences were held online, guided tours took on a new look, and this exceptional Comic Strip Festival turned into an immersive experience in the impressive Gare Maritime Tour & Taxi.

More info: https://comicsfestival.brussels/atomium-prizes-2020-winners

Information for the press

Press contact: Noémie Wibail - [email protected] - +32 490 49 43 84

Dates From 11 to 20 September 2020

Opening times Reservation of free tickets online on the official Comic Strip Festival website https://comicsfestival.brussels/.

Locations Gare Maritime de Tour & Taxis The main entrance is via 86C Avenue du Port.

Parking access 13 Rue Picard, 1000 Brussels

Avenue du Port 88, 1000 Brussels

Avenue du Port 86C, 1000 Brussels (underground car park)

Public transport: Metro 2-6: Yser/Metro 6: Belgica Bus 14-20-89: Tour & Taxis, Avenue du Port

Press releases All press releases can be found here: https://comicsfestival.brussels/contact-presse.