Does a book win an a award, or does an author win a jury? Scotiabank Giller Prize Shortlist

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http://www.bookshorts.com/ The press release reads "Today, in a morning press conference that drew over 100 media and members of the publishing industry, the Scotiabank Giller Prize announced its 2007 shortlist. Selected by an esteemed jury panel comprised of author and 2005 Scotiabank Giller Prize winner David Bergen, author Camilla Gibb and author, poet and artist Lorna Goodison, the five finalists were chosen from a record 108 books submitted for consideration by 46 publishing houses from every region of the country." We thought the subject of the jury process itself was pretty interesting, especially considering David Gilmours comment on winning awards a few nights prior (see posting on this blog). He stated, "one does not win an award, one wins a jury." Giller founder Jack Rabinovitch, juror Camilla Gibb, and journalist Martin Levin weigh in.

Oh, and heres the actual shortlist:

Elizabeth Hay for her novel Late Nights on Air, McClelland & Stewart

Michael Ondaatje for his novel Divisadero, McClelland & Stewart

Daniel Poliquin for his novel A Secret Between Us, trans. Donald Winkler, Douglas & McIntyre

M.G. Vassanji for his novel The Assassins Song, Doubleday Canada

Alissa York for her novel Effigy, Random House Canada

(c) 2007 BookShorts.com

Author Edeet Ravel on A Wall of Light - Giller Video Profile

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A Wall of Light (published by Random House Canada) - Sonya Vronsky, professor of mathematics at Tel Aviv University is about to have a day like no other. It begins normally, with an elaborate breakfast prepared by Kostya, her brother. Sonya is the only one left for Kostya to fuss over and cook for. But her Sleeping Beauty existence comes to an abrupt end when she is roused by a kiss. Not only does she discover love, but she realizes that her family, who had promised her everything, has kept the most valuable gift from her.

Edeet Ravel was born on a Marxist kibbutz near the Israeli-Lebanese border and grew up in Montreal. At 18 Ravel returned to Israel to study English literature. Ravel's first novel, Ten Thousand Lovers, was a finalist for the 2003 Governor General's Literary Award for Fiction and many other awards.

© Scotiabank Giller Prize. For more info bookshorts.com/watch_giller.htm

BookShorts VIDEO: Scotiabank Giller Award Winners

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There is an abundance of coverage of the Giller event and the gracious winner, young and charming Vincent Lam. A google seach will net a list of links longer than your arm. Media coverage on books, and the publicity machine that drives it, will be the subject for a future entry.

In the meantime, and being that this is BookShorts, we were particularly interested in the short film profiles that were broadcast in the course of the event.

Hats off to Gordon Henderson, his producer Bree, and the posse at CTV including Michael Serapio. They did an amazing job with them this year. They harken back to the creative approach Gordon began to use in 2002, my fav being the short for Austin Clarke's "Polished Hoe" (which circumstantially won that year). With gorgeous b-roll, a sensitive selections of stills, and originally composed music for each profile, they were a delight to watch, completely in keeping with the overall high production values and "bling" factor of the event itself.

In speaking with Bree after the show, she reminded me that they produced, or at least show, all five in two weeks, between the moment they announced the short list and in time for their integration into the broadcast.

An informal survey of one, with Pauline Couture with whom we made the BookShort "ICE Beauty Danger History" confirmed my opinion that they have a life beyond this one show. Let's hope that we see them again.

Check out http://www.scotiabankgillerprize.com/ for HQ central, or watch the re-broadcast on CTV Nov. 11 at 4pm ET.

Formats available: MPEG1 Video (.mpg)

Tags: gaetan soucy, scotiabank giller prize, rawi hage, pascale quiviger, vincent lam, carol windley