Since 1984, the BNP Paribas Foundation has been sponsoring the Young Writers’ Prize, which recognises hitherto unpublished works of prose (novels, short stories, and tales) by talented young writers.

Two prizes are awarded: the Young Writers’ Prize for young writers who are French, and the Prize for Young Francophone Writers, awarded for young French-speaking writers outside France.  Every year, the Association for the Young Writers’ Prize receives about 600 manuscripts, which are read initially by a selection committee. Those chosen then enter a second round, to be assessed by a jury made up of well-known writers such as Le Clézio, Pennac, and Orsenna.

In June 2008, the prize-winners were named and in October 2008 extracts from their works were read by actors at a ceremony held at the National Theatre in Toulouse.
A collection of novels by the prize winners will be published in early 2009 by the publisher Buchet-Chastel.

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