The final page has been turned on the 2023 BD Comic Strip Festival.
Thank you all for your energy, your passion, your commitment... You are the heroes of this story!
See you in 2024!
© Stokart / Éditions du Lombard 2023
Thank you!
2023 Atomium Prizes
The winners
visit.brussels, in close collaboration with its partners, wants to show its support for comic strip creation and bring together existing initiatives by awarding 8 Atomium Comic Strip Prizes, most of which are awarded in cash to enable the winners to finance their work.
The Raymond Leblanc Prize for Young Artists
Winner: Antoine Schiffers - "Katya"
Subject: The Raymond Leblanc Prize was launched 13 years ago by the Raymond Leblanc non-profit association, whose goal is to publish, collect and preserve all the cultural heritage created by Raymond Leblanc, founder of the "Tintin magazine", Éditions Le Lombard, Publiart advertising agency and the Belvision animation studios, among other things. Its goal is to reward the work of a young author who hasn't published more than two comic strip albums.
Jury’s opinion: "'Katya' is an ambitious comic strip project with cinematic overtones. It's a project of few words, but its young creator's mastery of narrative and graphics is impressive. This submission sparked unanimous support from the jury of the Raymond Leblanc Prize, whose president this year was author and publisher Lisa Mandel — a rare feat.
The project: For his first comic strip project, Antoine Schiffers from Liège aimed to talk about war from a human perspective. Through the search for a missing child, we follow an unusual heroine in Chechnya in the early 2000s. "Katya" is the story of the men, women and children who disappeared over the course of two successive conflicts, often in unspeakable conditions. The project is about courageous, unassuming mothers raising children who may one day die for their country.
Prize: €10,000 in cash, a €10,000 advance and a publishing contract alternating between Éditions Le Lombard, Futuropolis and Casterman. The winner will be published by Editions Casterman.
Partners: Association Raymond Leblanc, Éditions Le Lombard, Futuropolis and Casterman.
More information: raymondleblanc.be
* "Katya" will be published by Casterman.
The Wallonia-Brussels Federation Comic Strip Prize
Winner: Pierre Bailly
Subject: The Wallonia-Brussels Federation Comic Strip Prize was launched in 2017. This prize is intended to reward the work of an author or even a collective of authors, who has produced something original, ambitious and innovative in the field of comic strips in Wallonia and in Brussels.
Jury’s opinion: "Over more than 25 years, Pierre Bailly has produced an innovative, consistent and substantial body of work, of which 'Petit Poilu' ('Little Furry'), scripted by Céline Fraipont, has become an important component. Pierre Bailly's innovative graphic skills contribute to the art of comic strips aimed at a very young audience. This body of work gives the youngest of audiences a taste for books and helps to promote reading. Pierre Bailly's graphic skills are not limited to children's comics. The designer also earned praise for 'Le Muret' (The Wall) a graphic novel about adolescence, also scripted by Céline Fraipont (Casterman, Écritures collection)."
Author's notable works: In 1998, Pierre Bailly and Denis Lapière teamed up with Vincent Mathy to create the children's series "Ludo", first published in "Spirou" magazine and later in comics. The series continued until 2009, with eight volumes being published. In 2007, he created "Petit Poilu", a wordless comic strip for toddlers, scripted by his partner Céline Fraipont. The series went from strength to strength, with no fewer than 28 volumes being published by 2023. "Petit Poilu" is a graphic literary work centred on an endearing, funny and sensitive character whose behaviour, throughout the comics, promotes respect, empathy and esteem for others.
Prize: €10,000 in cash.
Partners: Ms Bénédicte Linard, Minister of Culture of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation.
More information: bandedessinee.cfwb.be
The Brussels Atomium Prize
Winners: Julien Hervieux* & monsieur le chien - "Le petit théâtre des opérations" (volume 3) - éditions Fluide Glacial
Subject: The Brussels Atomium Prize is awarded to an author who has showcased the city of Brussels in his work.
Jury's opinion: "'Le petit théâtre des opérations' (The little operational theatre, volume 3) recounts, among other stories, the armed attack of Baron de Selys Longchamps, who machine-gunned the Gestapo headquarters on avenue Louise on 20 January 1943. This courageous deed has been freely adapted and retold with an irony enjoyed by the jury. The drawing is edgy and on the boundaries of realism, making the story effective. The feat is well described and dealt with humorously over five pages. The spirit of Brussels is reflected in this unique act of bravery, which remains a landmark of the capital's Second World War history."
Prize: €7,500 in cash.
Partners: Mr Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels-Capital Region.
* Julien Hervieux will be signing copies on Friday, from 15:00 to 17:00, at Slumberland’s bookshop in the Gare Maritime.
.jpg/_jcr_content/renditions/cq5dam.thumbnail.48.48.png)
Prix Première du Roman Graphique
Winner: Neyef - "Hoka Hey!" - Label 619 published by éditions Rue de Sèvres
Subject: RTBF (Belgian Radio-television of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation) launched this new prize in 2017, to reward a genre that resonates with listeners of La Première.
Jury’s opinion: "This year's jury, made up of La Première listeners, is honouring a great story of justice and freedom. In the heart of the great outdoors, it's all about respect - for identities, sharing and solitude. And about love and revenge. A work as violent as the conquest of the West, a work that does not promise redemption, but rather seeks some form of solace."
Prize: €20,000 in advertising space, as well as considerable editorial presence on the media channels of La Première.
Partner: La Première — RTBF (Belgian Radio-Television of the Wallonia-Brussels Federation).
"Hoka Hey!" will be published in Dutch by Deadalus, in 2 volumes. The first will be released on 22/09/2023.
,
The Cognito Historical Comic Strip Prize
Winners: Aimée de Jongh — Jours de sable — éditions Dargaud
Subject: The Cognito Historical Comic Strip Prize 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.
Jury's opinion: "The Jury was won over by a work where the graphic quality perfectly reflects the originality of the subject. 'Jours de Sable' evokes a dramatic episode in the history of the United States. In 1937, an enormous sandstorm ravaged the American Great Plains, plunging millions of inhabitants into poverty and driving them into exile. Photographers documented the Dust Bowl disaster and this album pays tribute to their work. This memorial work deserved to be presented to the public.
Prize: €3,000 in cash
Partner: Cognito Foundation
More information: cognito-fondation.be
"Dagen van Zand", the Dutch version of "Jours de sable", is published by Scratch Book.
What's more, the jury decided to give a special mention to Éditions Anspach, an independent Belgian company which, over the years, has produced a series of albums recounting important or colourful events in our country's history.
Last album published: "Coq-Sur-Mer 1933" by Baudouin Deville, in which Nazi Germany hunts Albert Einstein at the Belgian coast.
Le Soir News Report Comic Strip Prize
Winners: Émilie Gleason & Arthur Croque - Junk Food - éditions Casterman
Subject: Belgian daily newspaper Le Soir has always been the newspaper par excellence for comic strips. With this prize, it recognises an exemplary work that has examined the world around us in the form of a news report comic strip.
Jury’s opinion: "The jury chose to crown 'Junk Food' by Émilie Gleason and Arthur Croque for the relevance of their indictment of the ravages of our society's addiction to sugar, fat and salt. The cartoonist uses the graphic codes of multinational food company marketing to address - in a cartoonish style - this health catastrophe that affects 10% of the world's population. Her visual metaphors convey the violence of emotions in flashy, solid colours. The scriptwriter has crafted touching characters inspired by the very real profiles of genuine food addicts. 'Junk Food' is a graphic novel that's both humorous and carefully researched. The authors give voice to the victims rather than to the junk food multinationals, none of whom agreed to answer the authors' questions. This offbeat album is a tremendous appeal for a world free of food addictions."
Prize: €20,000 in advertising space, as well as considerable editorial presence on the media channels of the newspaper Le Soir.
Partner: Le Soir.
The Atomium Spirou Young Authors Prize
Winner: Pascal Thivillon - "Inventures"
Subject: The Atomium Spirou Young Authors Prize recognises short comic strip stories (maximum of four boards) featuring Spirou and Fantasio. Prize for over 18s who have published a maximum of three comics.
Jury's opinion: “The editorial team was charmed by Pascal Thivillon's 'Inventures', which gives pride of place to the runaway imagination of a dreamer with a thirst for adventure. Dreams and adventure! Two essential values for the heroes of Spirou magazine. What's more, Pascal Thivillon has adopted the supple line that so characteristically reflects the graphic spirit of Spirou, providing great joy to young and old readers alike.
In 2023, we invited participants to submit one-page gags. It's an important format for a newspaper like ours, which, as well as offering short stories and longer narratives, has to offer one-page gags every week, an age-old format for humour in comics. There have been dozens of them throughout the history of Spirou magazine, from Gaston Lagaffe to Dad and young Spirou himself!”
Prize: Story published by Spirou magazine, and all publications will be paid at the going professional rate.
Partner: Spirou magazine.
The Atomium Citizen's Comic Strip Prize
Winner: Vincent Jarousseau (drawing by Thierry Chavant) - "Les femmes du lien" - éditions Les Arènes
Subject: The Atomium Citizens' Comic Strip Prize recognises a comic strip that prompts ethical and social reflection, and that addresses contemporary social issues in a positive, constructive and noble-minded way; the subject of which has a local scope/resonance (local, Belgian, European).
Jury's opinion: "This superb strip illustrates the dedication and hard work of these eight women. The link is what we were so dearly missing during the pandemic. This album provides a concrete understanding of the meaning of solidarity, care and support. It paints the portrait of eight terrifically inspiring women and describes, without showing off, situations that may appear hopeless but whose stories of joy and hope are never far away. The photos are spectacular and very accurate and convey a lot of emotion. This real-life work of non-fiction benefits from all the narrative power of comics and photo-novels (since both techniques are used). It is an excellent narrative surprise. It bears witness to the work of a photographer who is obviously writing his book as he takes the photos. The result is neither conventional nor cheesy, and unlike many non-fiction comic strips, this one has a very daring, intimate and captivating narrative force."
Prize: €5,000 in cash.
Partner: André Querton.
With the kind permission of the asbl Atomium.
