Rules and Regulations
The Award is assigned annually to one work of Fiction and one work of Nonfiction, in Italy and in the Unites States, for a total of 4 winning books, and consists of a sum to cover the translation cost into the opposite language. Furthermore, the Prize covers the traveling and lodging costs for the two American winners in Rome and for the two Italian winners in New York.
Steering Commette
Art.1
The Steering Committee is the governing body of the Award.
It is composed of one representative from each Institution or Organization sponsoring the Award and is responsible for the overall coordination of the Prize, including supervision of the submission and selection processes, appointment of the juries, oversight of compliance with these Rules and Regulations, and all official communications related to the Award.
Structure of the Award
Art. 2
The Award is structured as a mirror program consisting of two parallel and reciprocal sections, one Italian and one American.
The Italian section includes five (5) Fiction titles and five (5) Nonfiction titles published in Italy and evaluated by two American juries.
The American section includes five (5) Fiction titles and five (5) Nonfiction titles published in the United States and evaluated by two Italian juries.
This structure ensures reciprocity, cross-cultural evaluation, and balanced representation between the two countries.
The Italian section includes five (5) Fiction titles and five (5) Nonfiction titles published in Italy and evaluated by two American juries.
The American section includes five (5) Fiction titles and five (5) Nonfiction titles published in the United States and evaluated by two Italian juries.
This structure ensures reciprocity, cross-cultural evaluation, and balanced representation between the two countries.
The Juries
Art. 3
The Steering Committee appoints four (4) juries, two based in Italy and two based in the United States, assigned respectively to the Fiction and Nonfiction categories.
Jury members are selected from among literary critics, writers, scholars, translators, journalists, cultural curators, and specialists in Italian and American culture and society.
The Italian juries are composed by Italian citizens with a proven knowledge of the English language and American literature. The American juries are composed by American citizens or permanent residents with a proven knowledge of the Italian language and Italian literature.
Jury service is voluntary. Jury members who resign or are unable to continue their role are replaced by the Steering Committee.
Jury members are selected from among literary critics, writers, scholars, translators, journalists, cultural curators, and specialists in Italian and American culture and society.
The Italian juries are composed by Italian citizens with a proven knowledge of the English language and American literature. The American juries are composed by American citizens or permanent residents with a proven knowledge of the Italian language and Italian literature.
Jury service is voluntary. Jury members who resign or are unable to continue their role are replaced by the Steering Committee.
Conflict of Interest in the jury
Art. 4
In order to avoid any conflict of interest, a jury member who is also a translator or writer shall be disqualified from jury service for that Prize edition if:
- they are engaged in translating a book selected for competition or awarded
- their own work is selected for the competition
Such disqualification applies only to the relevant Prize edition. The individual may be reinstated as a jury member in subsequent editions.
- they are engaged in translating a book selected for competition or awarded
- their own work is selected for the competition
Such disqualification applies only to the relevant Prize edition. The individual may be reinstated as a jury member in subsequent editions.
Eligibility Requirements
Art. 5
5.1 – Publication Period
Books submitted for consideration must have been published in their respective countries between January 1 of the year preceding the Prize edition and March 31 of the year in which the Prize edition takes place.
5.2 – Author Eligibility
Authors must not have more than one previously published and translated book in the language of the other country.
5.3 – Submission Fee
There is no entry fee for submission.
5.4 – Translation Status
Works that are already in the process of being translated into the language of the other country at the time of submission are not eligible.
5.5 – Rights Status
At the time of submission, the work must not be under contract, option, or exclusive agreement for publication in the language of the other country.
5.6 – Rights Contracted during the Award Process
Works that enter into a publishing or option agreement in the language of the other country after submission during the Award process remain eligible.
For the purposes of these Rules, the Award process is defined as the period between the official announcement of the candidates in competition and the final jury vote for the relevant Prize edition
Books submitted for consideration must have been published in their respective countries between January 1 of the year preceding the Prize edition and March 31 of the year in which the Prize edition takes place.
5.2 – Author Eligibility
Authors must not have more than one previously published and translated book in the language of the other country.
5.3 – Submission Fee
There is no entry fee for submission.
5.4 – Translation Status
Works that are already in the process of being translated into the language of the other country at the time of submission are not eligible.
5.5 – Rights Status
At the time of submission, the work must not be under contract, option, or exclusive agreement for publication in the language of the other country.
5.6 – Rights Contracted during the Award Process
Works that enter into a publishing or option agreement in the language of the other country after submission during the Award process remain eligible.
For the purposes of these Rules, the Award process is defined as the period between the official announcement of the candidates in competition and the final jury vote for the relevant Prize edition
Submission Guidelines
Art. 6
6.1 – Eligible Applicants
Proposals may be made exclusively by publishing houses, not by authors, and only with the prior consent of the author. Manuscripts and self-published works are not eligible. PDF formats are not allowed; they will only be accepted in specific cases, subject to prior discussion with the Steering Committee.
6.2 – Submission Materials
Each submission must be sent via email to thebridgeaward@gmail.com and must include:
title of the book
name of the author and a brief bio
brief synopsis
date of publication
name of the publishing house
6.3 – Evaluation and Copies for the Juries
All proposals are reviewed by the Steering Committee by the end of June. If accepted, the publishing house must send twenty (20) copies of the book to the partner country for distribution to the juries.
6.4 – Committee Nominations
If a book is nominated directly by the Steering Committee, the publishing house may accept or decline the nomination. Participation is confirmed upon shipment of the twenty (20) copies.
6.5 – Shipping Destinations
Italian publishers ship to New York; American publishers ship to Rome. Addresses are provided by the Committee.
6.6 – Shipping Costs and Returns
All shipments are at no cost to the Award. Submitted copies are not returned.
Proposals may be made exclusively by publishing houses, not by authors, and only with the prior consent of the author. Manuscripts and self-published works are not eligible. PDF formats are not allowed; they will only be accepted in specific cases, subject to prior discussion with the Steering Committee.
6.2 – Submission Materials
Each submission must be sent via email to thebridgeaward@gmail.com and must include:
title of the book
name of the author and a brief bio
brief synopsis
date of publication
name of the publishing house
6.3 – Evaluation and Copies for the Juries
All proposals are reviewed by the Steering Committee by the end of June. If accepted, the publishing house must send twenty (20) copies of the book to the partner country for distribution to the juries.
6.4 – Committee Nominations
If a book is nominated directly by the Steering Committee, the publishing house may accept or decline the nomination. Participation is confirmed upon shipment of the twenty (20) copies.
6.5 – Shipping Destinations
Italian publishers ship to New York; American publishers ship to Rome. Addresses are provided by the Committee.
6.6 – Shipping Costs and Returns
All shipments are at no cost to the Award. Submitted copies are not returned.
Award Timeline
Art. 7
- January – May: submission phase. Proposals may be submitted until the end of April for Italian books and until the end of May for American books.
The Committee may also invite publishers to submit specific titles.
- By the end of May: announcement of the 10 Italian finalist titles — five in Fiction and five in Non-Fiction.
- By the end of June: announcement of the 10 American finalist titles — five in Fiction and five in Non-Fiction.
- July – October: evaluation phase by the juries.
- October – November: final voting phase.
- Early December: announcement of the winners and award ceremonies.
- By the end of May: announcement of the 10 Italian finalist titles — five in Fiction and five in Non-Fiction.
- By the end of June: announcement of the 10 American finalist titles — five in Fiction and five in Non-Fiction.
- July – October: evaluation phase by the juries.
- October – November: final voting phase.
- Early December: announcement of the winners and award ceremonies.
Selection of the Books
Art.8
The Steering Committee selects twenty (20) titles—ten (10) Italian and ten (10) American, equally divided between Fiction and Nonfiction—in consultation with Italian and American experts and literary critics, based on submissions from publishing houses and titles proposed by the Committee.
The selection process is not based on fixed thematic criteria. For American Nonfiction, particular attention may be given to works addressing general themes related to Italian culture.
The selection process is not based on fixed thematic criteria. For American Nonfiction, particular attention may be given to works addressing general themes related to Italian culture.
Rights of the Winning Books
Art. 9
The Steering Committee does not take part in negotiations for the acquisition or licensing of publishing rights of the winning books.
All rights-related agreements are the sole responsibility of the interested publishers and fall outside the scope of the Award.
All rights-related agreements are the sole responsibility of the interested publishers and fall outside the scope of the Award.
Voting Process
Art. 10
Four juries—one for each category (Italian Fiction, Italian Nonfiction, American Fiction, American Nonfiction)—participate in the voting process.
Voting takes place by email in two rounds:
- first round: selection of the two highest-ranked titles per category
- second round: selection of the winning title
A total of four (4) winners are selected: two Italian and two American authors.
Voting takes place by email in two rounds:
- first round: selection of the two highest-ranked titles per category
- second round: selection of the winning title
A total of four (4) winners are selected: two Italian and two American authors.
Awards
Art. 11
The Award consists of a financial contribution for the translation of each winning book into the language of the other country and travel and accommodation expenses for the American winners traveling to Rome and the Italian winners traveling to New York.
The translation contribution remains valid for two (2) years from the official announcement of the winners.
The translation contribution remains valid for two (2) years from the official announcement of the winners.
Payment of the Awards
Art. 12
The translation contribution is paid directly to the translator, upon submission of a signed translation contract between the translator and the publishing house interested in the winning book, and delivery of the completed translation.
Translators are selected by the publisher in agreement with the author. The Award does not participate in the selection of translators.
Winning authors are expected to attend the award ceremony, except in cases of force majeure. If a winner cannot attend for other reasons, the Award is assigned to the runner-up.
Translators are selected by the publisher in agreement with the author. The Award does not participate in the selection of translators.
Winning authors are expected to attend the award ceremony, except in cases of force majeure. If a winner cannot attend for other reasons, the Award is assigned to the runner-up.
Award Ceremony
Art. 13
Two award ceremonies are held:
- in Rome, for the American winners
- in New York, for the Italian winners
Dates and venues are communicated in due time. Book presentations and literary events may be organized in conjunction with the ceremonies.
- in Rome, for the American winners
- in New York, for the Italian winners
Dates and venues are communicated in due time. Book presentations and literary events may be organized in conjunction with the ceremonies.