Press Release Distributed by Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival

Griffin Poetry Prize Shortlist To Be Announced at Blue Metropolis, Montreal’s International Literary Festival (April 11-16, 2001)

Montreal, February 8, 2001 - The 3rd Blue Metropolis International Literary Festival has confirmed two important international literary events for the festival’s Opening Ceremony on Wednesday, April 11, 2001.

The shortlist for the first annual $80,000 Griffin Poetry Prize, will be announced at the Blue Metropolis by the founder of the award, Scott Griffin. That same evening, the incomparable Norman Mailer will be on-hand for an on-stage interview with Christiane Charette, and to receive the Blue Metropolis International Literary Prize. The $10,000 Prize is made annually in recognition of a lifetime of literary achievement.

Also on hand for the Griffin Poetry Prize shortlist announcement will be the acclaimed Scottish poet, Robin Robertson, who is one of the Prize’s five trustees (with Michael Ondaatje, Margaret Atwood, David Young and Robert Hass). Robin Robertson will also be appearing in several Festival events.

Among the more than one hundred featured participants appearing at Festival 2001 are:

Norman Mailer (U.S.), Margaret Drabble (U.K.), Annie Ernaux (France), Michel Marc Bouchard, Jane Urquhart, Jorge Edwards (Chile), Sergio Ramírez (Nicaragua), Noëlle Châtelet (France), Anita Desai (India), Assia Djebar (Algeria/ France), Alberto Manguel, David Fennario, Stanley Péan, Marie Laberge, Marie-Andrée Lamontagne, Erika Ritter, Jean-Paul Daoust, Jean-Claude Germain, Eleanor Wachtel.

The exciting events planned for this year’s Festival include:

• Readings
• Panel Discussions
• Poetry Evenings
• Comix Jam
• Hockey Night at the Metropolis
• Translation Slam
• An Appetite for Words
• Book Launches and Signings
• Student Literary Programme
• Literacy Programme
• P.E.N. Event
• Tribute to Bernard Assiniwi

Also taking part in the Festival is a delegation of Writers of the Americas who will be in Montreal prior to the Summit of the Americas. They include the Cervantes Prize winner, Jorge Edwards (Chile) and the celebrated novelist and former Nicaraguan Vice-President, Sergio Ramírez (Nicaragua) and Nélida Piñon (Brazil). Both Radio-Canada and CBC Radio One will be broadcasting selected festival events on site.

Blue Metropolis
Montreal International Literary Festival
April 11 to 16, 2001
Hôtel des Gouverneurs, Place DupuisTelephone: (514) 932-1112
Web Site: http://www.blue-met-bleu.com

For more information, contact:

Marie-José LeBlanc
Dionne & LeBlanc Communications
Telephone: (514) 844-5500

Prudence Emery
Griffin Trust for Excellence in Poetry
Telephone: (905) 565-5993
E-mail: press@griffinpoetryprize.com