The improvisation round of student literary competition Autumn Legend 2021 was held in Bakuriani this year. Contestants were given 12 hours to create new works on a topic “Thing(s)Found in a Pocket” at Rooms Hotel Kokhta in Bakuriani.

The student literary competition has been organized jointly by Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) and Adjara Group, namely one of its brands – Rooms Kokhta and it is being held for the 13thconsecutive year since 2009. The organizers of the competition offered finalists and jury members three unforgettable days full of nature, calmness, conversations about literature and new ideas.

Students of all Georgian higher educational and vocational institutions took part in the competition. About 550 works were submitted this year. “An unprecedented number of applications were submitted from both higher educational and vocational institutions. Finalists were offered an interesting topic “A thing or things found in a pocket.” All finalists are the winners as participation is more important than winning. It is important that many young people are showing their interest in literature and writing,” Rector of TSU, George Sharvashidze said.

Nino Tsitsava, a student of the TSU Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, said that “this is the project I was interested in for years. It is interesting because very sophisticated jury is evaluating the works and therefore, participation in this competition is the most important thing a young person who loves literature and a future writer can do,” she said, adding that she plans to put an important message in her new work that will have a positive influence on the readers.

It is not the first time Eka Tkeshelashvili, a student of Ilia State University, is participating in Autumn Legend. “It is my second time. Last year, the project justified my expectations. It was very pleasant to create works in a good atmosphere. I think the competition opens up good opportunities to show off and speak out about what you wanted to say for so long.”

The student literary competition is traditionally held in two stages. During the first round, students fill out relevant applications and send their prosaic works (any topic and genre can be chosen). The jury consisting of previous years’ winners – BekaAdamashvili and Salome Mkheidze, as well as member of the literary jury, Salome Benidze has already revealed 10 finalists who then created new works during the improvisation round.

Three winners will be revealed following the final round and they will receive cash prizes at GEL 1 000, GEL 700 and GEL 500 from Tbilisi State University, as well as special prizes from the partner. 

The winners will be named by the jury consisting of three permanent members – Dato Turashvili, TeonaDolenjashvili and MakaLdokonen, as well as two new invited members – Aleksandre Lortkipanidze and GuramGongadze, and the last year winner, GoderdziGorgiladze. Each year, the jury unites Georgian writers, literary critics, opinion writers, translators and critics.

Writer MakaLdokonen noted that this year’s topic gives contestants broad opportunities to think over interesting stories and create their works. “The competition is being held even amid the pandemic. It is a literary competition, which, despite difficult circumstances, continues and offers unique opportunities to those students who lack such events today,” she said.

The jury will reveal the winners in the coming days. After the competition is over, the works of all finalists will be accumulated in one collection and offered to Georgian readers.

The competition Autumn Legend with a 12-year experience is designed for those people who create prosaic works, who are willing to get experience in literature, get acquainted with the representatives of this sphere and unveil their works to Georgia. Students of all Georgian higher educational and vocational institutions are eligible to participate in the competition.