The Sydney Prize is an annual literary award given out annually to an outstanding work of short fiction by an Australian writer. The winner receives $5000 while two runners-up each receive $2750. A shortlist and judging panel are announced every August and the winning story published in Overland magazine at autumn.
Sir Sydney Cox taught at Dartmouth for many years and encouraged students to write during free periods in their spare time. It is hoped that this competition would serve to keep up the high standards he set both himself and for his students when it came to originality and integrity. It does not aim at awarding the “best student essay”, rather it rewards writing which best matches Sir Sydney Cox’s criteria for originality and integrity.
Since the beginning of the 20th century, Sydney University has made an enormous impactful in Britain’s life. Its graduates have left an immeasurable mark across multiple fields: politics, law and business to culture, religion and literature; from soldiers, political cartoonists and alchemists, explorers and murderers; but also film directors, opera singers premiership football club chairmen and authors. While its size might limit its potential, Sydney has produced Nobel prize winners as well as architecture treasures like its Cloister Court, haunting chapel and exquisite rococo Hall that make it standout from other institutions in Britain’s life.
Over four centuries, Sydney University has built up an illustrious legacy written by its students and alumni. Its library boasts more than 100,000 books; this includes one complete set of Shakespeare works in English as well as an important collection of early modern fiction titles. Furthermore, the library houses the archives of Australian newspapers as well as a significant selection of Australian artists’ work.
As part of their awards ceremony, each year the committee designates Notable Books (originally called ‘The Best of the Bunch’). These are books which did not win an award but which deserve special consideration; their list is published annually at the same time as winner announcements; an archive from 1985 to 1999 is also available for sale.
Event Cinemas Rising Talent Award recognises an emerging NSW-based creative working in short film. Chris Godfrey won this year’s prize with The Mother of All Lies, featured as part of Sydney Film Festival 2023’s Official Selection line-up. Supported by Screen NSW, its prize is worth $30,000. Chris will receive it on Friday 15 February at Sydney State Theatre.