General Entertainment Authority Launches 'Golden Pen Award' Website

The General Entertainment Authority (GEA) announced the launch of the Golden Pen Award website. The award is the first by the GEA to focus on transforming influential Arabic literature into cinematic productions.

The website will act as a central archive for Arabic novels and screenplays, supporting the growing wave of cinematic productions in the Arab world, particularly in Saudi Arabia.

Submissions for the first Golden Pen Award are open from September 15th to September 30th, with the longlist to be announced on November 30th and the shortlist revealed on December 30th. Winners will be honoured at a grand ceremony in February 2025, with attendance from renowned writers, intellectuals, filmmakers and celebrities.

The award encompasses six categories, including major prizes for novels and screenplays, with a total prize pool of USD 740,000. Top awards for novels and screenplays range from USD 30,000 to USD 100,000, alongside film adaptation offers. Eight genre-specific novel categories will award USD 25,000 each, while the best-translated novel will earn USD 100,000, and the best Arab publisher will receive USD 50,000. Additionally, a USD 30,000 People's Choice Award will be up for public voting on the recently launched website.