OppenheimerFunds, Financial Times Announce Finalists in Emerging Voices Awards Competition

By: Matt Smith Jun. 23, 2015

NEW YORK, June, 2015 - OppenheimerFunds and the Financial Times today announced the longlists of 10 rising artists in each of three categories who are advancing to the next stage in the new FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards competition. Selected from more than 800 entries from 65 emerging-market countries, the nominees are vying for awards as well as global recognition.

"The rapid growth of the emerging world, fueled by economic progress, has contributed to a surge in artistic talent in developing nations. The overwhelming response to our first ever Emerging Voices Awards is testament to this," said Michael Skapinker, Associate Editor of the Financial Times and chair of judges. "Our esteemed panels of judges were impressed with the quality and breadth of creativity seen across the entries in all categories and will honor the best of these."

"As one of the largest investors in emerging markets, OppenheimerFunds has a long track record of discovering investment opportunities around the globe. This has also given us a front-row seat to witness the extraordinary artistic talent that defines the developing world," said Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities at OppenheimerFunds. "The incredible response to our call for entries, in terms of both quantity and quality, helps us create an exciting new platform to share the vision, creativity and originality of these remarkable artists with the rest of the world."

The competition was open to artists from emerging-market nations as defined by the World Bank Atlas Method*:

Africa and the Middle East - works of fiction published in English - 162 entries received from 28 countries;
Asia-Pacific - films in any language with English subtitles - 140 entries, 12 countries;
Latin America and the Caribbean - painting, drawing, sculpture, installation, mixed media - 570 entries, 25 countries.

"OppenheimerFunds was one of the first U.S. asset managers to recognize the value of investing around the world. We have made that global perspective one of the fundamental principles of our investment philosophy," said Art Steinmetz, Chairman, CEO and President of OppenheimerFunds. "We're delighted that our new partnership with the Financial Times in much the same way is showcasing the vast reservoir of talent and spirit across emerging markets."

Panels of judges are reviewing the submissions to find the artists whose work best demonstrates outstanding talent and exemplifies their art form and the voice of their region. The judges include:

Chair: Michael Skapinker, Associate Editor, Financial Times

Fiction Panel: Africa
Alaa al Aswany, Author
Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor, New York University
Lorien Kite, Books Editor, Financial Times
Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities, OppenheimerFunds
Nadifa Mohamed, Author
Elif Shafak, Author

Film Panel: Asia-Pacific
Nigel Andrews, Film Critic, Financial Times
Samira Makhmalbaf, Film Director
Mira Nair, Film Director
Rithy Panh, Film Director

Art Panel: Latin America and the Caribbean
Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery
Jan Dalley, Arts Editor, Financial Times
Teresita Fernández, Artist
Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities, OppenheimerFunds
Jorge Tacla, Artist

A shortlist will be announced on Aug. 7. Category winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on Oct. 5 in New York City. Winners will each receive a $40,000 award.

Fiction Longlist:

Blackass by A. Igoni Barrett, Chatto & Windus, Nigeria

Broken Mirrors: Sinalcol by Elias Khoury, Maclehose Press, Lebanon

Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Granta Books, Kenya

It Might Get Loud, by Ingrid Winterbach, Human & Rousseau, South Africa

Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga, Archipelago Books, Rwanda

The Book of Memory, by Petina Gappah, Faber & Faber, Zimbabwe

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma, Pushkin Press, Nigeria

The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud, Oneworld Publications, Algeria

The Texture of Shadows, by Mandla Langa, Picador Africa, South Africa

Women of Karantina, by Nael Eltoukhy, The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt

Film Longlist:
Endless Nameless by Mont Tesprateep, Thailand