Organizer: DEUTSCHER HÖRBUCHPREIS e. V.
While the publication of an audiobook used to be the exception, today it is not uncommon for a book and audiobook to be published simultaneously. This development is gratifying, but it also presents listeners with a challenge. The German Audiobook Award offers a decision-making aid here.
Since audiobooks were first awarded the German Audiobook Prize in 2003, it has established itself as an important seal of quality for retailers and consumers.
The three finalists in the “Best Performer” category are the actresses and narrators Jennipher Antoni (“Berliner Briefe” by Susanne Kerckhoff, Hörkultur Verlag AG / rbb Kultur), Cathlen Gawlich (“City of Girls” by Elizabeth Gilbert, Argon Verlag) and Elisabeth Schwarz (“Anne-Marie die Schönheit” by Yasmina Reza, Hörbuch Hamburg).
In the “Best Performer” category, three renowned acting colleagues have a chance at the award: in addition to Alexander Fehling (“Is That a Person?” by Primo Levi, Der Audio Verlag / NDR Kultur), the jury nominated Roman Knižka (“Die Detektive vom Bhoot-Basar,” Argon Verlag / rbb Kultur) and Robert Stadlober (“Rote Kreuze” by Sasha Filipenko, Diogenes Verlag).
“Best Radio Play” will be one of the following productions: Director Klaus Buhlert’s “Die Enden der Parabel” (“The Ends of the Parable”, Hörbuch Hamburg / SWR, DLF), a multi-voiced production of Thomas Pynchon’s magnum opus, and Martin Heindel’s “Meine geniale Freundin” (“My Ingenious Friend”, der Hörverlag / BR), the first part of Elena Ferrante’s Neapolitan tetralogy, as a radio play. Kai Grehn created “Tape-Recordings of a Metaphysical Engineer” (Major Label / BR, Radio Bremen), a homage to the Portuguese writer Fernando Pessoa.
Competing for the favor of this year’s children’s jury as “Best Children’s Audiobook” is Birte Schnöink’s reading of the refugee story “Der Junge aus der letzten Reihe” by Onjali Q. Raúf (Hörcompany), Robert Schoen’s radio play production “The Miracle of Narnia” (Part 1 of “The Chronicles of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis, Der Audio Verlag / SWR) and Anders Sparring’s children’s book “Familie von Stibitz: Der Riesenlolli-Raub” (sauerländer audio), read by actor Dietmar Bär.
In terms of “Best Entertainment,” the nomination jury particularly liked “Einsiedeln,” Thomas Hürlimann’s boarding school memoirs told in free speech (supposé), as well as Frank Goosen’s personal declaration of love for “The Beatles” spoken by himself (tacheles! / ROOF Music) and finally to the staged reading of the novel “Sweeteest Fruits” (BONNEVOICE / hr), with which author Monique Truong sets a monument to the travel writer Lafcadio Hearn.
The winner in the category “Best Children’s Audiobook” will be decided in April by a six-member children’s jury from Brühl / Rhineland. The other winners will be chosen by the award jury and the podcast jury of the German Audiobook Award.
The award ceremony will take place without an audience on May 26, 2021, at the WDR Funkhaus am Wallrafplatz in Cologne and will be broadcast live on WDR 5, other ARD cultural channels and as a video stream on the Internet.
More information can be found here.
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