The prize, established in 2003 by Sándor Demján, the head of Trigránit, one of the region's biggest construction companies, and by Hungary's most important business association VOSZ, has been expanded. In addition to the prizes awarded in the field of science, sport and education, this year new prizes will be presented to recipients in a fine arts category, established by the Canadian-Hungarian gold mining magnate Peter Munk, a theatre an film category, set up by the investor Nathaniel Rothschild, and a literature category, founded by the American-Hungarian businessman Erwin Schaeffer.
TriGranit Development managing director Lóránt Kibédi Varga also signed a co-founder contract for a fourth new category - in the field of architecture -- for the Junior Prima Award.
Three of the members of the Prima Primissima social advisory board, Attila Chikán, István Elek and Sándor Szokolay, have been replaced by two new members: the pianist Zoltán Kocsis, who won last year's Jubilee Primissima, and Tamás Mészáros, the rector of the Corvinus University in Budapest.
The Prima Primissima prizes will be awarded for the sixth time, on December 5, at Budapest's Palace of Arts. The ten top winners will be awarded EUR 50,000 apiece, and the Prima winners will take home EUR 10,000 each.
The public may also submit their votes for a special prize of EUR 50,000, established by the banker and food industry magnate Sándor Csányi, to be awarded to a single winner.
Candidates for the 2008 Prima Primissima Awards
Hungarian literature category: SándorCsoóri poet, writer; ZsuzsaRakovszky poet; and PálRéz literary historian.
Hungarian theatre and film category: JuditHalász actress; KárolyMakk film director; and IvánMarkó dancer, choreographer.
Hungarian fine art category: ArnoldGross painter, graphic artist; LászlóGyémánt painter; and ÉvaKeleti photographer
Hungarian science category: TamásFreund Academy of Sciences member, neurobiologist; MiklósKásler doctor, surgeon, oncologist; and JánosPusztay linguist
Hungarian teaching and public education category: Budapest City Protection Association; GézaKomoróczy historian, university professor; and Richárd Korzenszky, prior of the Benedictine Abbey of Tihany
Hungarian architecture and construction art category: Ferenc Callmeyer; IstvánNovák; and FerencTörök.
Hungarian press category: Endre B. Bojtár editor in chief of Magyar Narancs; LászlóCselényi editor-director and chairman of Duna Televízió; and AndrásSzegő journalist.
Hungarian folk art and public education category: HenrikKemény puppeteer, the Muzsikás ensemble; and the Folk Music Schools of Óbuda.
Hungarian music category: ZsuzsaKoncz singer; GyörgyMelis opera singer; and SándorSzokolay composer.
Hungarian sport category: DezsőGyarmati water polo player and national sportsman; MKB Veszprém Handball Club; and JuditPolgár chess grand master.
Source: Hungarian News Agency (MTI) / Photo: László Beliczay (MTI)
