On February 22, during the award ceremony all the Latgalian Culture Awards “Boņuks 2014” the winners of the nominations had received their prizes. In honor of the most significant achievements of Latgalian culture during the year 2014, the prizes were given total in 19 nominations.
In Literature category the prize for the Best Performance in Literature goes toIlze Sperga (for prose in the book “Dzeiveiba”), but the creation of Juris Cibuļs “Purlovas grāmata” – typed monument of a village in Balvi district, Lazdulejas parish – was recognized as the Best Edition/Book of 2014. There were new nominations announced this year in the Literature category – “For the Popularization of Latgalian Language in Latvia and Abroad”. This prize was given to Inga Ābele for the bright and noticed story of life “Klūgu mūks”. Further on, the awards in this category will be handed to the creations and events who spread the word and information about Latgalian culture in other languages (not in Latgalian literary language).
Year 2014 was productive in Latgalian music as well. Rezekne district vocal studio “Skonai” was awarded as the Debutant of the Year, plucking the laurels with the video for the song “Skani debesteņ” in the nomination “Best Music Video” as well. The second year in the row, the prize is given in the nomination for the “Best Performance in Academic Music”. This year it was received byRihards Dubra for the touching composition “Tu skaistō Dīva dōrza rūze”. As the jury expressed – achievements of the academic music are very difficult to be judged because of the very strong nominees. With the success of the song“Vokors īt” music band “Laimas muzykanti” have received the prize for the “Best Performance in Country Music” in 2014. However, the performance by the music band “Elektrofolk” was recognized to be the “Best Performance in Folk Music”. After the work of many years, the band “Green Novice” has released a music album that received the highest ratings in the category of the “Best Performance in Alternative Music”, but the prize for the “Best Performance in Pop/Rock Music” in 2014 goes to well known music band “Dabasu Durovys”. During the Latgalian Culture Award, the most played Latgalian song is determined (song that is played in more than 3 radio stations). The information is received from Latvian Performers’ and Producers’ Association (LaIPA). This year the prize for the“Radio Hit” goes to music band “Bez PVN” for the song “Loopi”.
As traditionally, the broadest award section is for the social activities and achievements or “Community and Culture” category. Jānis Kuzminskis was announced to be the “Craftsman/Owner of the Year” earning this award for his amazing guitar producing skills. The guitars made by Jānis are played by Latgalian musicians as well. The prize for the “Best Performance in Visual Art” goes to Osvalds Zvejsalnieks for his 70th anniversary exhibit “Terra Vitae”. However, the honor for the “Best Performance in Performing Arts” was presented to the production “Francis” dedicated to Francis Trasuns. The performance could be enjoyed during the second part of this award ceremony. The documentary“Pelikāns Tuksnesī” by Viesturs Kairišs received the prize for the “Best Performance in Audiovisual Arts”, but the prize for the “Popularization of Latgalian Language” and gratitude for the dignity and love to Latgalians was given to the musician Kārlis Kazāks, who occasionally performs in Latgalian. It was already announced that the prize for the “Contribution of a Lifetime” was handed to the journalist, the editor of many years of the journal “Katōļu Dzeive”Maruta Latkovska, however the Head of “Kroma kolna broliste” Aleksandrs Lubāns was announced to be the “Person of the Year”. The previous year was held under the sign of Francis Trasuns – this has logically resulted in the honor of the “Event of the Year” – the series of the events dedicated to the 150th jubilee of Francis Trasuns.
The Embassy of Latgale GORS, the organizers of Latgalian Culture Award “Boņuks 2014” invites every interested person to follow the events and processes of Latgalian culture during the year 2015 and submit the honorable events, people, and achievements to the eighth Latgalian Culture Award “Boņuks 2015” ceremony, which will take a place on February 28 in 2016.
The goal of the Latgalian Culture Award “Bonuks” is to promote the preservation and development of the culture environment of Latgalians, as well as to gather and honor the most significant achievements of Latgalian culture of the previous year. The award ceremony is supported by the State Culture Capital Foundation, Establishment of the State Stock Company “Latvia’s State Forests”, Culture Ministry of Latvia, the councils of Rezekne district, Rezekne city, Dagda, Ludza, Balvi, Kārsava, Krāslava, Preiļi, Riebiņi, Viļaka, Rugāji and Baltinava districts.
