We’re announcing the 2018 INSP Awards Finalists over the next fortnight, and today it’s time to reveal the Top 5 entries for Best Cultural Feature.
This award will go to the best feature, interview or story focusing on arts, entertainment and culture. Judges will consider a range of elements, including: original approach; incisive interviews; and excellence in writing style. You can see which entries were nominated back in June here.
Our shortlisting panel have narrowed down the Nominees to give us Finalists in each category, who now go forward to the main judging panel to select the winners.
Winners are revealed during the INSP Awards Ceremony held as part of the Global Street Paper Summit in Glasgow, on Wednesday 22 August.
Without further ado, we present the Best Cultural Feature Finalists…
The Finalists:
1. Big Issue North, UK
Room on the broom
By Gary Ryan
The sport of quidditch has evolved beyond recognition from its fantastical beginnings in the Harry Potter books, but JK Rowling’s core message of acceptance and tolerance remains.
2. Lice v Lice, Macedonia
Meeting Risto Donev: the ‘Macedonian Stephen Hawking’
By Maya Ravanska
Risto Donev has led a multi-faceted and fascinating life. He has written a novel, been a web hosting pioneer and attained the title of International Master in correspondence chess. He has achieved it all despite suffering from cerebral palsy since birth.
3. Shedia, Greece
Boredom’s the charm when it comes to learning
By Maria Papadodimitraki
In today’s world, we shy away from boredom and are quick to turn to distractions in order to avoid it. However, embracing boredom might just be the key to broadening our interests, awakening creativity and finding lasting happiness.
4. Surprise, Switzerland
An odyssey with a dog and a cat
By Gisela Feuz
After a 10-year journey through Europe, the artist Slavcho Slavov has found a home in Switzerland. Now living in Bern, he has added writing to his artistic repertoire and has written a book about his former life on the street.
5. The Big Issue, UK
A week with Mark Hamill: “At first, I wondered if Star Wars was a comedy”
By Adrian Lobb
While filming The Last Jedi in London, Mark Hamill became a bosom buddy of The Big Issue. This is what happened during Adrian Lobb’s seven-day saga with the biggest star in the galaxy.
For INSP Members, all of these features can be found on the News Service. Don’t forget to keep checking back over the next fortnight as we reveal the rest of the Finalists in the INSP Awards 2018, and use the hashtag #INSPAwards on social media to congratulate our Finalists!