Western Asia

Motti LERNER (born 1949, Israel) teaches political playwriting to graduate students in the Theatre Department at Tel Aviv University, and dramatic writing at the Kibbutz College Drama School. He has been a freelance playwright and screenwriter for the major theaters and television channels in Israel since 1984. He was the 1994 recipient of his nation's most important literary award, the Prime Minister of Israel Award for Writers.

Zahiye KUNDUS received her B.A. in history and comparative literature at Hebrew University this year. She works for an Israeli-Palestinian NGO, ‘Windows,’ whose educational and cultural programs aim to promote understanding, and reconciliation between the people from both nations. She is a translator for Windows’ bi-lingual youth magazine, and contributes articles to the book supplement of Ha’aretz newspaper and the literary journal Ma’ayan. She is writing a novel about life in Jaffa.

Writing Sample

Konstantine (Kote) KUBANEISHVILI (born 1951, Tbilisi) is a freelance professional poet and writer; translator of Russian writers, among them Maiakowski and Mandelshtam; and host of a radio program in Tbilisi, "Darchi Norchi" (Stay Young). He is also a playwright at the State Rustaveli Theatre and Youth Theatre. Among his publications are Damoukidebloba (Independence) with A.

Etgar KERET (b. 1967, Tel Aviv) has written books, short stories, and comedy for Israeli TV, and is a lecturer at Tel Aviv University's Department of Film. All his books have been bestsellers. His two short story collections have sold more than 100,000 copies, and over 40 short films have been produced based on his stories. His movie Skin Deep won the Israeli Oscar as well has first prize at several international film festivals. A film based on one of his stories received the 1998 American MTV Prize for best animated film.

Writing Sample