For the first time, a literary prize rewards a work written by a journalist. The big price Stephane Frantz di Rippel awarded by the City of Biot is special. It pays tribute to this Frantz di Rippel family whose father lives in Biot and whose son Stéphane “saved” journalists.
“On April 4, 2011, while Côte d’Ivoire was in the midst of a crisis, the director of the Novotel in Abidjan, Stéphane Frantz di Rippel, was kidnapped with three other businessmen by armed militiamen close to Laurent Ghagbo. refused to say the whereabouts of journalists whom he had taken care to hide, he will be tortured to death. His body will never be found“explains the City of Biot.
“We have never forgotten (…) every year we (the journalists hidden on the 8th floor of the Novotel) hear from Stéphane’s father: Jacques Frantz di Rippel. We wanted to do something to pay tribute to him“explains Grégory Philips who was in the hotel during the attack as a Grand reporter for Radio France.
The City of Biot wanted to pay posthumous tribute to this hero. Three prizes reward works written by journalists. “The major publishing houses have been approached, we have made several selections” says Jean-Michel Poupart, the organizer.
The grand prize was awarded by a jury made up of great journalists, some of whom were present in Abidjan, from Radio France (partner of the event) TF1, France Television, Le Figaro, Le Monde, and journalists from Nice Matin, France 3 and France Bleu Azur.
The underground of Daesh
A great prize for “Le clandestin de Daech” by Georges Dallemand and Christophe Lamfalussy at Editions Kennes Société. An in-depth investigation into Osama Atar, the mastermind of the attacks in Brussels and November 13 in Paris. It sheds light on the shortcomings and the unsaid that surround the terrorists. Christophe Lamfalussy is a senior reporter at The Free Belgium.
ultra-radical environmentalists
The prize for Independent Booksellers of the Côte d’Azur was awarded to “Ultra Ecologicus” by Marc Lomazzi, Editions Flammarion. A book-investigation on radical ecological movements, sectarian fighters of feminism, eco-terrorists, zadists, climate warriors, eco-saboteurs…”Young people ready for violence, disturbing movements that the political class of boomers does not understand and does not take into account“explains the author, former deputy editor of the Parisian-Today in France.
Immigration in the neighborhoods
The City of Biot prize was awarded for the work ofArthur Frayer-Laleix “And the whites are gone” at Editions Fayard. This freelance journalist has worked for major daily newspapers The World, The Echoes and the website Street Press. The book brings together the various reports by Arthur Frayer-Laleix carried out over several years which relate the evolution of neglected neighborhoods in large cities. A book on the ethnic divide and the overrepresentation of men with an immigrant background in prisons.
– Violaine ILL