Emerging-Market Writers, Filmmakers, Artists Named to Longlists for FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards

Emerging-Market Writers, Filmmakers, Artists Named to Longlists for FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards

NEW YORK, June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- OppenheimerFunds and the Financial Times today announced the longlists of 10 rising artists in each of three categories who are advancing to the next stage in the new FT/OppenheimerFunds Emerging Voices Awards competition. Selected from more than 800 entries from 65 emerging-market countries, the nominees are vying for awards as well as global recognition.

https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150615/223177

"The rapid growth of the emerging world, fueled by economic progress, has contributed to a surge in artistic talent in developing nations. The overwhelming response to our first ever Emerging Voices Awards is testament to this," said Michael Skapinker, Associate Editor of the Financial Times and chair of judges. "Our esteemed panels of judges were impressed with the quality and breadth of creativity seen across the entries in all categories and will honor the best of these."

"As one of the largest investors in emerging markets, OppenheimerFunds has a long track record of discovering investment opportunities around the globe. This has also given us a front-row seat to witness the extraordinary artistic talent that defines the developing world," said Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities at OppenheimerFunds. "The incredible response to our call for entries, in terms of both quantity and quality, helps us create an exciting new platform to share the vision, creativity and originality of these remarkable artists with the rest of the world."

The competition was open to artists from emerging-market nations as defined by the World Bank Atlas Method*:


-- Africa and the Middle East - works of fiction published in English - 162
entries received from 28 countries;
-- Asia-Pacific - films in any language with English subtitles - 140
entries, 12 countries;
-- Latin America and the Caribbean - painting, drawing, sculpture,
installation, mixed media - 570 entries, 25 countries.
"OppenheimerFunds was one of the first U.S. asset managers to recognize the value of investing around the world. We have made that global perspective one of the fundamental principles of our investment philosophy," said Art Steinmetz, Chairman, CEO and President of OppenheimerFunds. "We're delighted that our new partnership with the Financial Times in much the same way is showcasing the vast reservoir of talent and spirit across emerging markets."

Panels of judges are reviewing the submissions to find the artists whose work best demonstrates outstanding talent and exemplifies their art form and the voice of their region. The judges include:

Chair:Michael Skapinker, Associate Editor, Financial Times

Fiction Panel: Africa

Alaa al Aswany, Author
Kwame Anthony Appiah, Professor, New York University
Lorien Kite, Books Editor, Financial Times
Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities, OppenheimerFunds
Nadifa Mohamed, Author
Elif Shafak, Author

Film Panel: Asia-Pacific

Nigel Andrews, Film Critic, Financial Times
Samira Makhmalbaf, Film Director
Mira Nair, Film Director
Rithy Panh, Film Director
Jia Zhangke, Film Director

Art Panel: Latin America and the Caribbean

Iwona Blazwick, Director, Whitechapel Gallery
Jan Dalley, Arts Editor, Financial Times
Teresita Fernandez, Artist
Justin Leverenz, Director of Emerging Market Equities, OppenheimerFunds
Jorge Tacla, Artist

A shortlist will be announced on Aug. 7. Category winners will be announced at a gala awards ceremony on Oct. 5 in New York City. Winners will each receive a $40,000 award.

Fiction Longlist:
Blackass by A. Igoni Barrett, Chatto & Windus, Nigeria

Broken Mirrors: Sinalcol by Elias Khoury, Maclehose Press, Lebanon

Dust by Yvonne Adhiambo Owuor, Granta Books, Kenya

It Might Get Loud, by Ingrid Winterbach, Human & Rousseau, South Africa

Our Lady of the Nile by Scholastique Mukasonga, Archipelago Books, Rwanda

The Book of Memory, by Petina Gappah, Faber & Faber, Zimbabwe

The Fishermen by Chigozie Obioma, Pushkin Press, Nigeria

The Meursault Investigation by Kamel Daoud, Oneworld Publications, Algeria

The Texture of Shadows, by Mandla Langa, Picador Africa, South Africa

Women of Karantina, by Nael Eltoukhy, The American University in Cairo Press, Egypt

Film Longlist:
Endless Nameless by Mont Tesprateep, Thailand

Exclaim by Jian Mei, China

Kush by Shubhashish Bhutiani, India

Scent of the Morning Sun by Harin Paesongthai and Monkum Khukhuntin, Thailand

Selfie girls by Huynh Nguyeen Dang Khoa, Vietnam

The Concrete by Wei Liu, China

The Last Mango Before the Monsoon by Payal Kapadia, India

The Sea by Han Ting, China

Trespassed by Yuhang Ho, Malaysia

Under the Sun by Qiu Yang, China

Art Longlist:
Adriana Maria Beatriz Carambia, Argentina
Cassio Vasconcellos, Brazil
Cecilia Monteverde, Argentina
Cristina Planas, Peru
Fabiola Menchelli Tejeda, Mexico
Gonzalo Fuenmayor, Colombia
Hugo Arquimedes Carrillo Garcia, Mexico
Marcela Ramirez-Aza, Colombia
Pablo Mora Ortega, Colombia
Sebastian Castaneda, Peru

For more information, visit ft.com/emerging-voices or follow the conversation on Twitter at #EmergingVoices.

*Gross national income of less than $12,746 per capita.

OppenheimerFunds, a leader in global asset management, is dedicated to providing solutions for its partners and end investors. OppenheimerFunds, including its subsidiaries, manages more than $240 billion in assets for over 13 million shareholder accounts, including sub-accounts, as of May 31, 2015.

Founded in 1959, OppenheimerFunds is a high conviction asset manager with a history of providing active, innovative investment strategies to its investors. The firm's 14 distinct, collaborative investment management teams specialize in equity, fixed income, alternative and multi-asset strategies. OppenheimerFunds and its subsidiaries offer a broad array of products and services to clients, who range from endowments and sovereigns to financial advisors serving individual investors. OppenheimerFunds provides advisory services to the Oppenheimer mutual funds, and OFI Global Asset Management offers solutions to institutions. For more information, visit oppenheimerfunds.com.

The Financial Times, one of the world's leading business news organisations, is recognised internationally for its authority, integrity and accuracy. Providing essential news, comment, data and analysis for the global business community, the FT has a combined paid print and digital circulation of 744,000 (Deloitte assured, Q1 2015). Mobile is an increasingly important channel for the FT, driving almost 50 per cent of total traffic. FT education products now serve two thirds of the world's top 50 business schools. For news about the FT follow @FTPressOffice.

Shares of mutual funds are not deposits or obligations of any bank, are not guaranteed by any bank, are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency, and involve investment risks, including the possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Before investing in any of the Oppenheimer funds, investors should carefully consider a fund's investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses. Fund prospectuses and summary prospectuses contain this and other information about the funds, and may be obtained by asking your financial advisor, visiting oppenheimerfunds.com, or calling 1.800.CALL OPP (225.5677). Read prospectuses and summary prospectuses carefully before investing.

Oppenheimer funds are distributed by OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc., 225 Liberty Street, New York, NY, 10281

© 2015 OppenheimerFunds Distributor, Inc. All rights reserved.

https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150615/223175



https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150615/223176

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223177

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223175

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223176

SOURCE OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223177
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223175
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150615/223176
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
OppenheimerFunds, Inc.

CONTACT: Meredith Richard, 212.323.4275, mrichard@ofiglobal.com; Ryann Gastwirth, 917.551.5094, ryann.gastwirth@ft.com

Web Site: http://www.oppenheimerfunds.com


-------
Profile: intent