Special FISM Awards to be Presented in Beijing

[Richard Kaufman]

FISM ANNOUNCES SPECIAL AWARD NOMINATIONS
From Max Maven

During the past half-century, FISM has become the international standard for competitive awards in the field of theatrical magic. At the previous FISM congress, held in Stockholm, Sweden in 2006, a new set of awards was introduced, honoring accomplishments outside the contest. At the request of the convention organizers, Max Maven developed the awards and the system for generating them.

Three categories were defined. A large group of international magic figures, including club presidents and well known performers and writers, were then invited to suggest nominees. Based on this input plus a lengthy study of the current state of the conjuring field, the nominations have now been set.

There are five nominees in each category. The votes are in the process of being tallied. The results will be kept secret until they are announced at the upcoming FISM congress in Beijing, China.

The nominations, listed alphabetically, are as follows:

CREATIVITY & ARTISTIC VISION
This award appraises creation, not simply in terms of technical invention but also for the larger conceptual views that inform that persons work. The 2006 recipient was Gatan Bloom of France.

Lubor Fiedler (Czechoslovakia )
Flip (The Netherlands)
Finn Jon (Norway)
Dr. Sawa (Japan)
Jim Steinmeyer (U.S.)

HISTORY, RESEARCH & SCHOLARSHIP
This award recognizes scholarship, assessed both in terms of academic depth and the manner and quality of the distribution of such information. The 2006 recipient was Eddie Dawes of England.

Volker Huber (Germany)
Bill Kalush (U.S.)
Magic Christian (Austria)
Mitsunobu Matsuyama (Japan)
Jacques Voignier (France)

THEORY & PHILOSOPHY
This award gives tribute to a person who has approached magic from a viewpoint that is analytical, academic, perhaps even spiritual. The 2006 recipient was Tommy Wonder of the Netherlands.

Eugene Burger (U.S.)
Ren Lavand (Argentina)
Robert Neale (U.S.)
Eberhard Riese (Germany)
Juan Tamariz (Spain)

[Pete Biro]

My votes: Finn Jon, Magic Christian and Juan Tamariz.

[the Larry]

My votes: Lubor Fiedler, Mitsunobu Matsuyama, Juan Tamariz

[Alfred]

These are my votes: Lubor Fiedler, Magic Christian, Juan Tamariz.

[Larry Horowitz]

Steinmeyer, Kalush, Tamariz