In the center of this photo are, from left, 2025 Hors Concours winner David Naïm, holding plaque, with the program’s secretary general Gaëlle Bohé, and winner Bénédicte Dupré La Tour.
By Eric Dupuy | @duperico
Books From Independent Publishers, Ready for Translation
The Hors Concours literary prize, celebrating its 10th edition in 2025, will launch an international rights catalogue in early July to connect international publishers and emerging French-language authors from independent publishing houses.
This digital catalogue will feature English translations of the prize’s annual selection, targeting international editors who seek new French literary voices.
“The idea is really to take the selection we have and translate it into English,” says Gaëlle Bohé, secretary general of the prize and director of Fontaine-Ô-livres. “We’ll create an online catalogue with the entire selection in English, including contacts for rights managers at each publishing house.”
‘The Priceless Edition Award’
Established in 2016, the Hors Concours prize focuses exclusively on French-language fiction from independent publishers. The annual competition receives submissions from francophone territories worldwide, including Lebanon, Quebec, and Morocco.
Gaëlle Bohé
The selection process begins with publishers submitting titles published within the past 18 months. An academy committee reviews approximately 80 submissions, selecting 40 for the initial catalogue. These excerpts are distributed to 500 professional readers who vote for five finalists. A jury of journalists then reads the complete works to select the winner and runner-up.
The 2024 winner was David Naïm, with Bénédicte Dupré La Tour receiving the jury’s special mention.
“We have this role of pathfinder that works very well,” Bohé says. “We spot authors at the moment when they are what they are—first novels, you see.”
A Decade of Literary Discovery
Bohé says she has observed significant changes in French independent publishing over the past decade.
“Independent publishing 10 years ago,” she says, “was not at all what it is today. In terms of quality, I find there’s real quality in the texts, but also in the way books are made.”
The sector, she says, has evolved from “very artisanal” production to professional standards matching traditional publishers. “Today we see there’s really been a big step forward,” Bohé says. “Frankly, the books are very beautiful. They’re all made with great taste, with great attention.”
Several Hors Concours alumni have achieved broader recognition. Emilienne Malfatto won the Prix Goncourt for first novels, while Sabyl Ghoussoub received the Goncourt Prize des lycéens for high school students after being selected by Hors Concours.
“We have quite a few examples,” Bohé says, “in which we see authors we spot who then have another life because publishers watch the prize selections.
Market Impact and International Expansion
The prize has been shown to generate tangible results for selected authors and publishers. Winners typically see sales increases of three to four times, although Bohé notes that this starts from modest initial figures.
More significantly, selection leads to rights sales, reprints, and media attention. “We note this in general reprints and rights sales,” she says, “which could have been [coming anyway], but are done suddenly.”
What’s more, the prize has established its credibility within the book industry.
“It’s really a recognition from peers to say that when you’re a laureate, you’re a writer, that’s it,” Bohé says. “You’re going to read this; you no longer need to prove it.”
The free international catalogue is intended to provide international publishers access to emerging French talent before authors gain wider recognition. The platform will feature 8,000-character excerpts with rights contact information.
“This allows you to access books that a priori are not sold at all yet, or very little,” Bohé explained. “And on authors who will be the authors of tomorrow.”
The initiative targets independent international publishers who may lack large acquisition budgets but can secure rights at competitive prices due to limited competition.
“It’s a way to buy rights not too expensively because you’re not in competition,” Bohé says. “So it’s actually a way to also develop French independent publishing even more broadly.”
Digital Platform Launch
The English-language catalogue can be accessed through the existing Hors Concours site with dedicated international access. The platform represents what Bohé sees as a first in the publishing world.
“It’s something that doesn’t exist to my knowledge,” she says, “so it’s also a first time. We’re inventing something. It’s fun.”
The 2025 selection of 40 titles was announced early in April at the Festival du Livre de Paris, and the catalogue has been released this month as part of the prize’s 10th anniversary celebrations. This year’s winner is to be named in November.
The initiative reflects broader efforts to internationalize French independent publishing while maintaining the prize’s core mission of supporting emerging voices in francophone literature.
More from Publishing Perspectives on independent publishing is here, more on international book and publishing awards programs is here, more on the French market is here, and more on translation and publication rights is here.