The Costa Rican government celebrated yesterday the National Culture Awards ceremony at the National Theater.

These awards are given every year and they recognize the work, effort, achievements and excellence of individuals or cultural-artistic groups in different cultural disciplines such as visual arts, audiovisuals, dance music, theater, literature, cultural research, culture promotion, to name a few.

“We celebrate the culture and people that work for it and enrichen the nation’s heritage, with a work many times heroic, marked by sacrifices, commitment and true calling. A country can never be thankful enough to those who honor it with this job, and for me, it is an honor to be part of this deserved recognition”, said Luis Guillermo Solís, President of Costa Rica.

“The government has the pleasure of expressing what admiration of this society to its talents; those who inspire us through art, creativity and those who give the Ministry of Culture its meaning and importance”, expressed Sylvie Durán, Minister of Culture.

The list of some of the winners of the National Cultural Awards 2016:

National Award of Visual Arts Francisco Amighetti /two-dimensional category: Exhibit “Caputras” by José Alberto Hernández (three photography series)
National Award of Visual Arts Francisco Amighetti/Other media category: Exhibit Habitat/Obra Viva by Rolando Castellón Alegría
National Audiovisual Award Armando Céspedes Marín/Audiovisual Production category: “Tempo: The National Symphonic Orchestra”
National Audiovisual Award Armando Céspedes Marín/Direction category: Director Ariel Escalante Meza for his movie “The Sound of Things”.
National Audiovisual Award Armando Céspedes Marín/Best Concept Realization: Nicolas Wong Díaz for his work as Director of Photography in the film “The Sound of Things”
National Dance Award Mireya Barboza/Best Scenic Performance: Melissa Montero Ovares and Fabio Pérez Solís.
National Dance Award Mireya Barboza/Best Choreographic Direction: Nandayure Haryley Bolaños.
National Dance Award Mireya Barboza/Best Visual Design: Telémaco Martínez
National Music Award Carlos Enrique Vargas/Music Performance: Ernesto Rodríguez Montero.
National Music Award Carlos Enrique Vargas/Songwritting: Vinicio Meza Solano
National Music Award Carlos Enrique Vargas/Direction: Alejandro Gutiérrez Mena
National Theater Award Ricardo Fernández Guardia/Best Actress: Ana Ulate Sancho (La ciudad sitiada)
National Theater Award Ricardo Fernández Guardia /Best Actress: Eder Porras Brenes (Fragmentos)
National Theater Award Ricardo Fernández Guardia / Direction: Luis Carlos Vásquez Mazzilli (A midsummer night’s dream)
National Theater Award Ricardo Fernández Guardia / Wardrobe Design: Francisco Alpízar Córdoba
National Literature Award Aquileo J. Echeverría/ Dramaturgy: Bryan Vindas Villareal
National Literature Award Aquileo J. Echeverría/Poetry: Mauricio Molina Delgado
National Literature Award Aquileo J. Echeverría/Short Story: Arabella Salaverry
National Literature Award Aquileo J. Echeverría/Novel: Luis Diego Guillén
National Literature Award Aquileo J. Echeverría/Essay: Ana Lucía Fonseca
National Cultural Award Magón: Juan Jaramillo Antillón
National Immaterial Cultural Heritage Award: Marfil Music Band
National Cultural Communication Award Joaquín García Monge: Natalia Rodríguez Mata