Throughout the year, Sidney has a number of literary prizes to celebrate outstanding work in the arts. All of these prizes require submission of an entry in the form of a written piece, such as a poem or essay. Some are open to all students, while others are restricted by age or field. These prizes are supported by donors, alumni and friends of the College.
The Sydney Prize for Jewish Studies is awarded annually in memory of former Dean, Professor and trustee Sheila Diamond ’55. The prize was established by a donation from the Alan and Sheila Diamond Charitable Trust, with a view to supporting academic awards for students in the areas of History, English, Law, Maths, and Science. The prize is open to all Sidney students.
In the 2024 Official Competition, a jury of filmmakers and film industry professionals selected There’s Still Tomorrow directed by Paola Cortellesi as the winner of the Sydney Prize. The prize honours the most audacious, cutting-edge and courageous film in the Official Competition line-up. The prize is a $60,000 cash prize and a certificate.
Sidney – the College of the Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney offers a number of literary prizes. All of these require the submission of an essay on a particular topic. These prizes are open to all students, both current and past.
Some of these prizes are awarded for writing in a particular genre or in a specific style. Other prizes are awarded for excellent research. Some of these include the Sydney Prize for Writing in the Humanities and Social Sciences, the Sydney H. Schanberg Prize for exceptional long-form investigative or enterprise journalism and the Sidney Prize for Jewish Studies.
This prize was established by the Project on Private Law at Harvard Law School in honor of its founding partner and is awarded to the best paper on a topic in the field of private law. This may be written in conjunction with a course or seminar or as an independent study project.
The Hillman Prize is an annual award from the Sidney Hillman Foundation given to “journalists, writers and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy for the common good.” It is named in honor of 19th-century Southern poet and author Sidney Lanier.
Overland has announced Annie Zhang as the winner of the Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’. The prize is worth $7,000. It is open to all writers, including those who have had only a few short-film credits. The short story was inspired by the real-life experience of living with ghosts on unceded Wangal land. Overland’s judges noted that the work ‘engaged with issues of cultural and political importance with a sense of urgency.’ To read the full article and see the shortlist, click here. Taking out a new subscription to Overland also gets you discounted entry into the contest. See our special offers page for details.
