Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators to Kadri Jaanits

This year’s Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators goes to Kadri Jaanits, who is well known for the translation of Finnish literature into Estonian. The prize was presented to Jaanits on Tuesday 24 May by Paavo Kotiaho, First secretary at the Embassy of Finland in Tallinn.

Kadri Jaanits (born in 1976) has translated children’s and young people’s books, prose for adults as well as non-fiction into Estonian. Among the authors translated by her are Laura Ertimo, Salla Simukka, Katja Kettu, Rosa Liksom and Sofi Oksanen. She has also translated non-fiction books on war history, among other things.

In recent years, Estonia has been one of the most translated languages of Finnish literature. Excellent translations, such as those of Kadri Jaanits, have contributed to making Finnish literature popular in Estonia. 

The Ministry of Education and Culture has awarded the Finnish State Award for Foreign Translators since 1975. The prize is EUR 15,000. It is awarded annually to a distinguished translator of Finnish literature on the proposal of the advisory board of the Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI). 

Inquiries and requests for interview: Merja Aho, Coordinator, [email protected], tel. +358 40 5347 834

The Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI) makes Finnish literature better known internationally. FILI awards translation and printing grants, among others. FILI was founded in 1977 and it is a department of the Finnish Literature Society.

Finnish Literature Exchange (FILI)

List of previous award-winners

Interview with Kadri Jaanitsi in the FILI 100 translators series (in Finnish)