The awards ceremony took place in a former pumping station and saw veteran writer Māra Zālīte handed the prize for best prose work for her book Paradīzes putni (Birds of paradise), with Uldis Bērziņš given the prize for best poetry collection for Idilles (Idylls).
Guntars Godiņš picked up his second award of the season for his translation of an Estonian epic poem, while the prize for best children's work went to Lilija Berzinska for Skelets skapī (Skeleton in the closet).
Best debut went to Haralds Mantulis for Vidusšķiras problēmas (Middling problems).
Each prizewinner received 1,500 euros and a commemorative lamp.
There was also a special award worth 750 euros for the bilingual poetry collection Trillium in the Liv and English languages and a lifetime achievement award worth 3,000 euros to London-based writer Velta Sniķere.
The awards are organized each year by the Latvian writer's union and the International Writers' and Translators' House with support from the Culture Ministry and Baltic International Bank.
