Aleksandra Jovanović is the recipient of the annual "Free Word" award.
Aleksandra Jovanović, a writer and playwright from Vranje who lives and works in Belgrade, is this year's recipient of the Annual Award from the “Slobodna reč” portal, established on the first anniversary of the editorial office's operation on April 26, 2021, and has since been regularly awarded to distinguished individuals and organizations.
In 2026, on the sixth anniversary of the editorial office, Jovanović received recognition for her exceptional contribution to contemporary Serbian literature for children and young adults and her continuous affirmation of the values of free thought and socially responsible public expression. Through her award-winning works and artistic dedication, as an author from Vranje, she represents her hometown in a dignified manner within a broader cultural context, serving as a role model for younger generations.
Jovanović is the author of the following novels: "Crna ptica" (2020), "Petra je stvarno otišla" (2023), and "Ovo nije ljubavni roman" (2025).
For the novel "Crna ptica," Jovanović received the Politikin zabavnik award (2020), the City of Niš award "Maleni cvet" (2021), and "Crna ptica" was included in the international catalog "The White Ravens" as one of the 200 best novels for children and young adults in the world (2021). At the Dragon Children's Games in Novi Sad, as part of the Children's Monodrama Festival, she received the "Sigridrug" award for the text "Želja," based on motifs from the novel "Crna ptica" (2021).
Another of her novels – "Petra je stvarno otišla" – was listed among the 200 best children's books in the world (2024), making this author and playwright a two-time recipient of the "The White Ravens" recognition. For the novel "Petra je stvarno otišla," she also won the "Rade Obrenović" award (2023) and the "Dositejevo pero" award (2023).
Jovanović also won first prize at the international short story competition titled "Continue the Story," organized by the "Skribonauti" association from Croatia (2021).
As a playwright, she has worked on theater productions including: "Dečko iz poslednje klupe," "Okamenjeno more," "Crna ptica," "4 zida ili tragikomedija o karantinu," "Prasetina na 178 načina," "Narodni poslanik," "Ljudi bez grobova," and "Poša." As a screenwriter, she has worked on the short films "Krotki" (2022) and "Vodi me, gde god" (2023), as well as on several television series.
She is the author of the poetry collections "Jagma" (2020) – for which she won the "Mladi Dis" award (2020) – and "Prsti u psećem krznu" (2022). She participated in the "Literary Colony Vranje 2024," as well as the "Literary Week for Youth" in Vranje (2026).
Details regarding the official award presentation will be announced later.
Previous recipients of the Annual Award from the portal Slobodna reč include: epidemiologist from the Public Health Institute (ZZJZ) Vranje, Dr. Slađan Stanković (2021); Production Company This and That (2022); National Museum Vranje (2023); Initiative "ProGlas" (2024); graduates of the "Bora Stanković" Gymnasium, as well as journalist and host of the News on TV Nova, Radovan Seratlić (2025), recipient of the Special Recognition awarded on the fifth anniversary of the portal.
The portal Slobodna reč began operations in Vranje on April 26, 2020, with the aim of promoting the idea of free speech. We support accountability for publicly spoken words and the preservation of the rule of law. We advocate for consistency, objectivity, and the verification of information in reporting to citizens about everything significant for their participation in social life and on topics related to politics, society, culture, individual life, and freedom in a country whose strategic goal is membership in the European Union (EU).
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