Marcel Bezençon, who was the director of the European Broadcasting Union, had the idea of the Eurovision Song Contest, which is based on Italian famous San Remo festival, in 1955. After his death in 1981, it was decided to give awards based on his name.
Marcel Bezençon awards are given in three categories since 2002, Press Award (the winner is chosen by the directors of that year’s Eurovision Song Contest), Artistic Award (the winner is chosen by the commentators of that year’s Eurovision Song Contest) and Composer Award (the winner is chosen by the jury of songwriters of competing song).
A view to the awards:
- Press Awards:
2002 – France – Sandrine François
2003 – Turkey – Sertab Erener
2004 – Serbia & Montenegro – Zeljko Joksimovic
2005 – Malta – Chiara
2006 – Finland – Lordi
2007 – Ukraine – Verka Serduchka
2008 – Portugal – Vania Fernandes
2009 – Norway – Aleksander Rybak
2010 – Israel – Harel Skaat
- Artistic Awards:
2002 – Sweden – Afro-dite
2003 – Netherlands – Ester Hart
2004 – Ukraine – Ruslana
2005 – Greece – Helena Paparizou
2006 – Sweden – Carola
2007 – Serbia – Maria Serifovic
2008 – Ukraine – Ani Lorak
2009 – France – Patricia Kaas
2010 – Israel – Harel Skaat
- Composer Awards:
2004 – Cyprus – Stronger Every Minute – Mike Konnaris
2005 – Serbia & Montenegro – Zavujek Moja – Slaven Knezovic & Milan Peric
2006 – Bosnia & Hersegovina – Lejla – Zeljko Joksimovic & Fahrudin Pecikoza
2007 – Hungary – Ubsubstantial Blues – Magdi Ruzsa & Imre Mozsik
2008 – Romania – Pe O Magrine De Lume – Andrei Tudor
2009 – Bosnia & Hersegovina – Bistra Voda – Aleksander Covic
2010 – Israel – Milim – Harel Skaat
This years Israeli representative, Harel Skaat, won all the categories at this year’s Marcel Bezençon awards even though he didn’t achieve a high position with his song, Milim.
