Prix BD Sept

Swiss Graphic Novel Prize Regulations

Article 1

The company Sept.ch SA, headquartered in Villars-sur-Glâne (Switzerland), created the Swiss Graphic Novel Prize in 2023 to support authors who enjoy telling true stories in illustrated form. The prize for the winner is a publishing contract with Editions Sept for the publication of a graphic novel - in the form of a mook - with the theme for 2026 being the story of Ruth Fayon. Story published online on the sept.info website in 11 chapters and which was the subject of a book. The publishing contract includes an advance and royalties. Sept.ch SA reserves the right not to designate a winner.

Article 2

The Swiss Graphic Novel Prize is open to everyone. Participation is free. Only one entry per person is allowed, under penalty of nullity. Only participants who have provided their complete contact details will be considered. All participants authorize Sept.ch SA to verify their identity, residence, and professional status. It is specified that participants must not be subject to any exclusivity obligation nor have transferred the management of their rights on the submitted file to a third party. They commit to this in writing in their cover letter.

Article 3

The application file must include the following elements:

- a signed cover letter of no more than one page explaining the reasons for entering the competition
- description of the graphic novel project retracing the story of Ruth Fayon, including a 10-line pitch and a synopsis
- at least 4 boards that provide the graphic direction of the project
- the complete contact details of the candidate
- their portfolio
- a short biography/CV
- indication that the candidate is free from any contract with another publisher
- a statement from the rights holder accepting that Sept.ch SA may use visuals from the file and describe its content in the context of the prize's communication.

Technical data:

- works presented in HD pdf format
- texts in word doc or docx format
- all files are compressed into a single zip file named after the author

Applications are open and the application file must be sent no later than January 31, 2026, to the following address: [email protected].

Article 4

By participating in the competition, each candidate commits and guarantees to Sept.ch SA:

- to have full ownership of the material and intellectual property rights on their works and not to be subject to any obligation to third parties regarding these rights.
- that they are the author of all the works presented.

Article 5

The winner will be designated by a jury composed of at least two members of Editions Sept. For information purposes, and without binding the jury members, candidates are informed that the criteria appreciated by the jury include:

- the quality of graphic writing
- the inventiveness of the staging
- the power of the narration
- public interest
- the originality and sensitivity of the themes addressed
- the relevance of the proposal in the cover letter.

Sept.ch SA reserves the right to modify, interrupt, delete, or postpone the competition at any time, without notice, and particularly depending on the quality of the proposed files and its editorial needs, without its liability being engaged.

Article 6

Sept.ch SA reserves the possibility to replace, add, or remove one or more jury members.

Article 7

Sept.ch SA supports the winner in the realization of their graphic novel project for publication. The editorial team works with the winner to define the content of the project, particularly the script and storyboard, and validates them before production. It also provides the scenario.

Article 8

Participants in the competition authorize Sept.ch SA to communicate their name on any medium (television or radio broadcasts, promotional actions, press reports, websites, social networks, etc.) without restriction or reservation and without conferring a right to remuneration or any advantage other than the award of the prize.

Article 9

This regulation is exclusively subject to Swiss law. Any dispute arising from or related to this regulation will be submitted to the jurisdiction of the court of the domicile or headquarters of Sept.ch SA. Sept.ch SA reserves the right to exclude any participant who does not comply with this regulation.

Article 10

Any participant in the competition accepts the terms of this regulation. Non-compliance with the participation conditions stated in this regulation will result in the nullity of the participation.