Ethan Hawke co-founded the Young Lions Fiction Award with writer Rick Moody, librarian Hannah McFarland, and literary agent Jennifer Rudolph Walsh, to support promising writers in the early stages of their careers. The $10,000 prize for an author under 35, was presented at the annual benefit, held at the New York Public Library.

Hawke introduced the nominees for this year’s prize, joined onstage by fellow actors Jenny Slate (Obvious Child), Vincent Piazza (Boardwalk Empire, Jersey Boys), and Jennifer Morrison (Once Upon a Time, House) who read excerpts from books by this year’s contenders—Jesse Ball, Catherine Lacey, Ben Lerner, Molly Antopol, and Andrew Ladd. Antopol took the prize for her short story collection, The UnAmericans.

The award presentation was followed by cocktails and dancing in the Library’s grand Astor Hall.