On November 27, 2025, a meeting without translation will be held in Berlin with human rights activist and journalist Olga Romanova, who will present her new novel, the daring neo-noir “The Bottle Game.” The event opens at 7:00 p.m., and admission is free.
Romanova has long been known as a voice capable of speaking honestly, directly, and fearlessly about complex issues. This time, she surprised readers even more: her new book is a political thriller interwoven with coming-of-age drama, action, slash fan fiction, and vivid yaoi motifs. But the plot is far from being solely about relationships: it is about people whom everyone sees every day—even if they try not to notice them.
The Bottle Game spans several decades and many locations: from the suburbs of Leningrad in 1974 to Moscow, Kabul, Berlin, Dresden, and St. Petersburg, ending in the near future. At the center of the story is a bold and enterprising woman from a Ukrainian village who comes to conquer the northern capital. Smart, honest, and ready to help, she encounters a legendary cosmonaut, a young KGB officer in Dresden, gangsters, ministers, members of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union, spies, and hired assassins. Going through these encounters and not breaking the rules, she gradually turns into a shady figure — a person who has declared war on her own homeland.
The event will be moderated by Svetlana Müller.
The language of the meeting is Russian, without translation.
The event is part of the festival's additional program. PANDAwomen 2025.
What Are the Objectives of the Award?
The primary goal of the Award is to support authors and promote Russian-language literature worldwide. We welcome all who write and read in Russian, regardless of citizenship or place of residence. We aim to foster a Russian-language culture free from political and imperial influences.
How Is the Award Process Conducted?
The Award is given annually. The jury votes, with each member selecting between one and three works. The winner is the author whose work receives the most votes. Additionally, a reader’s vote (Crowdfunding) is conducted on the Award’s website, where readers can vote for authors and support them financially.
What Awards Are Provided?
The winner of the Award receives a grant to translate the work into English, French and German. Also, as part of the reader's vote, all collected funds are transferred to the authors for whom the readers voted.
When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?
Прием заявок на конкурс второго сезона премии начнется 1 сентября 2025-го и закончится 15-го октября 2025 года.
When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?
В январе 2026 года Совет Экспертов объявит список финалистов. Читательское голосование начинается в тот же месяц. В феврале-апреле члены жюри читают книги-финалисты, а победителей Премии и читательского голосования объявят в мае 2026 года.
What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award
В конкурсе второго сезона могут принимать участия произведения, изданные в 2024-м году. Произведения (роман, повесть, сборники рассказов и эссе, документальная проза), вышедшие отдельными изданиями или опубликованные в журналах. Номинировать на премию имеют право как издательства и редакции журналов, так и сами писатели или третьи лица (с согласия и письменного подтверждения автора). Тексты подаются к рассмотрению в электронном виде. Премия «Дар» открыта для всех авторов. Учитывая главные цели премии: продвижение современной русскоязычной литературы за пределами РФ и характер самого вознаграждение (грант на перевод) - приоритет будет отдаваться авторам, чьи произведения ранее не переводились на английский, французский и немецкий языки.
