January 22 in Berlin: presentation of an unknown military archive and photo book Olga Ignatovich: In the Shadow of Big Brother

Event

On January 22, from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Babel Books Berlin will host a presentation of an unknown military archive and photo book by Olga Ignatovich. In the Shadow of Big Brother, based on recently discovered frontline negatives by one of seven female photojournalists who photographed World War II from the Soviet Union's perspective.

The photo book presents the legacy of Olga Ignatovich, whose war photographs long remained in the shadow of her older brother, Boris Ignatovich, a classic of Soviet photography. Among the works presented are the liberation of Rzhev and Poland, the Red Army's advance to the West, and the liberation of Nazi death camps, including Majdanek and Auschwitz. Photographs taken by Ignatovich in Auschwitz were used in the Nuremberg trials.

The archive and book are presented by photographer, visual artist, and collector Arthur Bondar, founder of the WWII/ABC collection, which includes tens of thousands of previously unknown visual testimonies from World War II. His work with archives combines documentary and artistic approaches and offers a new, more personal perspective on history and memory.

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Questions and answers

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.