“From the Author”: A Film Collection of Contemporary Russian-Language Poetry

News

From the Author is one of the largest and most unusual video archives of contemporary Russian-language poetry, assembled between 2016 and 2021. The collection includes 64 episodes with a total running time of about 50 hours: poets read their own texts, comment on them, and speak about literature, time, and language.

Among the participants in the project are Sergei Stratanovsky, Pavel Grushko, Vsevolod Emelin, Helga Olshvang, Alexei Ostudin, Tatyana Voltskaya, Alexander Gagarin, and many other authors.

From the Author is not simply an archive of readings, but an attempt to preserve the living speech of poets and the intonation of an era. Each episode is structured as an intimate conversation between the author and the viewer, in which the poem exists not separately from the person, but together with the poet’s voice, pauses, commentary, and memory.

The creators of the project describe it as a “film collection of contemporary poetry.” Today, it is also becoming an important cultural document of its time.

All subscription proceeds go toward publishing collections of contemporary poets.

More about the project

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 Prize is awarded annually. The Jury holds a vote in which each member selects between one and three works. The author whose work receives the highest number of votes becomes the winner.

What Awards Are Provided?

The Prize winner receives a grant for the translation of their work into English, French, and German.

When Does the Submission Period for the Competition Start and End?

Submissions for the third season of the prize will open on July 15, 2026, and close on October 15, 2026.

When will the list of finalists and winners be announced?

On January 20, 2027, the Council of Experts will announce the shortlist. The Independent Jury will announce the winner on May 25, 2027.

What are the conditions for the nomination of a book for the award

Works published in 2025 are eligible for the third season of the competition. Eligible works (novels, novellas, short story and essay collections, documentary prose) may have been published either as standalone editions or in literary magazines. Nominations may be submitted by publishing houses and magazine editorial boards, as well as by the authors themselves or third parties (with the author's consent and written confirmation). Texts must be submitted for consideration in electronic format. The DAR Prize is open to all authors. Given the prize's main goals — promoting contemporary Russian-language literature outside of Russia — and the nature of the award itself (a translation grant), priority will be given to authors whose works have not previously been translated into English, French, or German.