The Debut Prize Foundation

The Debut Prize 2011 Winners

On November 24, 2011, six rising Russian writers were awarded the Debut Prize at a ceremony at the New Opera Theater in Moscow.

One of Russia's elite literary honors, the Debut Prize is awarded annually to authors of literary works in the Russian language. But Debut is special: its mission is to discover new literature in Russian the world over. For that reason, eligibility is limited to authors not more than 35 years of age. The winner in each category, selected from over 70,000 competitors, receives the “Bird” statuette; they also receive an exclusive one million ruble (over $30,000) publishing contract, which makes Debut one of Russia's largest literary prizes.

“Since 2000, the Debut Prize has been seeking out a new generation of literary talent – and finding it. Debut winners demonstrate remarkable creative independence and a genuine commitment to art," says Olga Slavnikova, director of the Debut Prize, herself a celebrated Russian novelist. "On the one hand, they give an inside view onto the rapidly changing political and technological environment of a very new Russia. On the other, they are profoundly concerned with the eternal human themes that touch every one of us - love and loss, despair and joy, life and death. Debut writers are helping us to understand ourselves as we leave the Post-Soviet era behind for a dynamic but uncertain future."

Spanish paper "El Pais" on the Debut collection and its presentation in Madrid

See also the article “Children of Perestroika” in El Pais about the three Debut authors: Alisa Ganieva, Alexei Lukyanov and Igor Savelyev, the situation in the Russian book market and a certain increase of interest towards Russian literature. 

Presentation of Sergei Shargunov’s new book

On 14 June at 7 pm at Proekt OGI Club (8/12 Potapovsky Lane), Sergei Shargunov, winner of the Debut for 2001, presents his new book Book Without Photos ("Alpina Publishers"). 

Debut winners and finalists included in the long list of the “Eurasia-2011”

The long list of the "Eurasia" Prize for young playwrights has been announced. Some of the "Debut" winners and finalists from various years have been included. In the nomination “play on a free theme”: “Strawberry Notebook” by Zlata Demina, “The Genitive Case” by Maria Zelinskaya, “Endless April” by Yaroslava Pulinovich, “Cornflowers” by Elena Trifonova, “Who” by Andrei Yurtayev and Igor Savelyev. In the nomination “play for children’s theater”:  “Kids in the Cage” by Maria Zelinskaya, “Valhalla” by Dmitry Miev and Artur Filittov, “The Phoenix Bird Comes Home” by Yaroslava Pulinovich.  In the nomination “play for the big stage”: “Dog’s Sense” and “Trinity” by Maria Zelinskaya.

Personal pages of the 2011 Debut jury members

Personal pages of the 2011 Jury members: Nikolai Kolyada, Maria Arbatova, Andrei Astvatsaturov, Oleg Divov, Vadim Mesyats and Sergei Nikolayevich are now available on the Russian version of our website. The press conference launching the new round of the Debut Prize will take place on 14 June 2011.

Debut authors in the latest literary magazines

See a selection of poems by Anastasia Afanasyeva in Novy Mir No. 5, 2011, a review by Marta Antonicheva in Oktyabr No. 5, 2011, a new short novel by Alexei Shepelev in Volga No.5, 2011 and a review by Marianna Ionova (Znamya No. 6, 2011).