Please find our press release in English and in Russian here.
We look forward to seeing you at the SLOVO Press Conference -- on 8 March, at 4:30 pm at the May Fair Hotel.
We are delighted and honoured to have so many distinguished guests coming to SLOVO 5, including some of Russia's finest contemporary writers. For a full list of guests, click here.
We are deeply grateful to all our partners for their assistance. For more information about partners, click here.
For information about venues, click here.
PRESS RELEASE
5th SLOVO RUSSIAN LITERATURE FESTIVAL
OPENS IN LONDON ON 8 MARCH 2014
www.academia-rossica.org
From Pushkin to Pelevin, Dostoevsky to Shishkin, Tolstoy to Bykov - literature has always been Russia’s calling card. And writers have been its most important ambassadors! Their stories, their insights into human nature, their philosophical musings and debates continue to engage and inspire readers all over the world. And when speaking about the relationship between Britain and Russia, it is certainly the literary links that have been the strongest ties between the two countries. It is therefore no surprise then that the only festival of Russian literature outside Russia was established in London!
This year, the SLOVO Russian Literature Festival is returning to London for the 5th time! Russia's most celebrated writers will be in attendance, presenting their new books, meeting with readers, debating with UK authors and specialists, and discussing new projects with publishers and translators. SLOVO – a chance for Russian writers to bring their work to the UK and an opportunity for UK audiences to meet with the key players in Russian intellectual life.
This year's SLOVO will run from the 8-23 March, featuring 16 Russian authors at 20 events over the course for 16 days at 6 prestigious and celebrated venues around London.
IN SEARCH OF LOST REALITY
In Search of Lost Reality. The theme of this year's Festival is open to interpretation; our writers will talk not only about their works but about how they capture today's rapidly changing reality and the transience of our experiences and emotions.
The Festival opens on 8 March with a talk by Mikhail Shishkin – Of Living Noses and Dead Souls. One of the most celebrated contemporary Russian writers will reflect on the great and eternal themes which are still relevant in today's Russia. He will be followed by “Night Snipers” rock musician Diana Arbenina, who will present Sprinter – a new collection of poems published to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her performances.
Famous and internationally award-winning writers, Zakhar Prilepin, Alexander Terekhov, Sergei Shargunov, and Olga Sedakova will be joining us for this year's SLOVO Festival which will also feature exclusive films based on the works Ilf and Petrov, Pelevin, and Bulgakov.
ROSSICA TRANSLATION PRIZE
March 20 sees the long-awaited announcement of the prestigious Rossica Prize. Established in 2005, it is the world's only prize for the translation of Russian literature into English. The prize is awarded by Academia Rossica with the support of the Russky Mir foundation. The Rossica Young Translators' Award – an annual competition for young translators – will also be announced.
The Awards Ceremony will be preceded by a talk from Rossica Prize judge and translator, Oliver Ready – Cat and Mouse with Dostoevsky. The Translator as Detective. He will discuss the challenges of translation, especially in his recent work with Crime and Punishment and the ambiguous, flowing nature of the conversations between the Investigator, Porfiry Petrovich, and his suspect, Rodion Raskolnikov.
TALES OF RUSSIAN LONDON
Russian Londoners! Grab your pens! For the first time in SLOVO history, we will be holding a competition! Russian Londoners are invited to write on the theme of The Moment I Loved/Hated/Knew London. Organised by Academia Rossica and www.RusskyLondon.com, the best stories will be published as a collection – Tales of Russian London.
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The full programme of the SLOVO Festival can be found at: www.academia-rossica.org
The SLOVO Festival will be in London between 8 and 23 March 2014 as part of the 2014 UK-Russia Year of Culture, with the support of the Russkiy Mir Foundation.
Organiser:
ACADEMIA ROSSICA is an independent arts organisation set up in London in 2000 to promote cultural and intellectual ties between Russia and Britain. We represent Russian artists, filmmakers, writers and publishers. Academia Rossica projects are supported by the Russian Embassy, the Russian Ministry of Culture and our corporate partners. http://academia-rossica.org
SLOVO Festival Partners:
Waterstones Piccadilly, The London Library, King's Russia Institute, MacDougall's Arts, Erarta Galleries, The May Fair Hotel, www.RusskyLondon.com.
Media Partners:
Russia Beyond the Headlines, Angliya, Kommersant UK, British Style, Russian Mind, Voice of Russia
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CONTACTS
For enquiries regarding press accreditation, interviews and photo requests, please contact Academia Rossica:
press@academia-rossica.org
Academia Rossica
76 Brewer Street, Piccadilly Circus, London W1F 9TX
Tel: +44 20 7287 2614, +44 20 7287 5712