Authors from 26 Countries Nominated for ‘Future History’ Literary Award New screenplay category introduced

 

“It is particularly important to us that ‘Future History’ is becoming a platform for international dialogue.” Elena Mironenko, General Director of the Atom Foundation

.... Says "Authors across the world were exploring what humanity’s shared future might look like and the roles science and technology would play in shaping it."

.... The award aims to promote contemporary science fiction, highlight achievements in science and technology, strengthen international ties and foster a community of authors capable of creating positive and constructive visions of the future.

Authors from 26 countries, including Nigeria, have had their works nominated for the second season of the international science fiction literary award, “Future History.”

A total of 1,059 short stories were accepted for the competition, highlighting growing international interest in contemporary science fiction and diverse perspectives on the future of technology, science, society and humanity.

The nominated works represent authors from Russia, Uganda, Burundi, Brazil, Zambia, Syria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, India, Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso, Colombia, Italy, Ghana, Tanzania, Nigeria, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Mexico, Argentina, South Africa, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, China, Israel, Belarus, El Salvador, Egypt and Jordan.

According to the organisers, the geographical reach of the second season demonstrates that the conversation about humanity’s future extends beyond any single country or cultural sphere, with writers from Africa, Europe, Asia and Latin America offering different perspectives on science, technology and society.

The General Director of the Atom Foundation, Elena Mironenko, said the award was increasingly becoming a platform for international dialogue.

“It is particularly important to us that ‘Future History’ is becoming a platform for international dialogue,” Mironenko said.

She said authors across the world were exploring what humanity’s shared future might look like and the roles science and technology would play in shaping it.

Mironenko added that Rosatom, together with writers, was helping to “map out this future,” describing the international growth of the award as one of its important outcomes.

The second season has also expanded the award with the introduction of a new category, “Best Screenplay Pitch.”

The category was established in partnership with the Autonomous Nonprofit Organisation “Author” to identify original science fiction concepts with potential for adaptation into feature films, television series and animated productions.

Organisers said the new category marks a further step in the award’s development, moving from the discovery of literary voices to supporting stories and fictional universes capable of extending beyond the written page to the screen.

The entries will be evaluated by a jury comprising representatives from literature, science, film, media and the expert community.

The jury is chaired by science fiction writer Sergei Lukyanenko and includes science fiction writer Roman Zlotnikov; writer, screenwriter and science journalist Anton Pervushin; screenwriter, producer and director Andrei Zolotarev; Director General of the VCIOM Analytical Center Valery Fedorov; and Head of Science Fiction Publishing at Eksmo, Vyacheslav Bakulin.

Others on the panel are Editor-in-Chief of the Autonomous Nonprofit Organisation “Author” and Kinoscenario Magazine, Alexander Dyakov; Vice Rector of the Senezh Management Workshop and Head of the New Media Workshop, Mikhail Kanavtsev; and Taras Varkhotov, Associate Professor, Candidate of Philosophical Sciences and Acting Head of the Department of Philosophy and Methodology of Science, Faculty of Philosophy, Lomonosov Moscow State University.

The next stage of the competition will be the selection of the longlists in October, while the shortlists will be announced in November. The best works will subsequently be submitted to the jury for final consideration.

The “Future History” International Literary Award was established by the Atom Foundation for the Development of Scientific, Educational, and Communication Initiatives under the auspices of Rosatom State Corporation.

The award aims to promote contemporary science fiction, highlight achievements in science and technology, strengthen international ties and foster a community of authors capable of creating positive and constructive visions of the future.