The Festival of German-Language Literature (german: Tage der deutschsprachigen Literatur, links=no) is a literary event which takes place annually in

Klagenfurt Klagenfurt am WörtherseeLandesgesetzblatt 2008 vom 16. Jänner 2008, Stück 1, Nr. 1: ''Gesetz vom 25. Oktober 2007, mit dem die Kärntner Landesverfassung und das Klagenfurter Stadtrecht 1998 geändert werden.'/ref> (; ; sl, Celovec), usually ...

, Austria. During this major literary festival which lasts for several days a number of awards are given, the major one being the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, first awarded in 1977 and one of the most important awards for literature in the German language.

History

In the mid seventies, the journalist and writer

Humbert Fink Humbert Fink (i.e. Luigi Umberto Fink; born 13 August 1933 in Vietri sul Mare near Salerno, Italy; died 16 May 1992 in Maria Saal, Carinthia) was an Austrian writer and journalist. After a book of poetry and two novels, Fink wrote numerous travel ...

and the chairman of the Austrian Radio and TV (ORF) studio in Carinthia at that time, Ernst Willner, decided to establish a literary competition based on an event held by Gruppe 47. They were able to enlist

Marcel Reich-Ranicki Marcel Reich-Ranicki (; 2 June 1920 – 18 September 2013) was a Polish-born German literary critic and member of the informal literary association Gruppe 47. He was regarded as one of the most influential contemporary literary critics in the fi ...

amongst others onto the original jury. The result was the Festival of German-Language Literature, which has taken place annually since 1977 and is televised live by ORF.

The Ingeborg Bachmann Prize

The main prize of the Festival is given in memory of

Ingeborg Bachmann Ingeborg Bachmann (25 June 1926 – 17 October 1973) was an Austrian poet and author. Biography Bachmann was born in Klagenfurt, in the Austrian state of Carinthia, the daughter of Olga (née Haas) and Matthias Bachmann, a schoolteacher. Her f ...

(25 June 1926 – 17 October 1973), one of the most distinguished Austrian writers. The prize winner is determined during a three-day reading event in which the invited candidates present their literary contributions, which have to be unpublished, to the nine-member professional jury and the public. Each presentation is about 25 minutes long and the original language of these contributions must be German. A moderator presents and guides the readings and the discussions of the jury and the writers have to convince both the jury and the public of the quality of their contributions. In 2008, the jury was reduced to seven members, the competing writers from eighteen to fourteen. Since 2006, the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize has been endowed with 25,000 EUR.

Other prizes

Several other literature prizes are awarded during the Festival, in total usually three to five awards. Over the years, additional sponsored prizes have been awarded: * Deutschlandfunk Prize (EUR 12,500) * Jury Prize, aka Kelag-Prize (since 2000, EUR 10,000) * 3sat Prize (given by

3sat In logic and computer science, the Boolean satisfiability problem (sometimes called propositional satisfiability problem and abbreviated SATISFIABILITY, SAT or B-SAT) is the problem of determining if there exists an interpretation that satisfies ...

, EUR 7,500) * BKS Bank Audience Prize (since 2002, EUR 7,000) * Ernst Willner Prize (EUR 7,000) * Editor's special prize

Prize winners

Sharon Dodua Otoo - Bachmannpreisgewinnerin 2016

* 2022 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: : ''Wechselkröte'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: : ''Einige Landesgrenzen weiter östlich, von hier aus gesehen'' *:* Kelag Prize: : ''Im Falle des Druckabfalls'' *:* 3sat Prize: : ''Liste der Dinge, die nicht so sind, wie sie sein sollten'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: : ''Staublunge'' * 2021 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Nava Ebrahimi: ''Der Cousin'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: : ''Gewässer im Ziplock'' *:* Kelag Prize: : ''Morgen wache ich auf und dann beginnt das Leben'' *:* 3sat Prize: : ''Mein Freund am See'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: Necati Öziri * 2020 Festival (virtual) *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Helga Schubert: ''Vom Aufstehen'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: Lisa Krusche: ''Für bestimmte Welten kämpfen und gegen andere'' *:* Kelag Prize: Egon Christian Leitner: ''Immer im Krieg'' *:* 3sat Prize: Laura Freudenthaler: ''Der heißeste Sommer'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: Lydia Haider: ''Der große Gruß '' * 2019 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Birgit Birnbacher Birgit is a female given name, a short form of Birgitta and ultimately a Germanic form of the Gaelic name Bridget. Notable people with the name include: * Birgit Brüel, Danish singer and actress * Birgit Collin-Langen, German politician * Bir ...

: ''Der Schrank'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: Leander Fischer: ''Nymphenverzeichnis Muster Nummer eins Goldkopf'' *:* Kelag Prize: Julia Jost: ''Unweit vom Schakaltal'' *:* 3sat Prize: Yannic Han Biao Federer: ''Kenn ich nicht'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience:

Ronya Othmann Ronja Richardsdotter Stanley (formerly Gullichsen; born 9 November 1991), known by their stage names Ronya and New Ro, is a Finnish-British singer-songwriter. Life and career Ronya was born in Siuntio, Finland. They came to the fore in 2011 w ...

: ''Vierundsiebzig'' * 2018 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Tanya Malyarchuk Tetiana "Tania" Volodymyrivna Maliarchuk ( uk, Ukrainian: Тетяна "Таня" Володимирівна Малярчук, ger, Tetjana "Tanja" Wolodymyriwna Maljartschuk, born 1983 in Ivano-Frankivsk) is a Ukrainian-born author who writes ...

: ''Frösche im Meer'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: Bov Bjerg: ''SERPENTINEN'' *:* Kelag Prize: Özlem Özgül Dündar: ''und ich brenne'' *:* 3sat Prize: Anna Stern: ''Warten auf Ava'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: Raphaela Edelbauer: ''Das Loch'' *2017 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Ferdinand Schmalz: ''mein lieblingstier heißt winter'' *:* Deutschlandfunk Prize: John Wray: ''Madrigal'' *:* Kelag Prize: Eckhart Nickel: ''Hysteria'' *:* 3sat Prize: Gianna Molinari: ''Loses Mappe'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: Karin Peschka: ''Wiener Kindl'' * 2016 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Sharon Dodua Otoo, ''Herr Gröttrup setzt sich hin'' *:* Kelag Prize: , ''Los Alamos ist winzig'' *:* 3sat Prize: , ''WALTER NOWAK BLEIBT LIEGEN'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: Stefanie Sargnagel, ''Penne vom Kika'' * 2015 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Nora Gomringer Nora-Eugenie Gomringer (born 26 January 1980) is a German and Swiss poet and writer. She has won a number of awards, including the 2013 Literaturpreis des Kulturkreises der deutschen Wirtschaft, the 2015 Ingeborg-Bachmann-Preis and the Carl Zuc ...

, ''Recherche'' *:* Kelag Prize: , ''Das Bein'' *:* 3sat Prize: , ''Das primäre Gefühl der Schuldlosigkeit'' *:* BKS Prize of the Audience: , ''Das Bein'' * 2014 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: , ''Wir waren niemals hier'' *:* Kelag Prize: , ''Simeliberg'' *:* 3sat Prize: Senthuran Varatharajah, ''Vor der Zunahme der Zeichen'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: , ''DOWN DOWN DOWN To The Queen Of Chinatown'' *:* Prize of the Audience: , ''Ujjayi'' * 2013 Festival''Petrowskaja gewinnt Bachmannpreis''
kaernten.orf.at, 7 July 2013 *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Katja Petrowskaja Katja Petrowskaja (russian: link=no, Екатерина Мироновна Петровськая, uk, Катерина Миронівна Петровська; born 3 February 1970) is a Kiev born German prose writer and journalist. Biogra ...

, '' Vielleicht Esther'' *:* Kelag Prize: Verena Güntner, ''Es bringen'' *:* 3sat Prize: Benjamin Maack, ''„Wie man einen Käfer richtig fängt“ by Joachim Kaltenbach'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Heinz Helle, ''Wir sind schön'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Nadine Kegele, ''Scherben schlucken'' * 2012 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Olga Martynowa for ''Ich werde sagen: ‚Hi!‘'' *:* Kelag Prize: Matthias Nawrat for ''Unternehmer'' *:* 3sat Prize: Lisa Kränzler for ''Willste abhauen'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Inger-Maria Mahlke *:* Prize of the Audience: Cornelia Travnicek for ''Junge Hunde'' * 2011 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Maja Haderlap for ''Im Kessel'' *:* Kelag Prize:

Steffen Popp Steffen Popp (born in Greifswald, 18 July 1978) is a German poet, novelist and literary translator. He has translated Ben Lerner and other American poets. Awards * 2003: Preisträger der Akademie Graz * 2004: Kranichsteiner Literaturpreis * 20 ...

for ''Spur einer Dorfgeschichte'' *:* 3sat Prize: Nina Bußmann for ''Große Ferien'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Leif Randt for ''Schimmernder Dunst über CobyCounty'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Thomas Klupp for ''9to5 Hardcore'' * 2010 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Peter Wawerzinek for ''Rabenliebe'' *:* Kelag Prize:

Dorothee Elmiger Dorothee Elmiger (born 1985 in Wetzikon) is a Swiss writer. She presently lives in Switzerland. Elmiger is considered one of the most promising young Swiss writers, especially after winning the second Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, the Kelag Prize, ...

for ''Einladung an die Waghalsigen'' *:* 3sat Prize: Judith Zander for ''Dinge, die wir heute sagten'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Aleks Scholz for ''Google Earth'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Peter Wawerzinek for ''Rabenliebe'' * 2009 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Jens Petersen for ''Bis dass der Tod'' *:* Kelag Prize: Ralf Bönt for ''Der Fotoeffekt'' *:* 3sat Prize: Gregor Sander for ''Winterfisch'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Katharina Born for ''Fifty Fifty'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Karsten Krampitz for ''Heimgehen'' * 2008 Festival *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Tilman Rammstedt for ''Der Kaiser von China]'' *:* Telekom Austria Prize: Markus Orths: ''Das Zimmermädchen'' *:* 3sat Prize: Patrick Findeis for ''Kein schöner Land'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Clemens J. Setz for ''Die Waage'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Tilman Rammstedt for ''Der Kaiser von China'' *2007 *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Lutz Seiler Lutz Seiler (born 8 June 1963 in Gera, Thuringia) is a German poet and novelist. Life and work Lutz Seiler grew up in the Langenberg district of Gera, Thuringia (former East Germany). After training as a skilled building construction worker, h ...

for ''Turksib'' *:* Telekom Austria Prize: Thomas Stangl for ''Ohne Titel ohne Ende'' *:* 3sat Prize: Peter Licht for ''Die Geschichte meiner Einschätzung am Anfang des dritten Jahrtausends'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Jan Böttcher for ''Freundwärts'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Peter Licht for ''Die Geschichte meiner Einschätzung am Anfang des dritten Jahrtausends'' *2006 *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize: Kathrin Passig: ''Sie befinden sich hier'' *:* Telekom Austria Prize: Bodo Hell for ''Stadt Land Berg'' *:* 3sat Prize: Norbert Scheuer for ''Überm Rauschen'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Angelika Overath for ''Das Aquarium'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Kathrin Passig: ''Sie befinden sich hier'' *2005 *:* Ingeborg Bachmann Prize:

Thomas Lang Thomas Lang (; born 5 August 1967) is an Austrian drummer. He is the founding member of the Los Angeles-based progressive/ avant garde metal band stOrk and is known for his international session work on a wide variety of genres such as rock, ...

: ''Am Seil'' *:* Telekom Austria Prize: Julia Schoch for ''Der Ritt durch den Feind'' *:* 3sat Prize: Anne Weber for ''Auszug'' *:* Ernst Willner Prize: Natalie Balkow for ''Oben, wo nichts mehr ist'' *:* Prize of the Audience: Saša Stanišić for ''Was wir im Keller spielen …'' *2004 Uwe Tellkamp: ''Der Schlaf in den Uhren'' *2003

Inka Parei Inka Parei (born 1967 in Frankfurt) is a German writer who lives in Berlin. She studied sociology, political science, sinology and German studies. Parei won the 2003 Ingeborg Bachmann Prize The Festival of German-Language Literature (german: Tage ...

: Excerpts from the novel ''Was Dunkelheit war'' *2002

Peter Glaser Peter Edward Glaser (September 5, 1923 – May 29, 2014) was a Czechoslovakian-born American scientist and aerospace engineer. He served as Vice President, Advanced Technology (1985–94), was employed at Arthur D. Little, Inc., Cambridge, MA (19 ...

: ''Geschichte von Nichts'' *2001 Michael Lentz: ''Muttersterben'' *2000 Georg Klein: Excerpt from a long work of prose *1999 Terézia Mora: ''Der Fall Ophelia'' *1998 Sibylle Lewitscharoff: ''PONG.'' *1997

Norbert Niemann Norbert Niemann (born 20 May 1961, in Landau an der Isar) is a German writer. Life He grew up in Niederbayern. He studied literature, musicology and modern history at the University of Regensburg, and at the University of Munich. From 1983 to ...

: ''Wie man's nimmt'' *1996 Jan Peter Bremer: ''Der Fürst spricht'' *1995

Franzobel Franzobel is the pseudonym of the Austrian writer (Franz) Stefan Griebl. He was born on 1 March 1967 in Vöcklabruck. In 1997 he won the Wolfgang Weyrauch Prize and in 1998, the Kassel Literary Prize, amongst numerous other literary awards. In 2 ...

: ''Die Krautflut'' *1994 Reto Hänny: ''Guai'' ** Carinthia Prize: Raoul Schrott: ''Ludwig Höhnel – Totenheft'' ** 3sat Award: Doron Rabinovici: ''Mullemann'' *1993

Kurt Drawert Kurt is a male given name of Germanic or Turkish origin. ''Kurt'' or ''Curt'' originated as short forms of the Germanic Conrad, depending on geographical usage, with meanings including counselor or advisor. In Turkish, Kurt means "Wolf" and i ...

: "Haus ohne Menschen. Ein Zustand" *1992 Alissa Walser: "Geschenkt" *1991 Emine Sevgi Özdamar: "Das Leben ist eine Karawanserei" *1990 Birgit Vanderbeke: "Das Muschelessen" *1989

Wolfgang Hilbig Wolfgang Hilbig (31 August 1941 2 June 2007) was a German writer and poet. Life Wolfgang Hilbig was born in Meuselwitz, Germany. His grandfather had emigrated from Biłgoraj (Congress Poland, Russian Empire) before the First World War. In 19 ...

: "Eine Übertragung" *1988 Angela Krauß: "Der Dienst" *1987 Uwe Saeger: "Ohne Behinderung, ohne falsche Bewegung" *1986 Katja Lange-Müller: "Kaspar Mauser – Die Feigheit vorm Freund" *1985 Hermann Burger: "Die Wasserfallfinsternis von

Bad Gastein Bad Gastein (; formerly ''Badgastein''; Southern Bavarian: ''Bod Goschdei'') is a spa town in the district of St. Johann im Pongau, in the Austrian state of Salzburg. Picturesquely situated in a high valley of the Hohe Tauern mountain range, it ...

" *1984 Erica Pedretti: "Das Modell und sein Maler" ** Award: Thomas Strittmatter: "Der Schwarzwursthammer" *1983

Friederike Roth Friederike Roth (born 6 April 1948) is a German writer. She is especially active as a playwright. Roth was born in Sindelfingen. She won the City of Stuttgart Literary Prize in 1982 and the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize The Festival of German-Langua ...

: From "Das Buch des Lebens" *1982 Jürg Amann: "Rondo" ** Federation of Austrian Industry Prize: Einar Schleef: ''Wittenbergplatz'' *1981 Urs Jaeggi: ''Ruth'' *1980 Sten Nadolny: ''Kopenhagen 1801'' *1979 Gert Hofmann: ''Die Fistelstimme'' ** Award: : ''Apokalypso'' *1978

Ulrich Plenzdorf Ulrich Plenzdorf (; 26 October 1934 – 9 August 2007) was a German author and dramatist. Life Born in Berlin, Plenzdorf studied Philosophy in Leipzig, but graduated with a degree in film. He found work at DEFA. He became famous in both East a ...

: ''kein runter kein fern'' *1977 Gert Jonke: ''Erster Entwurf zum Beginn einer sehr langen Erzählung''

References

External links

*
Article on the festival (2010)
in the Austrian newspaper

Der Standard ''Der Standard'' is an Austrian daily newspaper published in Vienna. History and profile ''Der Standard'' was founded by Oscar Bronner as a financial newspaper and published its first edition on 19 October 1988. German media company Axel Sprin ...