After analysing the received applications for technical compliance, 20 translators and translation teams have been included in the longlist for the Drahomán Prize. This year, the majority of nominees are translators working from Ukrainian into English. The longlist also includes translators working into Finnish, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, Georgian, Lithuanian, German, Croatian, Polish, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Czech, and Swedish languages.

Applications for the prize were received from 16 countries, namely Bulgaria, Spain, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, Poland, Sakartvelo, the United States, Finland, Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. Most applications were submitted by foreign publishing houses, diplomatic representations of Ukraine in various countries, and cultural institutions.

The long list for the 2024 Prize includes:

– Eero Balk – translation into Finnish of Jevhenija Kuznjetsova’s novel “Ladder” (Jevhenija Kuznjetsova: Tikapuut. Aula & Co, 2024). Applicant: Association of Ukrainians in Finland

– Tobias Wals – translation into Dutch of Oleksandr Myched’s book “Call Sign for Job” (Oleksandr Myched: De taal van oorlog. Amsterdam, 2024). Applicant: Walburg Pers B.V. publishing house

– Oksana Gollyak and Frederic Guerrero-Solé – translation into Spanish of Yuri Andrukhovych’s novel “Lexicon of Intimate Cities” (Yuri Andrujovich: Pequeña enciclopedia de lugares íntimos. Barcelona, 2023). Applicant: Consulate General of Ukraine in Barcelona

– Yaryna Grusha – translation into Italian of Lesia Ukrainka’s drama “Forest Song” (Lesja Ukrajinka: Il canto della foresta. Oscar Mondadori, 2024). Applicant: Mondadori publishing house

– Amelia Glaser and Yuliya Ilchuk – translation into English of Halyna Kruk’s poetry collection “A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails” (Halyna Kruk: A Crash Course in Molotov Cocktails. Arrowsmith, 2023). Applicant: Arrowsmith Press

– Tamta Gugushvili – translation into Georgian of Ostap Slyvynsky’s book “Dictionary of War” (ოსტაპ სლივინსკი: “ომის ლექსიკონი”. Intelekti, 2023). Applicant: Intelekti publishing house

– Vytas Dekšnys – translation into Lithuanian of Taras Prokhasko’s novel “Non-Simple” (Taras Prokchasko: Nepaprastieji. Aukso žuvys, 2024). Applicant: Aukso žuvys publishing house

– Antanas A. Jonynas – translation into Lithuanian of Vasyl Makhno’s poetry anthology (Vasyl Makhno: Patarimas kaip geriau rašyti eilėraščius. Vilnius: Baziliskas, 2024). Applicant: Baziliskas Publishing House

– Hanna Leliv – translation into English of Yuliia Iliukha’s book “My Women” (Yuliia Iliukha: My Women. 128 LIT, 2024). Applicant: 128 LIT Publishing House

– Yuliya Musakovska and Olena Jennings – translation into English of Yuliya Musakovska’s poetry collection “The God of Freedom” (Musakovska Yuliya: The God of Freedom. Arrowsmith, 2024). Applicant: Arrowsmith Press

– Lydia Nagel – translation into German and compilation of a Ukrainian drama anthology “Zeitreisen durch die Gegenwart” (Neofelis Verlag, 2024). Applicant: Neofelis publishing house

– Gaga Nakhutrishvili – translation into Georgian of Lesia Ukrainka’s drama “Cassandra” (ლესია უკრაინკა. კასანდრა. Tbilisi: Kundzuli Publishing, 2024). Applicant: Kundzuli Publishing

– Dariya Pavlešen and Ana Dugandžić – translation into Croatian of Yuri Andrukhovych’s novel “Radio Night” (Jurij Andruhovyč: Radio Noć. Fraktura, Zagreb, 2023). Applicants: Alla Tatarenko, member of the Jury, and the Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Croatia

– Andrij Saweneć – translation into Polish of Oleksandr Irvanets’s novel “Kharkiv 1938” (Ołeksandr Irwaneć: Charków 1938. Lublin, Warsztaty Kultury, 2024). Applicant: Warsztaty Kultury w Lublinie

– Albena Stamenova – translation into Bulgarian of Yuri Andrukhovych’s novel “Radio Night” (Юрий Андрухович: Радио Нощ: Издателство „Парадокс”, София, 2024). Applicant: Embassy of Ukraine in the Republic of Bulgaria

– Igor Stanojoski – translation into Macedonian of Mariana Savka’s collection “People Over Coffee” (Марјана Савка: Луѓе на кафе. Муза, Скопје, 2024). Applicant: Muza Publishing House

– Miroslav Tomek – translation into Czech of Serhij Zhadan’s novel Depeche Mode (Žadan, Serhij: Depeche Mode. Vydání první. Praha: Fra, 2023). Applicant: Czech Association of Ukrainists

– Sofia Uggla – translation into Swedish of Tamara Horykha Zernias’s novel “Daughter” (Tamara Duda: Dottern. Ersatz, Stockholm 2024). Applicant: Ersatz publishing house

– Sofia Uggla and Ola Wallin – translation into Swedish of Serhij Zhadan’s novel “Mesopotamia” (Serhij Zjadan: Mesopotamien. Ersatz, Stockholm 2024). Applicant: Ersatz publishing house

– Katarzyna Fiszer – translation into Polish of Iryna Tilyk’s collection of short stories “Red Traces on Black” (Iryna Ciłyk: Czerwone ślady na czarnym. KEW, Wrocław–Wojnowice, 2024). Applicant: Jan Nowak-Jeziorański College of Eastern Europe Foundation in Wrocław

The Drahomán Prize was established in 2020 by the Ukrainian Institute, Ukrainian PEN, and the Ukrainian Book Institute. The prize is intended to support and recognise the dedicated work of translators of Ukrainian literature into world languages. The Drahomán Prize is awarded for high translation mastery and contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature abroad.

The shortlist and the Prize laureate are determined by the Jury, which consists of 9 members. It includes authoritative translators, linguists, literary scholars, cultural managers, as well as the Director General of the Ukrainian Institute, the President of Ukrainian PEN, and the Director of the Ukrainian Book Institute. This year, 6 members of the Prize Jury were replaced, as their term of service, according to the Regulations, had come to an end. The 2024 Prize Jury includes Volodymyr Sheiko, Volodymyr Yermolenko, Oleksandra Koval, Yaroslava Strikha, Alla Tatarenko, Katarzyna Kotynska, Rory Finnin, Iryna Zabiyaka, and Sophia Onufriv.

The Prize laureate will be announced during a ceremonial event in spring 2025. The Prize winner will receive a statuette created by Ukrainian artist Anna Zvyagintseva, a monetary award of €3,000 (including taxes), and additional opportunities for work and promotion of their creative work.

The first laureate of the Prize in 2020 was the German translator Claudia Date. The Special Jury Commendation “for high translation mastery and promotion of Ukrainian classical literature” was awarded to Imadeddin Raef, a translator from Ukrainian into Arabic.

The Drahomán Prize laureate for 2021 was the Polish translator, writer, and literary critic Bohdan Zadura. The Special Jury Commendation “for exquisite translation of Ukrainian literary modernist classics and contribution to the promotion of Ukrainian literature in Europe” was awarded to Tobias Wals, a translator from Ukrainian into Dutch.

In 2022, the Prize laureate was Iryna Dmytrychyn, a translator from Ukrainian into French. The Special Jury Commendation “for a special contribution to translation and promotion of Ukrainian literature, as well as the development of Ukrainian studies in Italy” was awarded to Giovanna Brogi, a translator from Ukrainian into Italian.

The Drahomán Prize laureate for 2023 was the Polish translator Katarzyna Kotynska. The Special Jury Commendation “for building Ukrainian-Georgian cultural bridges” was awarded to Raul Chilachava, a translator from Ukrainian into Georgian.