The National Centre RUSSIA presents the II All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award

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The ceremony for the II All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award was held on 13 November at the III International Symposium "Inventing the Future". The winners included Russian and international writers, translators and artists. More than 120 works published in 2025 were nominated for the award.

The All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award was established by the National Centre RUSSIA and the Writers' Union of Russia to revive public interest in science fiction as a driver of scientific and technological progress. Winners were selected in six main categories and two special categories. The "Children's and Young Adult Fiction" and "International Recognition" awards, along with the special prizes from the award's partners, were presented for the first time.

The "International Recognition" award for contributions to the development and promotion of science fiction worldwide was presented by Alexander Alimov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, and Natalia Virtuozova, Director General of the National Centre RUSSIA.

"Fantastic things are happening at the National Centre RUSSIA. Here I mean what is already around us today, not the future that has been predicted, described and imagined for us. And that is because the National Centre RUSSIA represents Russia. Russia is science fiction. This is the second time we have presented the award, and the first time we have presented the 'International Recognition' award. It is wonderful to see our spinning tops go into international orbit. Every science fiction fan knows that science fiction is international," emphasised Alexander Alimov.

Natalia Virtuozova noted that there was a reason the All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award was being presented at the Symposium for the second year running. Science fiction is a genre where bold ideas about the future take shape before they become reality.

"We are delighted to be developing the All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award with the Writers' Union of Russia for a second year. Presenting the award at the International Symposium 'Inventing the Future' is a fitting and welcome tradition. Here we work with experts from most of the world's countries to develop positive scenarios for the future, and science fiction gets us thinking about that future and gives us the courage to entertain bold ideas. It is a great honour for us that Vladimir Rostislavovich Medinsky has taken over as chair of the award's board of trustees this year. He proposed the special 'International Recognition' category, through which we are recognising those who help make Russian science fiction part of global culture. I hope all the entrants and winners will keep creating, building new worlds and giving us food for thought. We will always support you," she said.

Presenting the prize from the Institute of Social Architecture and the Expert Institute for Social Research, Sergei Volodenkov, Director of the Institute of Social Architecture at the presidential platform "Russia — Land of Opportunity" and a professor at Lomonosov Moscow State University, noted that the human dimension remains the guiding principle for everyone working to shape the future.

"People must remain at the heart of the social architecture of the future. There is a reason why our President, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, has repeatedly emphasised that Russia is carrying out significant social architecture projects to improve quality of life and develop the potential of its regions, cities and smaller communities. And of course, when designing government projects, we need to look beyond the horizon and see the risks, challenges and threats that people will face as soon as tomorrow and that we will have to address as we build the future we all want to live in. That is why the hard work of science fiction writers matters so much to us and has such social significance in the history of our country," emphasised Sergei Volodenkov.

The winners of the II All-Russian Science Fiction Literary Award were:

— "Fiction" — Yulia Zonis for the novel "Atlas and the Demiurge. The Church of the Customs Union" (AST).

— "Visual Image" — Kirill Gnedyshev for the comic "Ivanych's Robots: Little One" (Magic Comics).

— "Translation" — Darya Tselovalnikova for her translation of Suzanne Collins's "Sunrise on the Reaping", part of "The Hunger Games" series.

— "Children's and Young Adult Fiction" — Yekaterina Avsyannikova for the science fiction book "Alpha Orionis. Mission 'Saturn'" (AST, Avanta).

— "International Recognition" for contributions to the development and promotion of science fiction worldwide — Chen Qiufan (China), a science fiction writer, President of the World Chinese Science Fiction Association and multiple winner of the Galaxy and Nebula awards.

— "International Recognition" for contributions to the development and promotion of Russian-language science fiction abroad — Igor Shеngalts, a science fiction writer, author of suspense fiction and social and psychological fiction, and winner of literary awards, and Nikolai Perumov, one of Russia's leading fantasy authors and a winner of the Strannik, Roscon and Eurocon awards.

— Special prize from the Institute of Social Architecture and the Expert Institute for Social Research ("Fiction") — Vadim Panov for the novel "Side Effect" (AST).

— Special prize from EKSMO ("Fiction") — Alexander Zhuravsky for the novel "Alternative" (RIPOL Classic) and Yekaterina Avsyannikova for "Alpha Orionis. Mission 'Saturn'" (AST, Avanta).

Science fiction writer Chen Qiufan shared how he felt about winning. "The most important thing in our books is the power of imagination. That power allows science fiction to cross borders and build bridges, helping us create a great future together."

Prominent public officials and cultural figures attended the ceremony. They included Vladimir Medinsky, Aide to the President of the Russian Federation and First Secretary of the Writers' Union of Russia. Also attending were Sergei Lukyanenko, a science fiction writer, screenwriter, board member of the Writers' Union of Russia and member of the Civic Chamber of the Russian Federation, and Vladimir Grigoryev, Director of the Department for State Support of the Periodical Press and Book Industry at the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation and a member of the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC). Other guests included Marina Kim, a member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation and of the Committee on Digital Development and Artificial Intelligence, and Susanna Gordleyeva, Doctor of Sciences in Physics and Mathematics and Professor in the Department of Neurotechnology at the Institute of Biology and Biomedicine of Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod.

The III International Symposium "Inventing the Future" was held on 12–13 November at the National Centre RUSSIA. The event was organised at the direction of the President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, under the auspices of the Decade of Science and Technology, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education.