Ingeborg Bachmann Prize
いんげぼるくばっはまんしょう
The main prize of Tage der deutschsprachigen Literatur held in Klagenfurt. Selected through public readings of unpublished German-language works.
- Established
- 1977
- Organizer
- ORF (Austrian Broadcasting Corporation) / Festival of German-Language Literature (Tage der deutschsprachigen Literatur)
- Category
- Literature and General Literary Arts
- Selection Method
- Selection
- Target
- Professional
- Frequency
- 1 per year
- Status
- Active
Description
The Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, established in 1977, is one of the leading literary awards representing the German-speaking world. It is the main prize of the 'Tage der deutschsprachigen Literatur (Festival of German-Language Literature)' held annually in Klagenfurt, Austria. Established in memory of the late Ingeborg Bachmann, invited candidates publicly read unpublished German-language works (approx. 25 minutes each) over three days during the festival, undergoing discussions and judging before a panel of expert judges and the audience. Initially, there were 9 expert judges (18 participants), but since 2008, the number of judges has been 7 and participants 14. The winner is decided through deliberations during the festival and announced on the final day. The festival is frequently broadcast on television by ORF, and multiple sub-prizes (Deutschlandfunk Prize, Kelag (Jury) Prize, 3sat Prize, BKS Audience Prize, Ernst Willner Prize, etc.) are also awarded. Since 2006, the main prize amount is 25,000 EUR.
Prize
- Main Prize
- Ingeborg Bachmann Prize (main prize, for unpublished German-language works)
- Cash Prize
- 25,000 EUR
- Deutschlandfunk Prize — EUR 12,500
- Kelag Prize (Jury Prize) — EUR 10,000
- 3sat Prize — EUR 7,500
- BKS Bank Audience Prize — EUR 7,000
- Ernst Willner Prize — EUR 7,000
- Editor's special prize (amount/conditions vary)
Selection
Selection Process
| Stage | Judges | Pass Rate | Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Candidate invitation (pre-selection) | Organizers and selection committee invite candidates (invitation-only, not open call) | — | Festival participants determined by organizers' selection (limited public information) |
| Public reading and judging (during festival, approx. 3 days) | Initially 9 professional judges (early years), 7 judges since 2008. Moderator conducts readings and discussions | Approx. 7% (with 14 participants: 1 main prize winner) | Winner decided by judges after readings and deliberations (announced on final day of festival) |
| Final decision and award | Final winner decided through judges' deliberations | — | Award officially announced on final day of festival, TV broadcast, and organizer's official website |
Criteria
- Literary quality (work's structure and expressiveness)
- Originality and novelty
- Persuasiveness and performance in reading
- Quality of expression in German (original language must be German)
- Unpublished (entry requirement)
Application Tips
Dos
- Prepare unpublished German-language works (primarily invitation-only)
- Practice reading and vocalization to enhance persuasiveness in performance
- Polish the work's quality, structure, and language expression
- Build relationships with publishers, editors, agents, etc., to increase invitation opportunities
- Structure a summary to convey key points within reading time (approx. 25 minutes)
Don''ts
- Do not submit already published works (must be unpublished)
- Do not submit manuscripts in languages other than German
- Do not significantly exceed the reading time
- Do not neglect preparation for rebuttals in discussions (public debate affects selection)
From Judges
- Emphasis on writing quality and unique perspective
- Reading is an important means to convey part of the work. Hone vocalization and pacing
- Prepare to calmly explain and defend your work in public discussion
- Value expressiveness in German (vocabulary, rhythm, style)
Related Awards
- Deutschlandfunk Prize
- Kelag Prize (Jury Prize)
- 3sat Prize
- BKS Bank Audience Prize
- Ernst Willner Prize
- Editors' special prize
- Tage der deutschsprachigen Literatur (Festival of German-Language Literature)
- ORF (related programs via TV broadcast)