Today, we look at Belarus’ best poetry, the rare footage from the Lorca documentary and celebrate a poet and activist’s life.

Best Belarussian Poetry Book Award Ceremony Takes Place in Warsaw

The Natallia Arsennieva Prize, which is awarded for the best Belarusian-language poetry book, held its award ceremony on 27th May in Warsaw.

The goal of the event was twofold, firstly to honour the best poetry book written in Belarussian and secondly to commemorate the life of Natallia Arsennieva, a poet with an outstanding legacy whose work inspires a new generation of Belarusians all over the world. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the award.

The winner was selected from a shortlist of poets which included, Ihar Kulikou, Illia Kulbitski and Maks Shchur. Ihar Kulikou was announced as the winner with “Not from Here’s Distance,” which is a book of poetry and translations from Sanskrit and English.

The award ceremony included readings from all of the shortlisted writers, and a live musical performance as well. as the announcement of the winner. The judging panel was made up of five key literary figures including poets, translators and literary scholars.

The prize is organised by both the Belarusian PEN Center and the International Union of Belarusian Writers.

The Broken Voice, Lorca Documentary Contains Rare Footage

A feature documentary by Manuel Menchón features rare moving images of the poet Federico García Lorca as well as some newly uncovered private documents.

The Spanish distribution rights along with the international sales have been acquired by Sideral Cinema to the film which is titled “Lorca: The Broken Voice” (“La voz quebrada”). The film is a feature documentary that looks at a lesser-known chapter of the poet’s life.  

Menchón wrote and directed by Menchón and Argentina’s K&S Films produced it in conjunction with Spain’s Imagine! Films and Pantalla Partida Producciones. Public broadcaster RTVE was also involved.

British Poet and Activist Dies Aged 92

Author and activist Maureen Duffy has died at the age of 92. A tireless advocate for the rights of authors, and campaigner for gay rights Duffy wrote 60 works during her lengthy career.

Last year Bernardine Evaristo awarded her the inaugural Royal Society of Literature Pioneer prize.

Duffy was a founding member of the Authors’ Licensing and Collection Society (ALCS) and was described by the chief executive as an “extraordinary author” and “tireless advocate of authors’ rights”.

Her landmark novel, Microcosm which was published in 1966 inspired the Gateways lesbian club in London. She was longlisted for the Booker prize with Restitution in 1998.

Born in 1933 in Worthing, her father left when she was a baby and her mother died when she was just 15. At 17 she won her first poetry prize. She attended King’s College London where she studied English. During the 1950’s she taught in London and Naples whilst also editing poetry journals. As well as writing novels and poetry Duffy also wrote form stage, screen and radio. One of her works was a study of Aphra Behn who is considered to be the first woman to have earned a living through writing.

During the 1960s and 1970s she campaigned for gay rights.