Address: 80 Rochdale Rd London SE2 0XB, Tel/Fax: Mob: Pushkin in Britain Project A multi-event, multi-venue Festival, devoted to promoting Russian literature. The key events of the Festival are: Russian-British Poetry Marathon in Covent Garden West Piazza and Poetry Tournament in St. Giles-in-the-Fields Church (Poet’s Church). Pushkin in Britain Idea Aleksander S. Pushkin ( ), Russian poet and author founded the literature of Russian language with epic and lyric poems, plays, novels, and short stories. The great Russian poet never visited Britain. What’s more, he never left Russia. But his love and understanding of Britain were eternal and thorough. This circumstance motivated a group of enthusiasts – writers & poets from the Russian literature master-class in London – to organize the International Festival of Russian Poetry and Arts – “Pushkin in Britain”. Pushkin in Britain Insight An entertaining summer festival that symbolises the ‘spirit of Russia’ and brings the beat of Russian heart to UK. Pushkin in Britain Mission Facilitate learning and insights about Russian culture abroad Bridge two strong cultures – the British and the Russian Encourage cultural exchange between Russian and English speakers Support talent Promote the work and spirit of A.S. Pushkin INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF RUSSIAN POETRY & ARTS JUNE▪ LONDON Supported by: Media Partners: Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinema News agency – RIA-Novosti Russian Embassy in UK Newspaper – AIF Europe British Embassy in Russia TV Channel – TV Centre

Press-release 5-10 June “Pushkin in Britain 2008” - the Annual Russian-British Festival of Poetry & Arts in London -will take place in prime Central London locations. The festival’s mission is to create awareness of the importance of Russian culture amongst local communities. The Festival is dedicated to promoting Russian literature and is held in memory of the greatest 19th century Russian poet and writer Aleksander Pushkin. This year the festival is celebrating its 6th Anniversary, Pushkin’s birthday and Russia National Day, in one week for the first time. This year 18 poets and 10 short story authors went through to the final from 14 countries. Russian speaking poets, writers, critics and well known figures will join from all over the world to participate. Since 2003 poets from 39 different countries have participated in the International Poetry Tournament – festival’s focal event. “Pushkin in Britain” is now the biggest multi-event festival of Russian cultural life outside Russia. Events for 2008: 27 th March, Moscow Reception at the British Embassy 6-12 th June, London Reception at the Russian Embassy Russian-British Poetry Marathon at Covent Garden Square 6th International poetry tournament 2nd International short story tournament 1928 film premiere based on Pushkin’s “The Captain’s Daughter” with comments from the Chairman of Russian Guild of Film Critics Russian State Museum of A.S. Pushkin exclusive exhibition Siberian poetry evening live from Siberia International round table - “Pushkin and Great Britain” (British & Russian scholars) “Live voices of Russian classics” lecture Master classes by jury Tournament of poetry impromptus on a boat cruise along the Thames Entertainment throughout English translations are provided on screen at most events. Admission: FREE Address: 80 Rochdale Rd London SE2 0XB, Tel/Fax: Mob: INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF RUSSIAN POETRY & ARTS JUNE▪ LONDON Supported by: Media Partners: Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinema News agency – RIA-Novosti Russian Embassy in UK Newspaper – AIF Europe British Embassy in Russia TV Channel – TV Centre

Oleg Borushko – a famous poet, writer, critic and leader of the Russian literature master-class in London came up with the idea of a Poetry Tournament 6 years ago. In people gathered at the first “Pushkin in Britain” event held in the renown London “Chocolate Menier Factory” on Pushkin’s birthday June 6th. In 2005 the program was extended to create a multi-event festival presenting the talents of Russian culture from various perspectives – the International Festival of Russian Poetry & Arts was born. Since then events have been held at key London sites including: Greenwich Park, London Theatre Museum, St. Paul’s Church, Covent Garden West Piazza, Pushkin House and Hotel Kempinski. Several thousand representatives of the Russian Diaspora from Britain, the U.S., Canada, Germany, Israel and other countries took part in the packed program of the festival. “Pushkin in Britain 2007” was appointed as the key event in the “Year of Russian Language” scheme by Vladimir Putin and was funded by the Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinema (Ministry of Culture). Evidence of the dramatically increasing popularity of the Festival for the past six years has been: media coverage throughout the world, the response of Russian communities in many countries and great interest of the British public at our events. History of the Festival Oleg Borushko, the chairman of the Festival with the winners of the Poetry Tournament 2007 – Bah Ahmedov (Uzbekistan), Marina Ignatieva (Spain), Andrey Galamaga (Switzerland) Address: 80 Rochdale Rd London SE2 0XB, Tel/Fax: Mob:

Main prize is a fine art bronze bust of A. Pushkin created by famous sculptor Klim Stepanov from Odessa, Ukraine. There also will be cash prizes (£500, £300 and £200), and other gifts. The book of poets/short stories selected into final will be published “Pushkin in Britain” 2007: Sir Anthony Brenton, British Ambassador in Moscow, opens the reception at the British Embassy Juriy Fedotov, Russian Ambassador in London and Rimma Kazakova, famous Russian poet and member of the jury 2007, open “Pushkin in Britain 2007” at the Russian Embassy International Poetry Tournament – Festival’s focal event Based on a given line from Pushkin’s poems the Russian speaking poets and writers living abroad enter into a draw into the final to compete with two rounds of judging and the public having their vote too. Russia Today TV channel and other media working outside St. Paul’s Church International Poetry Tournament 2007Russian-British Poetry Marathon, Covent Garden West Piazza Address: 80 Rochdale Rd London SE2 0XB, Tel/Fax: Mob:

Address: 80 Rochdale Rd London SE2 0XB, Tel/Fax: Mob: For enquiries please contact: London Office: +44 (0) Moscow Office: Oleg Borushko Charman +44 (0) Egor Borushko General manager+44 (0) Press: (New website under construction) INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF RUSSIAN POETRY & ARTS JUNE▪ LONDON «From Pushkin’s Birthday to Day of Russia» Supported by: Media Partners: Russian Federal Agency for Culture and Cinema News agency – RIA-Novosti Russian Embassy in UK Newspaper – AIF Europe British Embassy in Russia TV Channel – TV Centre