NEXT.GEN: new voices // Verleihung des Debütpreises des Harbour Front Literaturfestivals

In the organizer's words:

What can a first book do? It slowly feels its way forward, it makes its way into the world and sometimes it enters the stage with momentum. A debut novel is often more than just a beginning: it is a statement. An expression of an attitude. The lifeblood of its author. With the "NEXT.GEN: new voices" debut prize, the Harbour Front Festival is setting an example for the literary storytelling of tomorrow. New, courageous, unconventional.

The prize considers German-language debut novels from spring or fall 2025 and is endowed with 10,000 euros. It is aimed at candidates of fictional storytelling, literary immersion in worlds, languages and characters. The jury awards prizes to first works that are characterized by narrative power, formal independence and thematic relevance. Debuts that not only tell a story, but also have something to say.

With "NEXT.GEN: new voices", the Harbour Front Festival 2025 opens a stage for literary first voices and at the same time celebrates its own festival finale by shining the spotlight on texts that do not adapt, but assert themselves.

We are delighted to now publish the carefully curated shortlist of our debut prize jury:

• Jaqueline Scheiber - dreimeterdreißig (Leykam)
• Anne Sauer - Im Leben nebenan (dtv)
• Ralf Westhoff - Niemals nichts (Rowohlt Berlin)
• Annegret Liepold - Unter Grund (Blessing)
• Elisabeth Pape - Halbe Portion (Suhrkamp Nova)
• Lina Schwenk - Blind Spirits (C.H. Beck)

On October 19, these 6 nominees will present their debuts to a literature-loving audience in Hamburg's Oberhafenquartier near the waterfront. Accompanied by special live music and discussions, the jury will make its final decision and ceremoniously honor the winner.

We are delighted to welcome these Hamburg booksellers as part of our debut prize jury and would like to thank them for their commitment and support:

• Andrea Hinz-Meyer - Bookstore Heymann Blankenese
• Pascal Mathéus- Wassermann bookshop
• Christiane Hoffmeister - Büchereck Niendorf Nord
• Julia Kemp - Lüders bookshop & antiquarian bookshop