Das Land, das ich liebe

Elena Kostyuchenko is a Russian independent journalist. For 17 years she was a special correspondent of Novaya Gazeta, till the newspaper was shut down under the pressure of Russian authorities in March 2022. She reported on conflict, crime, human rights and social issues. Kostyuchenko was among the first to prove the presence of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. She covered the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the second day of the war. Her work was acknowledged with multiple awards including European Press Prize, the Gerd Bucerius Award-Free Press of Eastern Europe, and Paul Klebnikov Prize.

Her book "I Love Russia: Reporting from a Lost Country" was released on October 17, 2023. The English translation was included on the list of the best books of 2023 by The New Yorker and Time.

Anna Narinskaya is a journalist, author, documentary filmmaker, exhibition curator, and activist. As a journalist, she worked for Kommersant and Novaya Gazeta. Until recently, Narinskaya was the curator of the Joseph Brodsky Museum in St. Petersburg. In 2018, she played a pivotal role in organizing the March of Mothers, advocating for the rights of teenagers persecuted for their beliefs in Russia. After Russia attacked Ukraine in 2022, she left the country and now lives in Berlin, where she writes for the Tagesspiegel newspaper.

Polina Solotowizki was born in 1993 in Moscow and spent her childhood in Germany. She grew up amidst German, Russian and Jewish cultures. Since her school years, she had been involved in different aspects of various theater projects. After completing her directing studies at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts in 2018, she worked as an independent director in repertory theatres in the Russian-speaking region. In 2020/21, she moved back to Germany with her family and began her master studies in Expanded Theatre at the Hochschule der Künste Bern. Her master’s project “Frontstage” – a documentary piece about manhood between game and war, involving a Ukrainian and a Russian actor – was invited to Heidelberger Stückemarkt in 2024.

Artistically, Polina Solotowizki is interested in the intersection of performers’ identity, their roles and the sense of presence through performative tools. Her work delves into social and political themes from personal perspectives and aims to build cultural bridges. In her creative process, she frequently applies a documentary approach. Polina Solotowizki collaborates with both professional actors and non-professionals.

Polina Borodina is a Russian playwright celebrated for her versatility across genres, from political and existential dramas to site-specific performances. Known for placing human experience at the core of her work, she addresses complex topics with a blend of humor and everyday absurdity. Her background outside of the cultural world has enriched her storytelling, enabling her to connect across diverse social groups. An award-winning author, Polina has over 50 productions staged internationally, many of which have been nominated for prestigious awards including "Golden Mask."

After protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she was forced into exile. She currently lives in Berlin.

Vanya Bowden is known for her work in theater, film, and exhibit spaces. An alumna of the Moscow Art Theater School and London’s Wimbledon College of Arts, she has worked extensively in Russia, Israel, and throughout Europe. In 2018, her production "Homeland" won a Golden Mask award in the Experimental category, and she has been nominated several times for her set design in subsequent years. Her designs skillfully blend the practices of film and theater, allowing her to create visual stages that are both realistic and metaphorical. Specializing in site-specific productions, Vanya excels at crafting immersive, detailed environments that enhance both storytelling and atmosphere. Her work brings narratives to life by transforming spaces into dynamic, integral parts of the performance. When designing for performance, her approach emphasizes the seamless integration of visual elements that support and elevate the entire piece.