Submit an Entry

About the Competition

JAZUUCHU is an international literary competition established to discover, support, and promote contemporary authors writing in Kyrgyz and Russian, as well as translators of Kyrgyz classic literature into world languages
JAZUUCHU aims to present contemporary Kyrgyz literature not as a local phenomenon, but as part of the global literary landscape, with its own memory, language, philosophy, characters, and artistic power
The competition seeks works that capture the life, spirit, philosophy, and worldview of the people of Kyrgyzstan through historical memory, contemporary reality, vivid imagery, and powerful literary language.
APPLICATION GUIDELINES
Language*
Kyrgyz
Russian
*The ‘Kyrgyz Classics for the World’ category accepts translations into Russian and English
Categories
Prose
Poetry
Drama
Screenplay
‘Kyrgyz Classics for the World’
Theme
The life, spirit, philosophy, and worldview of the people of Kyrgyzstan, in both historical perspective and the present day
Formats
Files: .rtf, .doc, .docx, .pdf
No more than 2 applications per author
No more than 1 application per category
Eligibility
Participants must be aged 18 or over
No restrictions based on place of residence, citizenship, or professional status
Works that have not received the top prize in a national or international literary award are eligible
What to include in your application
Application form details
Selected category
Registration type
Statement of purpose
Manuscript file
Consent to data processing
Confirmation of authorship
Registration Types
Important: purchasing any service package does not influence the Expert Council’s decision or provide any advantage in the competition’s evaluation of a work
Basic
Free
1 work
submission of one work
participation in all stages on equal terms
digital certificate of participation
access to the competition’s public events
Start
KGS 1,000
everything included in Basic registration
personalized printed certificate of participation
subscription to the competition’s private newsletter
priority updates and invitations to online lectures and seminars
Express
KGS 3,000
everything included in the Start package
priority review of the work by one expert
a brief written assessment of up to one page
feedback within 30 calendar days of application confirmation
Pro
KGS 6,000
everything included in the Express package
review of the work by a panel of three experts
a detailed 2–3-page review
participation in private creative-writing seminars
Master
KGS 10,000
everything included in the Pro package
a 60-minute individual consultation with an expert, in person in Bishkek or online
publication of an excerpt of up to 10,000 characters on the website and the competition’s official channels
professional editing of the synopsis and author biography
Grand
KGS 15,000
extended expert session with the author
organization of a personal literary event
video interview for the competition’s media channels
inclusion of an excerpt in the competition’s annual anthology
individual media support

TOWARDS CHINGIZ AITMATOV’S CENTENARY

The new JAZUUCHU cycle is being held as part of the preparations for the centenary of Chingiz Torekulovich Aitmatov’s birth.
For Kyrgyzstan, Chingiz Aitmatov’s name is associated not only with national literature, but also with its global resonance. His work demonstrated that literature rooted in the destiny of a people can become part of world culture.
JAZUUCHU continues this tradition: the competition is aimed at contemporary authors who create literary works about and for Kyrgyzstan, yet can speak to a broad readership regardless of language, country, or cultural background.
The 2026–2028 competition cycles will feature special events dedicated to Aitmatov, including public readings, lectures, seminars, round tables, and programs focused on translating Kyrgyz classics into world languages.

TOWARDS CHINGIZ AITMATOV’S CENTENARY

The new JAZUUCHU cycle is being held as part of the preparations for the centenary of Chingiz Torekulovich Aitmatov’s birth.
For Kyrgyzstan, Chingiz Aitmatov’s name is associated not only with national literature, but also with its global resonance. His work demonstrated that literature rooted in the destiny of a people can become part of world culture.
JAZUUCHU continues this tradition: the competition is aimed at contemporary authors who create literary works about and for Kyrgyzstan, yet can speak to a broad readership regardless of language, country, or cultural background.
The 2026–2028 competition cycles will feature special events dedicated to Aitmatov, including public readings, lectures, seminars, round tables, and programs focused on translating Kyrgyz classics into world languages.

The 2023 Shortlist

JAZUUCHU 2023

The first JAZUUCHU competition cycle took place in 2023 and laid the foundation for the project’s further development.
The 2023 finalists demonstrated that contemporary Kyrgyz literature has powerful voices that matter not only to Kyrgyzstan, but also to readers around the world.

Zarathustra’s

Arslan Koichiev

The Age of Lovelessness

Dalmira Tilepbergen

The Flood

Sultan Raev

Obsession

Elmira Karybaeva

The Prisoner of Batken

Beken Nazaraliev

The Marksman from Ton

Erkin Saliev
How the 2023 Competition Unfolded
The first JAZUUCHU competition cycle took place in 2023 and laid the foundation for the project’s further development.
Learn More About the 2023 Competition

A NEW CHAPTER FOR JAZUUCHU

JAZUUCHU 2026–2027 marks a new chapter for the competition and forms part of a major cultural initiative supporting the development of contemporary Kyrgyz literature.
The competition brings together authors, experts, translators, publishers, readers, partners, and patrons around a shared goal: to select the strongest works by Kyrgyz writers and introduce them to the world.
International Competition of Contemporary Kyrgyz Writers. Bringing the next chapter of Kyrgyz literature to the world.
CONTACT
© 2026 Bureau for the Promotion of Contemporary Kyrgyz Literature. All rights reserved.
SUBMIT AN ENTRY
Complete the form below to submit your work to JAZUUCHU, the International Literary Competition for Contemporary Kyrgyz Writers
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