Winners Revealed: “Grandparents. Grand Stories” Competition

We are delighted to announce the winners of the international competition “Grandparents. Grand Stories”, a project that brought together stories of memory, family, and history from around the globe.

Organised by the European Network Remembrance and Solidarity as part of the information campaign “World War Second – 80 Years After”, the competition encouraged participants to explore personal narratives related to their grandparents and the lasting impact of the Second World War.

We received 104 submissions from around the world, across four categories: Photography / Visual Arts, Audiovisual, Written Work, and Lesson Scenario. The diversity and emotional power of the entries made the jury’s task both inspiring and challenging.

Winners by Category

Photography / Visual Arts
Franziska Niehoff (Germany) for the work called "Our Family Story in World War 2"
Awarded for discovering an overlooked detail in her immediate surroundings, and for conveying how this new insight reshaped her personal perspective.

Audiovisual
Lidia and Jakub Szymański (Poland) for the film "Grandparents. Grand Stories"
Recognised for their compelling video, which combines an interview with a family member and a variety of visual elements to tell an intergenerational story.

Written Work
Marcel Krueger (Germany) for the work "My Grandmother's Rosary"
Celebrated for a moving and thought-provoking description of the lives of people from the Polish-German borderland, blending emotional depth with historical reflection.

Lesson Scenario
Márta Szabó (Hungary) for "Grandparents. Grand Stories"
For a universal and multidisciplinary lesson plan that invites pupils to bring their personal histories into the classroom, creating a dynamic learning experience.

The first-place winners will receive a prize of €1,000 in recognition of their outstanding work.

Honourable Mentions
Due to the exceptional quality and diversity of the entries, the jury has decided to award Honourable Mentions to several participants whose work stood out in their respective categories.

Photography / Visual Arts:
• Iza Grzelak
• Giuseppe Francavilla
• Aleksander Tylman
• Luba and Eugene Ostashevsky / Igoro Karasow
• Alexandru Profiri

Audiovisual:
• Maria Ferati
• McCall Mash
• Michael Sagatis
• Paula Vataman

Written Work:
• Noemi Kovacs
• Patrycja Śliwa
• Kashfia Dali
• Andreea Bolborici
• Emilia Połońska
• Emil and Leon Superson
• Sofia di Filippo
• Stefan Enache
• Matei Moraru
• Stefania Pohrib
• Sebastian Jabłoński
• Jessie Franken
• Teodora Ciulinaru

Lesson Scenario:
• Vesna Kostić
• Justyna Pawlaczyk
• Anna Chomiak

The award-winning works will be featured on our social media channels in the coming days.
In addition, all submitted entries will soon be available in a dedicated online repository, forming a growing archive of personal stories and reflections related to the Second World War.
Thank you for helping keep history alive through storytelling!