The fifth edition of the competition honoring the memory of the Malaga-born writer brought together authors, readers, and industry professionals at the Cervezas Victoria factory, where the results were announced and the awards presented. In a participatory and detail-oriented atmosphere, SUR and the Cajasol Foundation They organized a meeting that continues to grow in the panorama of Short story without losing its essence.
The event left three names at the top: the first prize for Isaac Páez and two special mentions for Nicolás Lara and MarÃa Gil Sierra. Furthermore, the role of the jury and the institutional involvement were highlighted, with the collaboration of the Provincial Council and the City Council of Málaga, and an editorial nod to this brief yet demanding genre through a collective volume. Prizes of 1.500 and 500 euros supported the distinguished works.
A living tribute to Pablo Aranda
The competition takes its name from Pablo Aranda, a beloved author and key figure in local culture, who passed away in 2020. His legacy, present in titles such as 'The Other City', 'The Improbable Order', 'Ukraine' (Málaga Novel Prize), 'The Soldiers' and 'The Distance', promotes an event that focuses on expressive clarity, a sharp eye and humor. His role as a SUR columnist and director of the Culture Classroom, and that spirit of fair play that has permeated the competition since its inception.
Jury, verdict and development of the event
The verdict was announced on Monday, starting at 7:00 p.m., at the headquarters of Cervezas Victoria, which is acting as an accomplice to the event. The jury was composed of Teresa Cardona, Isabel Bono, Juan Jacinto Muñoz-Rengel, Ben Clark and Felipe R. Navarro, with journalist Alberto Gómez as secretary and master of ceremonies. His task was to evaluate a selection of texts published during the summer in SUR, as is the case in other micro-story contests.
This preliminary screening was carried out by the writer Violeta Niebla, based on the stories submitted by a very broad participation: more than 1.500 authors from a dozen countriesTo attend the event, registration was required in advance and to be of legal age. The organizers used the email address forossur@diariosur.es to manage reservations, which facilitated an organized and very close meeting between the audience and the authors.
The book 'They were still there'
As a complement, SUR and the Cajasol Foundation published a volume that compiles the short stories published in the newspaper, with a nod to the famous short text by Augusto Monterroso. The work, titled "They Were Still There," was distributed at the event itself, offering a free copy for the first hundred people who registerThose who signed up early also had the option of reading their piece aloud.
Awards and distinguished micro-stories
The first prize went to professor and historian Isaac Páez (1984) for 'What is art?', a minimal piece that contrasts the creative trajectories of two brothers and, through a very eloquent domestic image, illuminates what art means to a family. The author, with experience in poetry and titles such as 'Contrato a tiempo perdido' (Lost Time Contract), emphasized that in the microfiction, what's decisive is what's suggested rather than said.
The first mention went to Nicolás Lara for 'Family tradition', a dark story that explores the inherited profession of gravedigger and leads it to a disturbing final twist. In his speech, the author expressed his gratitude for the space and explained that the newspaper's summer section has become a habit in his house, a shared reading that prompted him to write and experiment with the short format.
The second mention distinguished 'Calliope', by MarÃa Gil Sierra, an ingenious story that reimagines the muse as a professional with her own profession: from inspirational dependence to creative autonomy and signing her own books. The author, who was unable to attend, sent a thank-you video and celebrated the existence of contests that highlight ultra-short stories and their capacity for suggestion.
Conversations and open mic
After the verdict, the public attended a discussion in which Teresa Cardona and Isabel Bono They discussed narrative, poetry, science fiction, and the specifics of the microfiction: a short but high-level genre that demands precision and leaves echoes. Cardona arrived with his new novel, 'In Plain Sight,' the fourth installment in the series by Karen Blecker and Brigadier Cano, following 'The Two Sides,' 'A Relative Good,' and 'The Flesh of the Swan'; previously, he co-authored two noir titles in France with Eric Todenne. Bono, the competition's patron saint, recalled his demand for transparency from the beginning and recounted his career, having won the León Felipe for poetry for 'Happy Days' and the Café Gijón for 'A House in Bleturge.'
The meeting closed with an open mic session in which attendees shared pieces with the audience, reinforcing that literary community that meets every summer Around short stories. The jury's secretary, Alberto Gómez, gave voice to an idea that floated around the room: from an intimate grief, a luminous project was born, a meeting place for those who read and write short stories.
With the institutional and editorial drive, the quality of the jury and the massive response of authors, the Pablo Aranda Micro-Story Contest consolidates its role as a benchmark for micro-stories in Spanish, an event that combines memory, the discovery of new voices, and the celebration of the short story.