The fifth edition of the competition honoring the memory of the Malaga-born writer brought together authors, readers, and industry professionals at the Victoria Beer factory, where the winners were announced and the awards presented. In a participatory atmosphere, attentive to detail, SUR and the Cajasol Foundation organized an event that continues to grow in the short story scene without losing its essence.
The event highlighted three prominent names: the first prize went to Isaac Páez, and two special mentions were awarded to Nicolás Lara and MarÃa Gil Sierra. The jury's role and the institutional involvement were also emphasized, with the collaboration of the Provincial Council and the City Council of Málaga. A collective volume was also announced, representing a significant contribution to this short yet demanding genre . Prizes of €1.500 and €500 were awarded to the winning 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 'La otra ciudad' (The Other City), 'El orden improbable' (The Improbable Order), 'Ucrania' (Ukraine) (winner of the Málaga Novel Prize), 'Los soldados' (The Soldiers), and 'La distancia' (The Distance), inspires an event that values ​​expressive clarity, a sharp eye, and humor. His work as a columnist for SUR and director of the Aula de Cultura (Cultural Center) was also remembered , as was the spirit of fair play that has characterized the competition since its inception.
Jury, verdict and development of the event
The verdict was announced on a Monday, starting at 7:00 p.m., at the headquarters of Cervezas Victoria, which is a partner in 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 serving as secretary and master of ceremonies. Their task was to evaluate a selection of texts published during the summer in SUR, as is the case in other microfiction competitions.
This preliminary selection was made by the writer Violeta Niebla, based on stories submitted by a very large number of participants: more than 1.500 authors from a dozen countries . To attend the event, it was necessary to register in advance and be of legal age; the organizers set up the email address [email protected] to manage the places, which facilitated an orderly 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 micro-stories published in the newspaper, with a nod to Augusto Monterroso's famously short text. The book, titled 'They Were Still There,' was distributed at the event itself, offering a free copy to the first one hundred people who registered ; those who signed up in advance 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 minimalist piece that contrasts the creative trajectories of two brothers and, through a highly eloquent domestic image, illuminates what art means in a family. The author, with experience in poetry and titles such as 'Contract for Lost Time', emphasized that in microfiction, what is decisive is what is suggested rather than stated.
The first mention went to Nicolás Lara for ' Family Tradition ,' a somber short story that explores the inherited profession of gravedigger and takes it to a disturbing final twist. In his acceptance speech, the author thanked the organizers for the opportunity and explained that the newspaper's summer section has become a tradition in his home, a shared reading experience that inspired him to write and experiment with the short story format.
The second prize went to ' Calliope ' by MarÃa Gil Sierra, an ingenious story that reimagines the muse as a professional with her own craft: from inspirational dependence to creative autonomy, even publishing her own books. The author, who was unable to attend, sent a video message of thanks and expressed her appreciation for competitions that value ultra-short stories and their evocative power.
Conversations and open mic
Following the announcement, the audience attended a discussion in which Teresa Cardona and Isabel Bono spoke about narrative, poetry, science fiction, and the specific characteristics of the micro-story: a brief but sophisticated genre that demands precision and leaves a lasting impression. Cardona arrived with her new novel, 'A la vista de todos' (In Plain Sight), the fourth installment in the Karen Blecker and Sergeant Cano series, following 'Los dos lados' (The Two Sides), 'Un bien relativo' (A Relative Good), and 'La carne del cisne' (The Swan's Flesh); previously, she co-authored two crime novels in France as Eric Todenne. Bono, the festival's patron, reiterated her commitment to transparency from the outset and reminisced about her career, which included the León Felipe Poetry Prize for 'Los dÃas felices' (Happy Days) and the Café Gijón Prize for 'Una casa en Bleturge' (A House in Bleturge).
The event concluded with an open mic session where attendees shared their work with the audience, strengthening the literary community that gathers each summer around microfiction. Jury secretary Alberto Gómez articulated an idea that resonated throughout the room: from an intimate grief, a luminous project was born, a meeting place for those who read and write microfiction.
With institutional and publishing support, the quality of the jury and the massive response from authors, the Pablo Aranda Microfiction Contest consolidates its role as a benchmark for microfiction in Spanish , an event that combines memory, discovery of new voices and celebration of the minimal story.