The city of A Coruña has recently become the epicenter of literature with the celebration of the awards ceremony for the ninth microfiction competition. This event, promoted by the Royal Galician Academy in collaboration with PuntoGal, has served to highlight the excellent state of short literary creation in the region. During the ceremony, held at the headquarters of the Royal Galician AcademyThe authors' enormous ability to condense great emotions into texts that do not exceed two hundred words was highlighted.
Interest in this event has continued to grow, managing to bring together on this occasion almost 850 micro-stories The quality of the submitted works made things difficult for the jury, who had to evaluate proposals from diverse locations, demonstrating that literature is a perfect vehicle for addressing current issues, social concerns, and personal reflections. The organizers emphasized that this contest is not just a competition, but an open window to emerging and established talent that uses its native language as a tool for expression, similar to other [contests/competitions]. calls for entries and prizes for microfiction competitions current.
Awards in the adult category
In the category for older authors, the jury decided to award the top prize to the text entitled Sonia Corral's 'Dirty Laundry'The author, originally from As Pontes, has found in writing an escape and therapy from health problems, already accumulating several successes in her career. Her story stands out for its sharp narrative that uses social criticism to captivate the reader from the first line, confirming that brevity is not incompatible with the depth of the message.
The podium for this category was completed with the works of Marcos Taracido and Lara CostasTaracido, a teacher by profession, used his presentation to draw a parallel between the protection and freedom of language, while Costas was awarded for a story that pays tribute to the resilience of women of the sea. These stories, along with those of the finalists, demonstrate the versatility of a genre that allows readers to journey through different narrative registers in just a few seconds.
The talent of the new generations
The generational handover is more than assured, judging by what we saw in the youth and children's categories. In the youth category, the first prize went to Iria Iglesias Mouriño for a moving text about memory loss and emotional bonds. The young student from the Antonio Fraguas high school moved the jury with a story that confronts difficult realities head-on, reinforcing the value of a youth microfiction contest in literary training. They were followed by Juan DomÃnguez and UxÃa Nogueira, who explored themes ranging from maritime roots to the fight against bullying in the classroom.
Meanwhile, the youngest participants also had their moment in the spotlight, with awards going to Smahan Essaidi, Carla Merino and Laura GonzálezThe children's winner, Smahan, moved those present when she spoke about her integration and love for the language from her diverse roots. Carla Merino, a student in LalÃn, took the opportunity to thank her teacher for her support and reaffirm her commitment to continue dreaming and writing in Galician, a language she feels is her own and in which she wishes to continue expressing her creativity.
Dissemination and institutional support
One of the most important aspects of this competition is the visibility it gives to the selected works beyond the gala itself. The winning texts, as well as the outstanding finalists, will be featured in the pages of the Luzes magazineThis collaboration allows micro-histories to transcend the academic sphere and reach a general audience, promoting the reading of short formats that perfectly adapt to contemporary lifestyles.
The institutions represented by MarÃa López-Sández and Manuel González emphasized that microfiction is a genre that demands refined technique and a masterful use of surprise. The support of teachers and families was highlighted as a fundamental pillar for motivating students to participate in these kinds of initiatives, which ultimately aim to normalize language use in every imaginable context, from the most everyday to the most artistic.
The day concluded with a general sense of optimism about the future of literature in Galicia and the ability of these organizations to attract participants. The testimonials of the award winners, who spoke of writing as a tool for healing and self-discovery, made it clear that this competition has established itself as an essential event on the cultural calendar. The vitality of Galician literature is reflected in each of the eight hundred texts that, with varying degrees of success, dared to tell a unique story within a limited space.
