Holguín: Humberto Fuentes wins Celestino Short Story Prize
- Written by Alionuska Vilche Blanco
- Published in Culture
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The 27th Celestino Short Story Prize held in the city of Holguín from June 9 to 12, awarded the Cuban writer Humberto Fuentes for his book "Cubacabana".
The jury, composed of Cuban writers Mariela Varona and Laidi Fernández de Juan, and Argentine writer Kike Ferrari, unanimously decided to award the prize to this work. The decision recognizes Fuentes' "skillful narrative command in both technical and imaginative terms," as he unfolds a panorama of contemporary Cuban reality without resorting to clichés.
"Cubacabana" comprises eleven stories dedicated to the memory of the writer Sacha. According to the jury's statement, the volume alternates between stark and more imaginative scenes and maintains a "sustained narrative pace throughout, in each story, and in all transitional moments."
The judges highlighted the "coherent structure that underpins each narrative," which allows the reader to unleash their imagination without losing the geographical, social, and political anchor provided by the narrator.
The prize, awarded by Ediciones La Luz, is one of the most prestigious in the Cuban short story genre.
This year's event was dedicated to the Argentine writer Jorge Luis Borges and to the 40th anniversary of the AHS (Hermanos Saíz Association).
The agenda included panels, readings, and the presentation of the books “La visita” (The Visit) by Alain Gómez; “El día de los Santos Inocentes” (The Day of the Holy Innocents) by Andrés Cabrera; and “Morir un poco” (To Die a Little) by Andy Jorge Blanco (winner of the 25th Celestino Short Story Prize).
