Gibraltar Cultural Services (GCS), on behalf of the Ministry of Culture, have announced the  winners of this year’s Spring Festival Short Story Competition. 

A statement from the Government follows below:

Organised in conjunction with the  Gibraltar Chronicle,this very popular annual competition attracted a total of 310 entries across a wide age range, from school children to adults. 

Seamus Byrne, Gibraltar Cultural Services CEO presented the awards on Wednesday 19th June at  an awards ceremony held at BOOKgem. 

A panel of judges consisting of Melissa Bosano and Jonathan Pizarro judged the competition.  The Winners are: 

The Ministry of Culture Award – Overall Competition Winner – £1000 

Winner: Jean Rovegno with ‘Grandma’s Hands’ 

Best Adult Story in English Language:  

• Winner (£500): Mae Easter with ‘Kestrel’ 
• Runner-up: Tom Smith with ‘Castle Steps’ 
• Highly Commended: Brenda Anne Dominicy with ‘Choice, 2079’ 

Best Story in Spanish Language:  

• Winner (£500): Brian Gordon with ‘Entrar Por Los Ojos’ 
• Runner-up: Erin Costa with ‘Unagi’ 
• Highly Commended: Serina Manasco with ‘Cruzando Fronteras’ 

Llanito Category: 

• Winner (£500): Sophie Macdonald with ‘Norfolk Square’ 
• Runner-up: David Bentata with ‘The Kitchen Chair’ 
• Highly Commended: Naomi Duarte with ‘Kukos Emprestados’ 

School Years 11 to 13: 

• Winner: Eva De Vincenzi with ‘Your Old Friend, Lucifer’ – Westside Comprehensive School
• • Runner-up: Juliette Charvetto with ‘Unbreakable’ – Prior Park School  
• Highly Commended: Chava Bayles with ‘Within Four Walls’ – Gibraltar Girls High School

School Years 8 to 10: 

• Winner: Batya Levy with ‘Wrapped In Time’ – Gibraltar Girls High School
• • Runner-up: Sara Bensalah with ‘The Coldest Day of The Year’ –Bayside Comprehensive School
• • Highly Commended: Adelaia Corr Agnew with ‘The Mediterranean’ – Prior Park School 

School Years 6 to 7: 

• Winner: Isla Snape with ‘The Story of A Year’ – Westside Comprehensive School
• • Runner-up: Krishaa Lakhiani with ‘The New Reality’- Bayside Comprehensive School
• • Highly Commended: Nadia Magner with ‘Guilt’ – Prior Park School 

School Years 4 to 5: 

• Winner: Maddison Dellipiani with ‘Ben and the Magic Forest’ – Bishop Fitzgerald School
• • Runner-up: Ari Leitner with ‘The Amazing Mirror’ – Hebrew Primary School
• • Highly Commended: Emilia Watson with ‘Adventures at Tredegar Park’ - Bishop Fitzgerald  School 

GCS would like to thank the judges, the Gibraltar Chronicle and all participants for their continued  support.