Argentine author Raúl Óscar Ifran has won first prize in the 9th Cardenal Mendoza International Microfiction Contest with a work titled “Continuidad de las copas,” inspired by Julio Cortázar’s brilliant microfiction “Continuidad de los parques.” As in Cortázar’s famous text, the continuity actually lies between two fictional worlds that ultimately come into contact. In the jury’s opinion, Ifran takes it a step further by adding the glasses of Brandy de Jerez.
Second prize went to writer Jorge Accame, also from Buenos Aires, for his work “Deshoras,” a subtle and mysterious micro-story. For the jury, in this perfectly crafted piece of microfiction, nothing is missing and nothing is superfluous. The first-person narration is very well combined with the dialogue, which carries much of the weight of the action.
The Swiss author, based in Madrid, María Loreto Corbi, wins third prize for “Olor a brandy.” The aroma of the Jerez spirit permeates the reading of a text where the supernatural is treated with an appropriate sense of humor.
The Cardenal Mendoza Non Plus Ultra Special Mention, which recognizes the micro-story that best enhances the image of Jerez brandy, was awarded to Graci Bordón Artiles, from Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, for “El primer beso” (The First Kiss), a fantasy-genre micro-story. In it, we witness the unusual absorption of an individual by his glass of Sherry brandy, which takes on a significant role and is described with organoleptic precision.
The jury was chaired by Mauricio Gil Cano and comprised the writers Josefa Parra, director of the Caballero Bonald Foundation, and Ana Sofía Pérez-Bustamante, professor at the UCA and deputy director of the Royal Hispanic-American Academy; as well as Professor José López Romero, a member of the Royal Academy of San Dionisio, and Evaristo Babé, president of the Regulatory Council of Brandy de Jerez.
The jury’s decision and the winning micro-stories can be downloaded from the website www.cardenalmendoza.com. The jury wished to highlight the quality of the finalist works, which competed with the winners in a closely contested selection process. Through this cultural initiative, the Sánchez Romate winery promotes literary creation centered on the world-renowned Brandy de Jerez.
