As part of the International Fantastic Arts and Horror Festival 'Algeciras Fantástica', the awards for the 'Pequeños Místicos' storytelling competition were presented, recognising the best narratives from primary school students in Algeciras.
The ceremony took place at the auditorium of the Technical School of Engineering in Algeciras and was attended by several local officials, including Javier Vázquez, the Deputy Mayor for Education, and Ángel Gómez, the director of 'Algeciras Fantástica'.
During the award presentation, Vázquez praised the continued enthusiasm for the competition among local schools, noting the high number of submissions and the quality of the stories. He remarked, “The 88 stories received this year, from 12 educational centres, reflect the interest this initiative generates among our students, as well as the immense talent and creativity many of them possess.”
Vázquez emphasised the importance of promoting activities that bring literature and artistic creation closer to young children, providing them with opportunities to develop their imagination, express their concerns, and discover their storytelling abilities. He congratulated all participants and especially the winners, stating, “Behind each story lies enthusiasm, effort, and a great deal of imagination, so all students who took part deserve our recognition.”
He also expressed gratitude for the work done by Ángel Gómez's team to make 'Algeciras Fantástica' a key event in the city's cultural calendar, highlighting initiatives like 'Pequeños Místicos' as excellent opportunities to engage younger generations with the world of fantastic and horror arts.
The 'Algeciras Fantástica' festival is organised by the Algeciras City Council in collaboration with the University of Cádiz (UCA), fostering cultural and educational proposals for audiences of all ages. The 'Pequeños Místicos' competition recognises the best stories submitted by students in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades of primary education in Algeciras. This year, 12 schools participated, submitting a total of 88 stories. All participants received a certificate and a gift from 'Mistiquito' in recognition of their involvement and effort.
The winners of this edition were Inés Acedo Luna from La Inmaculada School for her story 'El niño número trece'; Ana María Cruz Lozano from CEIP San Bernardo for her story 'La torre abandonada'; and Pablo Rubio Delgado from CEPR Los Alcornocales for his story 'Pequeños Místicos'. Through this initiative, the Algeciras City Council reaffirms its commitment to fostering literary creativity from an early age while integrating students into a prominent cultural programme like 'Algeciras Fantástica'.
