This Altea Awards Literature and Research 2023 already has finalists, and the winners will be announced this coming Saturday, April 1. The gala at Espai Mirador del Palau Altea is scheduled to begin at 20:00, and anticipation runs high among the participants and supporters who follow the event each year.
Three juries oversee the seventh edition, with a clear objective to examine, analyze, and evaluate a diverse pool of entries. In total, 133 original contributions were submitted this year, marking strong participation across all modalities. The Assaig i Investigació Francesc Martínez i Martínez award drew notable interest; the Altea Children and Youth Literature Award saw substantial involvement; and the Carmelina Sánchez-Cutillas Award for Novel la i Prosa Creativa attracted a wide range of proposals that reflect the region’s literary vitality. This information has been reported by the organizing committee and confirms robust engagement from writers and researchers in the Altea community and beyond.
finalist works
The panel of judges, Irene Ballester Buigues from the Juan Gil-Albert Cultural Institute of Alicante, Jordi Julia Garriga, the previous edition’s winner, and Josep Martinez Peres of the Valencian Academy of Language, selected as finalist pieces a meticulous study of Valencian portico architecture focusing on markets, porches, and the distinctive riuraus, alongside an innovative exploration of spirituality and women’s religiosity through a reconstruction of the life of an 18th‑century nun, Sister Josefa de Orduña y Jesús.
Mari Angels Frances Diez of AVL, Dari Escandell Maestre from the University of Alicante, and Silvestre Vilaplana and Barnes, who previously won, designated as finalists: an adventurous young adult novel featuring a brave protagonist who willingly steps into a fantasy realm in distant lands; a short novel with a mysterious plot, enriched by literary and musical intertexts as a young woman seeks her identity; and a historical novel detailing the adventures of a group of teenagers on the cusp of maturity, with a mystery to solve.
The jury comprising Modest Barrera Aymerich, the winner from the prior edition, Enric Balaguer Pascual, and Angels Gregori Parra from AVL must choose among three strong contenders: a novel inspired by the ABBA music group and the dynamics of virtual connection and missteps, a memoir recalling childhood and adolescence in Elche during the 1960s and 1970s through texts and photographs, and a contemporary novel set in Italy that thoughtfully engages with human relations amid social media, emails, and online contact pages.
Mamen Asencio and the Blava Orchestra
The VII Altea Awards will be inaugurated this year by a renowned journalist and presenter of RNE and TVE, Mamen Asencio, who hails from Altea. The musical opening will feature the Blava Orchestra, a fusion of classic jazz ensembles and today’s large orchestras. The ensemble draws inspiration from local musical traditions, ensuring the opening ceremony resonates with the town’s cultural roots. The legendary sound of the Blava Orchestra remains a comforting reminder of preserved notes and shared heritage.
Award to Toni Mestre
The most anticipated prize carries no surprises, the Estela d’Honorary Award, honoring a longstanding figure in literature, art, or knowledge. This year, the memory and creative legacy of Antoni Beneyto Mestre, known as Toni Mestre, will be celebrated. The organizers emphasize that the life and works of this Altean poet, prose writer, publisher, and journalist will thread through the gala as a guiding influence.
Surprise in the form of a book
Organizing sources note an additional element for the 2023 edition: beyond the previous winner of the Francesc Martínez i Martínez Prize, which is curated by the Juan Gil-Albert Institute, a second book gift is expected. The surprise publication is linked to Jordi Julia, and the organizers suggest it will become part of the broader conversation about contemporary Valencian letters and their relationship to the region’s literary history and the Altea Literary and Research Awards.
In summary, the 2023 Altea Awards present a vibrant slate of finalist works across fiction, youth literature, and scholarly inquiry, with celebrations that honor local culture while inviting broader reflection on Valencian contributions to literature and research. The event promises a memorable evening that highlights emerging voices and established figures alike, set against the backdrop of Altea’s artistic and historical legacy. Audience members and readers across North America can appreciate the cross-cultural exchange evident in this festival, which reinforces the enduring value of regional storytelling and scholarly pursuit.