The jury, chaired by poet Pedro Enríquez and comprising Perfecto Herrera, José Manuel Darro, Enrique Gracia, and Francisco Arias, selected Vázquez Medel's work from the submissions. Additionally, Honorable Mentions will be awarded to Gloria Nistal Rosique, Rafael Luna García, Stefania Di Leo, and Abdul Hadi Sadoun. The five finalists for this edition are Ramón Martínez, Ivonne Sánchez, Francisco Álvarez-Koki, Alonso de Molina, and Sara Harb.
The award ceremony will be held on Thursday, July 23rd, starting at 8:30 PM, in the courtyard of the Palacio de los Marqueses de Cadimo. The "Dama de Baza" Award for Culture will also be presented at the same event.
Manuel Vázquez Medel, a distinguished son of Huelva and aged 70, is a multifaceted figure with a deep connection to literature. As a Professor of Literature and Communication, he has had an extensive career in journalism and media, notably serving as the first president of the Audiovisual Council of Andalusia. His knowledge of Juan Ramón Jiménez's work is significant, and he has been a professor at the University of Seville.
The award, primarily recognizing his poetic works such as “Pájaro de la noche”, “Remota luz”, and “Mágico poder”, includes a prize of one thousand euros and the publication of his creative anthology.
The mayor of Baza, Pedro J. Ramos, congratulated the laureate and confirmed his attendance at the ceremony to receive the award, expressing his excitement and pride.
