The city of Tijuana has launched submissions for its 28th annual Premío Nacional de Poesía Tijuana, continuing its tradition of promoting poetry as a vital form of expression. This year, the competition is currently accepting entries.
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Tijuana, a bustling border city with nearly 2 million inhabitants, has a unique cultural identity reflected in its music and poetry. Local poet Sofía Favela Magro, who reads from her unfinished work "La Historia de Ella" at a downtown bookstore, emphasizes the emotional intensity of the poetry originating from the city. She stated, “You can hear the emotional intensity, whether it’s about love or a political grievance, but there is always emotion in the words people write here.”
Samantha Luna, Director of the Instituto Municipal de Arte y Cultura de Tijuana (IMAC), shared insights about the competition’s history. Since 1998, IMAC has sponsored the award, which saw 120 submissions last year, of which 101 met all entry requirements. Luna hopes to double that number this year.
Poets can submit original collections of poems ranging from 60 to 120 pages in length, written in Spanish. Submissions will be accepted until September 11, and eligibility is limited to Mexican citizens residing in Mexico or legal residents of Mexico for at least five years. The winner will receive a publication of their book by IMAC and a cash prize of 90,000 pesos, equivalent to about $5,000.
Claudia Berrueto, who won the Premío Tijuana in 2008, recalls how the award was a significant milestone in her career as a poet. She remarked, “It was my first prize in poetry. And I needed to believe in my writing.”
The announcement of this year's winner is set for November 12. Luna noted that poetry serves as a powerful means to document contemporary experiences, stating, “Poetry is one of the best ways to bear witness to everything we are experiencing in these times.”