Laura Casanovas Borrell, from La Seu d'Urgell, has won the 38th Ciutat de Mollerussa Short Novel Prize for her work 'Manual d'absències' (Manual of Absences). The mystery novel centres on the unexplained disappearance of a woman, Rita Camprubí, and the reactions of those around her, according to Casanovas. She explained her aim was to create a small portrait of current society and reflect on identity and perception.
In Mollerussa, the 10th Saó de Ponent Prize for theatrical texts was awarded to David Sánchez Pacheco, from Torremendo-Oriola, for his play '404 (Page not found)'. The work critiques the educational system, its bureaucracy, and the handling of diversity in classrooms. It also explores intergenerational conflict among students, teachers, and families. Sánchez said a central theme is the use of AI and its potential consequences, reflecting the language teenagers use today.
Both winning works were announced at a ceremony held at the Teatre L'Amistat. Attendees included Mollerussa's mayor, Marc Solsona, and the vice-president of the IEI, Estefania Rufach. Montse Parra, director of Territorial Culture Services, and Carles Palau, president of the Pla d'Urgell Regional Council, were also present. The event also saw the presentation of 'Normal era un programa de la rentadora' (Normal Was a Washing Machine Programme), the winning work of the 37th Short Novel Prize by Eva Llobet, who thanked the organisers for publishing her work and supporting Catalan language and literature.
'Manual d'absències' praised for suspense
The 38th Ciutat de Mollerussa Short Novel Prize, funded with €5,000 by Mollerussa City Council, received 68 submissions this year. Josep Borrell, the jury president and an author, described 'Manual d'absències' as "a very well-written novel, with great command of prose, language, settings, and characterisation." He highlighted Casanovas's ability to maintain suspense until a surprising end, using a polyphony of characters whose "sum of small stories builds the general story."
The jury, which included authors Pep Coll, Antoni Gelonch, Montse Sanjuan, and Albert Villaró, decided not to award the €1,000 runner-up prize this year. Pagès Editors will publish the winning novel.
Laura Casanovas holds a degree in Catalan Philology and teaches Catalan at the Official School of Languages in La Seu d'Urgell. Her previous roles include lexicographer at the IEC in Barcelona, sweet seller in La Seu d'Urgell, and Spanish teacher in Frankfurt am Main. She has also worked as an editorial reader for La Campana and a linguistic advisor for Catalan Centres. Casanovas has won several literary prizes for short stories and has published two young adult novels: 'Un estiu a la fi del món' (A Summer at the End of the World), which won the Olot Young Adult Narrative Prize in 2015, and 'Les estrelles de Lilith' (Lilith's Stars), winner of the Carlemany Prize in 2023. She also writes opinion articles for Andorran press, hosts a radio programme about books called 'Tres a la llibreria' (Three at the Bookstore), and runs three reading clubs.
'404 (Page not found)' explores AI and education
The winning play for the 10th Saó de Ponent Prize features two high school students from Mollerussa. Its author explores concepts such as education, adolescence, and fake news, and their consequences, through a situation involving AI use, according to jury president Francesc Pla, a philologist. The jury also included philologist Anton Not and cultural manager Margarida Troguet. The prize, which received 33 submissions, is worth €5,000, sponsored by the IEI, and includes the publication of the first edition by Pagès Editors in their Teatre de Butxaca collection.
David Sánchez holds a degree in Catalan Philology and a master's in Secondary Education Teacher Training from the University of Alicante. He balances creative work with research and teaching. He trained as an actor at the university's theatre workshop before moving to Barcelona and focusing on dramatic writing. Sánchez has received several literary awards, including the Poeta Vicent Jacinto Pérez Prize for theatrical texts at the 52nd Ciutat d'Alberic Literary Prizes (2025), the 23rd and 25th Evarist Garcia Short Theatre Prize in Valencian, the 6th VI-U Theatrical Text Contest by Arrel Art, the 7th Ciutat de Gavà Short Theatre Prize, and the 47th Ciutat d'Alcoi Pep Cortés Prize.
The literary event was led by Fina López, a member of the Mollerussa theatre group Som Faràndula, who performed a theatrical interlude with 'Històries curtes' (Short Stories). The gala followed its usual café-theatre format, with the stalls raised, and included refreshments and a glass of wine, courtesy of Castell del Remei winery.
