site.btaSkopje Writer Wins International Short Story Competition in Bulgaria

Ivan Shopov, a writer from the Republic of North Macedonia is this year's winner of an international humorous short story competition. Named after Bulgarian literary classic Aleko Konstantinov, the competition is organized annually by the town of Svishtov, Konstantinov’s home town, for the writer’s birth anniversary. 

This year’s edition commemorates the 160th anniversary.

The jury including renowned Bulgarian writers Yordan Eftimov, Mikhail Veshim and Rumen Belchev, awarded the Aleko Prize for 2022 to the young author of the Republic of North Macedonia, whose submission stood out among the 104 short stories of 42 writers from 21 countries, said the Svishtov Town Hall Friday.

Born in Skopje in 1987, Shopov is a writer, translator and editor. He graduated from the Skopje University of Skopje, majoring in General and Comparative Literary Studies. He is the author of collections of short stories and poetry. His works have been translated in English, Romanian, Czech, Serbian, Croatian, German, Slovenian and Bulgarian. He translates works by other Macedonian authors. 

On Friday night, Svishtov hosted the culmination of the celebrations dedicated to the 160th anniversary of the birth of Aleko Konstantinov. The events included a torchlight procession Aleko Konstantinov's museum house to the monument of the Fortunate in the Town Garden, and a gala concert. Vice President Iliana Iotova was among the guests.