Minab school story prize draws 4,000 entries from five continents
More than 4,000 entries from five continents have been submitted to the international Minab School Six-Word Story Award, themed “168 Untold Stories,” organizers said on Wednesday, as writers from around the world joined a literary initiative promoting children's rights, peace, patriotism and hope.
The contest, organized by the Office of Persian Literature and Language under Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance, has received over 3,000 entries in Persian and around 1,000 in Arabic and English from countries including Italy, Pakistan, the United States, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Iraq, Serbia, Egypt, the Philippines, Algeria, Libya, Mali and Tunisia, ILNA reported.
The award challenges writers to tell a complete story in just six words, a highly disciplined literary form that prizes brevity while leaving room for interpretation and reflection.
Organizers described the initiative as a platform for concise narratives that can resonate across borders and cultures. The competition also commemorates the children of Minab, a southern Iranian city, including 168 children who were killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28, turning personal loss into a global call for peace and human dignity.
“The Minab window remains open to stories only until July 21,” organizers said, stressing that the submission deadline will not be extended.
Each participant may submit up to six stories. An international panel of judges and literary experts will review the entries. Winners will be announced at a closing ceremony and will receive a commemorative statuette, a certificate of recognition and cash prizes.
The volume and geographic spread of submissions have positioned the Minab School Prize as an emerging international forum for minimalist storytelling and cross-cultural dialogue.