On 10 December, during Strip Turnhout, the 10 winners of the international short story competition, Brussels in Shorts, were announced.

The competition was launched last summer by Het beschrijf.

Belgian and international artists and scenario writers were invited to come up with an expressive short story about today's Brussels. The chosen authors were invited to elaborate on their story during a residence in Brussels. Oogachtend will publish the winning stories in an album, the Belgisch Centrum voor Beeldverhaal will exhibit them and they will have a place at the next Passa Porta Festival.

43 candidates from just about all four corners of the globe registered. The jury, comprising Ever Meulen (chairman), Willem de Graeve (Belgisch Centrum voor Beeldverhaal), Charles Dierick (comic strip expert, ex-Moulinsart), Johan Stuyck (Oogachtend publishers), Linda Torfs (Mekanik) and Annelies Verbeke (writer), selected the following 10 winners:

Paula Bulling & Salissou Maman Oumarou (DE/NER)

Conz (Constantijn van Cauwenberge, BE)

Elric Dufau (FR)

Karrie Fransman (UK)

William Goldsmith (UK)

Eva Hilhorst & Wauter Mannaert (BE)

Tomáš Kučerovský (CS)

Antonio & Carlos Segura Donat (ES)

Stedho (Steven Dhondt, BE)

Frederik Van den Stock (BE)

Although the ten stories differ both graphically as well as in content, they all give an interesting slant on contemporary Brussels. The jury opted for the short stories that expressed the most, but which also could be fully developed in 12 pages and at the same time were graphically challenging or refined.

About the winners

The international ‘Brussels in Shorts' competition is a new initiative by the literary organisation, Het beschrijf, on commission to the Secretary of State Bruno De Lille, member of the VGC board responsible for Culture, Youth, Sport and the Civil Service.

Contact us for more information
T 0032 (0)2 223 68 32
M ilke.froyen@beschrijf.be
Project coordinator: Mrs Ilke Froyen 

DOWNLOAD
_ Competition rules
_ About the Old Grain Market: text and pictures
_ Logo jpg, Logo eps


ABOUT THE PANEL OF EXPERTS

Willem De Graeve is the co-director of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre.

Charles Dierick was for many years the director of the Belgian Comic Strip Centre; after that he worked for the Hergé Foundation.

Johan Stuyck is a graphic designer, author and publisher. He is the founder of the Oogachtend publishing company in Leuven, where he supports the work of young strip cartoon artists and illustrators.

Linda Torfs is co-owner of Mekanik Strip, a specialist strip cartoon shop in Antwerp.

Annelies Verbeke writes novels, short prose pieces, plays and scenarios. In 2004 she won the Flemish Debut Prize with her novel Slaap! More recent titles include Reus, Groener gras and Vissen redden. Her work has been translated into many languages.

Ever Meulen (chairman) was for many years the resident artist on the Humo weekly magazine. He has also drawn numerous posters, advertising images and illustrations for publications at home and abroad, from De Standaard to The New Yorker.