Ginevra Prestimonaco Wins Second Prize at VII Edition of Certamen Nebrodeum
Ginevra Prestimonaco, a student from Mirto, Sicily, has been awarded second prize at the VII edition of the Certamen Nebrodeum – Vincentio Consolo dicatum, a cultural competition honoring the legacy of Sicilian writer and essayist Vincenzo Consolo. The event, held on May 30 at the Aula Magna of the Istituto d’istruzione superiore “Sciascia-Fermi” in Sant’Agata di Militello, saw Prestimonaco, a participant in the Sezione moderna Seniores, showcase a creative, unpublished work inspired by an incipit from Pedro Calderón de La Barca’s *La vita è un sogno*.
The Competition and Its Significance
The Certamen Nebrodeum, dedicated to the memory of Vincenzo Consolo, is a prestigious literary contest open to students across Italy. The Sezione moderna Seniores, aimed at students in the final years of secondary education, required participants to craft original creative works—such as short essays or stories—based on a provided literary prompt. This year’s theme, “il sogno” (the dream), encouraged contestants to explore the concept of dreams through their writing.
Prestimonaco’s entry, titled “La vita è un sogno,” drew its opening line from Calderón de La Barca’s classic: “Cos’è la vita? Delirio. Cos’è la vita? Illusione, appena chimera ed ombra, e il massimo bene è un nulla, che tutta la vita è un sogno, e i sogni, sogni sono.” The student reimagined the philosophical text as a short story centered on Rossella, a young woman grappling with a physical and psychological condition that limits her mobility. Through a chance encounter with an interview featuring Formula 1 driver Charles Leclerc, Rossella finds renewed hope, transforming her perspective on life and her ability to overcome adversity.
Ginevra’s Creative Work
In an interview, Prestimonaco described her narrative as a reflection on the power of dreams to inspire resilience. “Rossella’s journey mirrors the idea that dreams are not just illusions but forces that can drive personal growth,” she explained. The story concludes with Rossella regaining her ability to walk after a year of rehabilitation, reinterpreting the incipit’s original tone of despair as a call to actively shape one’s future.
The competition’s jury praised Prestimonaco’s ability to blend literary depth with emotional resonance, noting her skillful use of metaphor and character development. The event was attended by local officials, including Mirto’s mayor, Bruno Mancuso, who presented the award to the student.
The Broader Context
The Certamen Nebrodeum, established to celebrate Sicilian cultural heritage, has grown into a platform for young writers to engage with literary traditions while addressing contemporary themes. Prestimonaco’s win underscores the enduring relevance of classic texts like *La vita è un sogno* in modern creative expression. Her work also highlights the intersection of literature and personal experience, a recurring theme in Consolo’s own writings.
As the competition continues to inspire new generations of students, Prestimonaco’s achievement serves as a testament to the transformative power of storytelling. Her story, both in the competition and in her own life, reflects the enduring belief that even in moments of fragility, dreams can become a source of strength.