Place aux Nouvelles Festival

19th Edition: The Short Story Celebrated in Lauzerte

On September 13 and 14, 2025, the hilltop village of Lauzerte once again vibrated to the rhythm of literature with the 19th edition of the Place aux Nouvelles Festival. This annual event, which has become a benchmark in the French literary landscape for lovers of short stories and short texts, lived up to all expectations with an edition rich in discoveries and emotions.

The guest of honor for this edition was Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse, a Franco-Rwandan author whose collection Ejo (Autrement, 2023) marked a milestone in contemporary French-language literature. A survivor of the Rwandan genocide, this author, born in Butare, explores traumatic memory, diaspora, and identity reconstruction in her short stories with remarkable precision and humanity. Her presence in Lauzerte led to a profound encounter with the public, focusing on the power of literature in the face of history.

Around twenty authors, representing the diversity of contemporary French-language short story aesthetics, participated in the weekend's readings, round tables, and book signings. The writing workshops, as every year, were fully booked, demonstrating the public's enthusiasm for this writing practice guided by professionals.

The Place aux Nouvelles Prize 2025, awarded during the festival by the jury of readers, honored one of the three collections shortlisted in the spring. This award ceremony is one of the most moving moments of the festival, where the winning author speaks before an audience of enthusiasts who have read, debated, and deliberated for months to choose their favorite.

• 19th edition of the festival
• Guest of honor: Beata Umubyeyi Mairesse
• Around twenty authors present
• Awarding of the Place aux Nouvelles Prize
• Writing workshops
• Hilltop village classified as one of the Most Beautiful Villages of France