Colombian cartoonist Ángel Ramiro Zapata Mora has sent a note to Humor Sapiens stating that one year after winning the "Marul de Aur" (Golden Apple) cartoon competition in Romania, he has still not received the prize.
I do not know the amount of the prize because I have not been able to find this information. The published rules do not give details of the amounts, the only thing that can be read is that"the prizes for the three sections of the competition consist of money, diplomas and trophies".
This is their story:
In the year 2025 I was awarded the First International Prize at the Marul Festival in Aur, a recognition that included a diploma, trophy and economic prize.
Despite multiple communications made in a respectful manner and a prolonged wait, these commitments were not fulfilled, leaving the prize subject to administrative excuses and repeated silences.
This situation contrasts with the experience in other international competitions in which I have participated, where the commitments made were honoured without difficulty.
I share this testimony not out of resentment, but out of respect for art and for artists, and with the aim of providing information that will allow the creative community to make informed decisions when participating in cultural competitions.
The normalisation of silence in the face of these situations only contributes to their repetition.
Currently in circulation is the 2026 version of the Marul de Aur call with the same offer of prizes.
It is really strange that a competition that has been running for 42 editions does not pay its prizes. What's more, I think it's the first international graphic humour contest I know of that is so late or doesn't pay.
It is also true that I have not participated in any of them for decades for various reasons and I do not plan to do so in the future. I have contacted the author to find out more details about these"administrative excuses" for not paying him the prize; if I receive a reply, I will update this note.
In any case, here's a heads up in case any of the cartoonists who drop by here from time to time are thinking of participating in this competition.
About Ramiro Zapata
According to information obtained from his website, Zapata started working in the Colombian press in 1982, where he worked until 2002.
He has been selected for exhibitions in more than 50 international cartoon and graphic humour salons in: Colombia, Peru, Brazil, Cuba, USA, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Germany, China, Luxembourg, Kosovo, Yugoslavia, Japan, Romania, Serbia, Croatia, Korea, Syria, Iran, Bosnia H., Turkey, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovakia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Denmark, Russia.
As a regular in graphic humour competitions, he has won prizes in dozens of them.
