Stories on war, motherhood and friendship shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize

The Commonwealth Short Story Prize shortlist, revealed today, features 25 "relevant, vibrant and essential" unpublished stories selected from a record-breaking 7,920 entries. The stories shortlisted this year tackle everything from human trafficking and war to motherhood and friendship.

Five winners representing the five regions of the Commonwealth will be announced on 14th May, with the overall winner announced on 25th June. The regional winners will receive £2,500 and the overall winner will get a £5,000 prize, while the stories will be published online by Granta and in a special print collection by Paper + Ink.

UK author David Frankel has been shortlisted for The Crossing, alongside Dushi Rasiah, on the list for Bread and Butter, and Tess Little, shortlisted for Beasts by Tess Little.

The writer and filmmaker Dr Vilsoni Hereniko, who chaired the judging panel, said: "This shortlist of relevant, vibrant and essential reading is made up of the best 25 stories from a pool of almost 8,000 entries. Together, they demonstrate why the short-story form must continue to be supported and promoted."

Dr Anne T Gallagher AO, director-general of the Commonwealth Foundation – the intergovernmental organisation which administers the prize – added: "The breadth of voices, perspectives, and experiences is awe-inspiring, and a powerful reminder of the creative energy that unites us as a Commonwealth of people. We congratulate those who made the shortlist; their work speaks not only to our shared challenges, but also to our hopes and aspirations."

The 2025 shortlist in full:

Africa

The Flute Player by Priscilla Ametorpe Goka (Ghana)
A Room Full of Teddy Bears by Dorechi (Kenya)
The Sun isn’t Dead Yet by Vashish Jaunky (Mauritius) (translated by Edwige-Renée
Dro from the French, Le soleil n’est pas encore mort)
The mothers by Olákìtán T Aládéṣuyì (Nigeria)
Broken String by Stephen M Finn (South Africa)
Mothers Not Appearing in Search by Joshua Lubwama (Uganda)

Asia

An Eye and a Leg by Faria Basher (Bangladesh)
Mrs Gaonkar’s Girls by Parul Kaushik (India)
Tamarind by Tino de Sa (India)
The Dot by Tahoor Bari (Pakistan)

Canada and Europe

Descend by Chanel Sutherland (Canada/Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Nuala Nu by Damhnait Monaghan (Canada/Ireland)
The Crossing by David Frankel (UK)
Bread and Butter by Dushi Rasiah (UK)
Beasts by Tess Little (United Kingdom)

Caribbean

Jumbie Pond by Joanne C Hillhouse (Antigua and Barbuda)
Margot’s Run by Subraj Singh (Guyana)
Pomp and Circumstance by Kellie Magnus (Jamaica)
Redeye Cat by Jessie Mayers (Saint Lucia)

Pacific

Crab Sticks and Lobster Rolls by Kathleen Ridgwell (Australia)
The Drum and the Bell by Keith Goh Johnson (Australia)
Threads of Truth by Lachlan Alexander (Australia)
The Pale Blue Dot by Angela Pope (New Zealand)
We’ll Meet Again by Maria Samuela (New Zealand)
Final Effort of the Wind by Gillian Leasunia Katoanga (Samoa/New Zealand)