Iustin Butnariuc (Romania)

IUSTIN BUTNARIUC (b. 1999, Botoșani) is a resident doctor specializing in Medical Genetics, based in Bucharest. He has published in Poesis Internațional, Observator Cultural, Matca Literară, Tomis, Timpul, and The Poetry Society UK. He has given readings at the Blecher Institute, the Bucharest International Poetry Festival, Discuția Secretă, and the “Gellu Naum” Festival. He has received several awards in competitions for unpublished poets, including the Grand Prize of the “Tradem” Competition, the “Constantin Virgil Bănescu” Grand Prize, the Grand Prize of the “Ion Stratan” National Poetry Competition, and First Prize at the “Ion Chichere” Competition. In 2024, he debuted with the poetry collection zâmbim, radiația nu s-a stins, published by Casa de Editură Max Blecher (Filstreet Debut Prize, shortlisted for the Observator Cultural Debut Prize, nominated for the Eminescu Debut Prize). He believes, much like Lawrence Ferlinghetti, that poetry is the shortest distance between two people.