SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain – The vibrant world of animation converged on the Canary Islands this past Friday as the 9th Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards concluded with a spectacular ceremony. In a night defined by creative audacity and technical excellence, the industry celebrated the diverse voices that are currently propelling Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American animation to the forefront of the global stage.
At the heart of the evening’s festivities was the continued ascent of Galician auteur Alberto Vázquez. His feature film, Decorado, a haunting and surreal meditation on the fragility of identity and the superficiality of modern existence, secured the top honor of the night: Best Feature Film.
The Quirino Awards, now firmly established as the premier showcase for animation originating from the Ibero-American region, drew from a competitive pool of 265 submissions this year. The resulting winners’ list reflects a balanced and robust creative ecosystem, with a remarkable five-five split in accolades between the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America, underscoring the collaborative and interconnected nature of this flourishing industry.
The Reign of the Auteur: Alberto Vázquez’s Triple Crown
For Alberto Vázquez, the win at the Quirino Awards serves as a crowning achievement in a career defined by dark, introspective, and visually striking storytelling. Decorado is not merely a film; it is a manifestation of Vázquez’s unique artistic philosophy, one that critiques the societal obsession with surface appearances.
This latest victory marks a historic milestone: it is the third time Vázquez has taken home a Quirino trophy. His previous successes—a short film award for the original 11-minute version of Decorado in 2018 and the acclaimed Homeless Home in 2021—cemented his reputation as a master of the form. His latest feature project, a monumental co-production involving Spain’s María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, UniKo, and Glow Animation, alongside Portugal’s Sardinha em Lata, has already garnered significant critical acclaim, including an animated feature Goya Award earlier this February.
Vázquez’s ability to weave complex, often "bruising" narratives into animated landscapes has positioned him as a torchbearer for the medium in Europe. His work serves as a reminder that animation is a sophisticated vehicle for philosophical inquiry, not merely a genre for entertainment.
A Continental Showcase: Chronology of Success
The ceremony was a testament to the geographical diversity of the Ibero-American animation landscape. While Spain maintained a strong presence, the night was defined by the emergence of new powerhouses from across the Atlantic.
The evening began with the recognition of regional excellence across various formats:
- The Colombian Surge: Bogota-based Careloko Producciones made significant waves by taking the Best Series category for There Is Something Behind You. Written and directed by Julián Gómez Reyes and supported by the Abrecámara public fund, the show was lauded for its ability to balance suspense with engaging, age-appropriate narratives, proving that Colombia is becoming a formidable hub for children’s content.
- The Portuguese Narrative: Portugal’s Marta Reis Andrade claimed the Best Short Film award for Dog Alone. A poignant 2D fable exploring themes of isolation and the complexities of family ties, the film—produced by BAP – Animation Studio in collaboration with France’s Ikki Films—has been a staple on the festival circuit, including high-profile screenings at AFI Fest and the Valladolid International Film Festival.
- Multi-National Collaboration: The School Short Film category highlighted the importance of cross-border partnerships, with the Colombia-Spain co-production Ballad of Fishes and Birds, by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo, taking home the prize.
The spread of spoils across five nations—Spain (3), Colombia (2), Portugal (2), Brazil (2), and Argentina (1)—highlights a healthy, competitive, and highly collaborative environment. By breaking down traditional borders, these filmmakers are creating a unified, powerful identity for Ibero-American animation.
Technical Mastery: The "Behind-the-Scenes" Stars
While directors and writers often take the spotlight, the 9th Quirino Awards dedicated significant time to honoring the technical architects of these films. The technical awards recognized that the "magic" of animation is often found in the labor-intensive details of visual development, sound design, and original scoring.
- Visual and Design Excellence: Brazil’s Rosana Urbes (Planta Filmes) received the award for Best Visual Development for her work on Safo. Meanwhile, the Argentina-Mexico collaboration My Gut Friend, directed by José Manuel Lo Bianco and Mariano Andrés Bergara, secured the award for Animation Design, demonstrating the sophisticated level of craftsmanship currently emerging from the Latin American studio circuit.
- Sonic Landscapes: Spain’s The Quinta’s Ghost, directed by James A. Castillo (Illusorium Films, Martirio Films), swept the categories for Best Sound Design and Original Music. Having already achieved the prestige of an Oscars shortlist nomination, the film’s technical prowess is widely regarded as setting a new standard for atmospheric storytelling in animation.
- Beyond the Screen: The awards also acknowledged the expanding scope of the medium, with Valhalla Cats (Spain) winning Best Video Game Animation for Stars in the Trash, directed by José Ginés Picón López, and Brazil’s Zombie Studio winning Best Commissioned Film for their work on 18 Months.
The Jury’s Perspective: A Global Standard
The weight of these decisions fell upon an international jury chaired by Brazilian producer Cesar Cabral, himself a 2022 Quirino winner for Bob Cuspe – Nós Não Gostamos de Gente. Cabral was joined by an esteemed panel of industry veterans: Ireland’s Moe Honan (Moetion Films), the Philippines’ Marilyn Montano (PlayLab Animation Studio), Colombian-American powerhouse Martha Sepúlveda (CAKE Entertainment), and Croatia’s Krešimir Zubčić (HRT).
The diversity of the jury itself reflects the Quirino Awards’ mission to position Ibero-American animation as a global player. In their collective statement, the jurors noted the "extraordinary level of technical maturation" observed in this year’s submissions, particularly in the way studios are merging traditional 2D sensibilities with cutting-edge digital production techniques.
Implications: Where Does the Industry Go From Here?
The success of the 9th Quirino Awards signals a turning point for the Ibero-American animation industry. The implications are three-fold:
- Investment and Infrastructure: The consistent performance of public funds—such as the Colombian Abrecámara fund—proves that government support is crucial in fostering local talent that can eventually compete on the world stage. As these films continue to rack up Goya awards and Oscar shortlists, the pressure on private and public entities to increase investment in regional animation will likely grow.
- Cross-Border Synergy: The prevalence of co-productions, particularly between Spain and Portugal or Spain and various Latin American nations, is no longer an exception; it is the rule. This "Iberian-Latin" pipeline is creating a shared language of animation that allows for larger budgets and wider distribution, reducing the risk for independent studios.
- The Rise of the "Adult" Animation Narrative: Alberto Vázquez’s continued success demonstrates that there is a hunger for mature, complex animated storytelling. By prioritizing identity, social critique, and psychological depth, creators are proving that animation is an ideal medium for the modern human condition.
As the curtains closed on the 9th edition in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the sentiment among attendees was clear: the Quirino Awards have moved beyond being a regional celebration. They are now an essential fixture on the global animation calendar. With the bar set high by Decorado and the impressive roster of winners, the industry looks toward the 10th anniversary of the awards with a sense of renewed purpose and undeniable momentum.
The future of animation, it seems, is not just being drawn; it is being defined by a collective, cross-continental vision that refuses to be ignored.
Siti Muinah
Suro Senen
Nana
