The laureates of the ninth Quirino Awards were announced at a gala ceremony held on Friday 17 April, in the Canarian city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain), with the list of winners split among various countries, reflecting the sheer diversity and creative potential in the field of Ibero-American animation. The Best Feature Award went to Spain’s Decorado by Alberto Vázquez, Colombia’s Hay algo detrás de ti by Julián Gómez Reyes went home with the Best Series Award, while Best Short Film was bestowed upon the Portuguese effort Dog Alone by Marta Reis Andrade.

The international jury tasked with choosing the winners was made up of Brazilian animator, director and producer Cesar Cabral, winner of the Quirino Award for Best Film in 2022 with Bob Spit: We Do Not Like People; Ireland’s Moe Honan, CEO of the firm Moetion Films; the Philippines’ Marilyn Montano (PlayLab Animation Studio and TeamApp); Colombian-US professional Martha Sepúlveda (CAKE Entertainment); and Croatia’s Krešimir Zubčić (a programmer at HRT).

The winner of Best Feature, Decorado by Galician director, illustrator and graphic novelist Alberto Vázquez, tackles the search for identity as well as disillusionment in the face of a society that prioritises outward appearances. Inspired by the director’s earlier short film of the same name, the movie is a co-production involving Spain’s María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, Uniko and Glow Animation, as well as Portugal’s Sardinha em Lata. This is Vázquez’s third Quirino Award to date, as he has previously scooped Best Short Film twice: for Decorado (in 2018) and for Homeless Home (2021). What’s more, in 2023, he secured a nomination with his striking feature Unicorn Wars.

Colombia’s Hay algo detrás de ti by Julián Gómez Reyes made off with the Best Series Award. It is a production aimed at a child audience, telling thrilling stories that explore everyday fears and inexplicable events. The gong for Best Short Film went to Dog Alone by Portuguese filmmaker Marta Reis Andrade, which transforms a personal experience into an intimate fable about solitude and reconnection with one’s family. This 2D short film, teetering on the boundary between reality and imagination, is a production by BAP – Animation Studio, in conjunction with French outfit Ikki Films.

Other notable prizes included the Best Student Short Film Award, which went to Balada de peces y pájaros by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo (Colombia/Spain); and Best Commissioned Animation, which was bestowed upon 18 Months by Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea (Brazil).

The list of winners was rounded off by the awards presented in the three technical categories, which this time all went to short films: Safo by Brazilian helmer Rosana Urbes picked up the Award for Best Visual Development; My Gut Friend, a co-production between Argentina and Mexico by José Manuel Lo Bianco and Mariano Andrés Bergara, was recognised for its animation design; and Spain’s The Quinta’s Ghost by James A Castillo walked away with the Award for Best Sound Design and Original Score.

Here is the full list of winners:

Best Feature
Decorado - Alberto Vázquez (Spain/Portugal)

Best Series
Hay algo detrás de ti (season 1) - Julián Gómez Reyes (Colombia)

Best Short Film
Dog Alone - Marta Reis Andrade (Portugal/France)

Best Student Short Film
Balada de peces y pájaros - Anny Uribe, Juan José Arévalo (Colombia/Spain)

Best Music Video
Paulinha - Ana Marta Mendes (Portugal)

Best Commissioned Animation
18 Months - Paulo Garcia, Natalia Gouvea (Brazil)

Best Video-game Animation
Stars in the Trash - José Ginés Picón López (Spain)

Best Visual Development
Safo - Rosana Urbes (Brazil)

Best Animation Design
My Gut Friend - José Manuel Lo Bianco, Mariano Andrés Bergara (Argentina/Mexico)

Best Sound Design and Original Score
The Quinta’s Ghost - James A Castillo (Spain)