The city of Arrecife once again dressed up in its finest last weekend to bring another edition of the Lanzarote International Film Festival to a close. The 26th edition (read more) turned the island into a meeting point from 11 to 23 May for creators, stories and perspectives from around the world. At the closing ceremony, Jesús Machín Tavío, Councillor for Culture at the Lanzarote Island Council, highlighted that “the FICL has once again brought another edition to a close, confirming its growth and its ability to continue putting the island on the cultural and audiovisual map of the Canary Islands.”

The event was also attended by the members of this year’s various juries, comprising Arantxa Echevarría, Carlos Bardem, Javier Pereira, Tamar Novas, Alberto Jo Lee, Boré Buika, Ruth Gabriel, Susana Castañón, Joel Barrios, Silvia Navarro, Paola Domínguez, Andrés Martinón, Elena Tejera and Mare Cabrera.

The Best International Short Film award went to No Skate!, by French director Guil Sela, praised for its wistful humour and its ironic portrayal of Olympic Paris, blending romantic comedy with social commentary. The Audience Award in this category went to Icarus, by Anglo-Cypriot director Christos Kardana, while the jury’s Special Mention was awarded to the Filipino film Agapito, by Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Romero.

The award for Best National Short Film went to María Rita, by Galician director Juan Barbazán, noted for its raw and deeply human portrayal of drug addiction and motherhood in coastal Galicia, featuring real-life victims of the drug trade. The Audience Award went to Te debo una, by Santi Capuz and Diego Jiménez, and the jury’s Special Mention went to Fue un verano by Sandra del Olmo.

In the Best Documentary Short Film category, both the Audience Award and the Best Documentary Short Film Award went to 123 Semillas de Nim, by Murcia-based director Adrián Buenaventura, recognised for its emotional depth and social commitment in portraying with great humanity the lives of children with disabilities in Kenya. The Special Mention went to Las malas by Elisa Moreno Borrego, which follows a group of courageous mothers who decide to compete professionally in rugby, a sport traditionally associated with men.

Among the animated films, the jury awarded Best Animated Short Film to Planeta Fome by Éider William (Brazil), based on real events and noted for its sensitive yet politically charged perspective. The Audience Award went to Susurros, by French filmmakers Alexandra Pewinski, Marie Lombard, Florian Reignier, Emma Pluchard, Lisa Francillon and Alice Parmentier, while the jury’s Special Mention went to The Pool or Death of a Goldfish, by Polish filmmaker Daria Kopiec.

Finally, local talent took centre stage in the Best Canary Islands Short Film category, where the award went to La habitación by Nacho Peña, a participant in the “Seniors Without Shame” competition. The Audience Award went to Cuenta atrás by Iván Umpiérrez, and the jury’s Special Mention was given to Azul by Adrián Viador.

The award winners:

International Fiction Short Films

Best Short Film
No Skate! - Guil Sela (France)

Special Mention
Agapito - Arvin Belarmino, Kyla Romero (Philippines)

Audience Award
Icarus - Christos Kardana (Belgium/France/Greece/United Kingdom)

National Fiction Short Films

Best Short Film
María Rita - Juan Barbazán (Spain)

Special Mention
Fue un verano - Sandra del Olmo (Spain)

Audience Award
Te debo una - Santi Capuz, Diego Jiménez (Spain)

Canary Island Short Films

Best Short Film
La habitación - Nacho Peña (Spain)

Special Mention
Azul - Adrián Viador (Spain)

Audience Award
Cuenta atrás - Iván Umpiérrez (Spain)

Animated Short Films

Best Short Film
Planeta Fome - Éider William (Brazil)

Special Mention
The Pool or Death of a Goldfish - Daria Kopiec (Poland)

Audience Award
Susurros - Alexandra Pewinski, Marie Lombard, Florian Reignier, Emma Pluchard, Lisa Francillon, Alice Parmentier (France)

Documentary Short Films

Best Short Film
123 semillas de Nim - Adrián Buenaventura (Spain)

Special Mention
Las Malas - Elisa Moreno Borrego (Spain)

Audience Award
123 semillas de Nim - Adrián Buenaventura