Ibero-American Animation Shines as Quirino Awards Nominees Announced
Nominees for the 9th Quirino Awards, celebrating the strength of the Ibero-American animation industry, have been announced, with 27 productions from seven countries competing for prizes on April 17 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
The Ibero-American animation industry is showing how strong and globally recognized it is, with the announcement of nominees for the 9th Quirino Awards. In total, 27 animated productions from seven countries will compete for the prizes, which will be handed out on April 17 in Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
Created in 2018, the Quirino Awards were designed to boost the animation industry across 23 countries in the region. They have since become a vital platform for showcasing talent and increasing visibility. Holding the final ceremony in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with strong backing from the Cabildo (through Turismo de Tenerife and the Tenerife Film Commission), highlights Spain's dedication to supporting cultural industries and its ability to host major international events.
More than 265 entries were submitted, but only the chosen works will compete in seven main categories. These include feature films, series, short films, school projects, commissioned works, animation for video games, and music videos. There are also three technical awards for visual development, animation design, and sound design and original music.
Spain and Portugal have a strong presence this year. Spain leads with eleven nominations, while Portugal has seven. From the Americas, Argentina received six nominations and Brazil four. Colombia and Mexico each have two nominated works, and Chile has one.
In the feature film category, two Spanish productions are nominated: Decorado by Galician director Alberto Vázquez and Olivia y el terremoto invisible by Irene Iborra. They are joined by Brazil's Coração das Trevas by Rogério Nunes, and Mexico's Soy Frankelda by Arturo and Roy Ambriz. For best series, nominees include Brazil's Tainá e os Guardiões da Amazônia by Natália Freitas, Spain's Pocoyó by Guillermo García Carsí, Colombia's Hay algo detrás de ti by Julián Gómez Reyes, and Mexico's Mujeres con hombreras by Gonzalo Córdova. Portugal stands out in the best short film category with Porque Hoje é Sábado by Alice Eça Guimarães and Cão Sozinho by Marta Reis Andrade. These will compete against Spain's El Fantasma de la Quinta by James A. Castillo and Argentina's Luz Diabla by Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo, and Patricio Plaza. The nominees for school short films, music videos, commissioned works, video game animation, and the technical categories have also been announced.