Tenerife Hosts Ninth Quirino Awards, Celebrating Ibero-American Animation Excellence
The ninth edition of the Quirino Awards in Tenerife celebrated Ibero-American animation excellence, highlighting a balanced distribution of honors between European and Latin American creators.
The ninth edition of the Quirino Awards for Ibero-American Animation has firmly established Tenerife as the heart of a thriving creative community, bridging the gap between Europe and Latin America. Organizers noted that this year’s winners highlight a perfect balance of technical and storytelling excellence, with both regions taking home five awards each—a testament to an industry that has grown well beyond its borders.
Galician filmmaker Alberto Vázquez’s Decorado took the night’s top honor, leading a strong Spanish performance that secured three awards in total. Other Spanish winners included José Ginés Picón López’s Stars in the Trash, which won for best video game, and El fantasma de la Quinta by James A. Castillo, which was recognized for its sound and original music.
The awards showcased impressive geographical diversity, with winners hailing from Spain, Colombia, Portugal, Brazil, and Argentina. Colombia’s Hay algo detrás de ti, directed by Julián Gómez Reyes, won for best series, while the Portuguese short film Cão Sozinho by Marta Reis Andrade took home the prize in its category.
Brazil also saw significant success in the technical categories, with Rosana Urbes recognized for visual development in Safo and Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea honored for their work on 18 Months. Other winners included the Colombia-Spain co-production Balada de peces y pájaros, the Portuguese music video Paulinha, and the Argentine-Mexican project My Gut Friend. These winners were selected from an initial pool of 265 entries.
Beyond the awards ceremony, the event continues to act as a major driver for the audiovisual industry. A jury of international experts evaluated the works based on their ability to attract talent and foster economic growth. Lope Afonso, Vice President of the Tenerife Island Council, emphasized that the island’s support for the awards is part of a broader strategy to strengthen cultural ties and establish Tenerife as a key global hub for animated content.