The eighth Quirino Awards, the leading celebration of Ibero-American animation, showcased outstanding animated works from Spain, Brazil, and Uruguay.

Spain’s David Baute won the award for Best Feature with his debut film “Black Butterflies,” a climate drama centered on migration that has already garnered accolades at prestigious events like Annecy, the Goyas, and the Platino Awards. Brazil’s quirky series “Jorel’s Brother” took home the award for Best Series for its fifth season, while Uruguay’s Alfredo Soderguit won Best Short for “Capybaras,” an allegorical tale about prejudice and friendship.

Known for his documentary roots, Tenerife-born director Baute weaves a compelling narrative about three women from diverse backgrounds, each compelled to migrate due to the climate crisis. This feature builds on Baute’s 2020 documentary Climate Exodus and has already received recognition at the Goya and Platino Awards. Co-written with Yaiza Berrocal, “Black Butterflies” is produced by Spain’s Ikiru Films and Tinglado Film, in collaboration with Panama’s Anangu Grup.

Brazil’s beloved “Jorel’s Brother” secured the Best Series award for its fifth season, marking its second Quirino win after an initial recognition in 2019. Created by Juliano Enrico and produced by Rio de Janeiro’s Copa Studio in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, the series follows the adventures of a creative young boy living in the shadow of his popular older brother.

Uruguay celebrated its win for Best Short Film with “Capybaras,” directed by Alfredo Soderguit. This narrative explores themes of prejudice and friendship through the experiences of a displaced family of capybaras. Known for his acclaimed works like “Anina” and “Dos pajaritos,” a finalist at the 2022 Quirino Awards, Soderguit adapted this film from his own illustrated book. The production involved Uruguay’s Palermo Estudio alongside collaborators from France and Chile.

Other notable winners included Spain’s José Prats for the student short “Adiós,” which was a nominee at the BAFTAs and won the same award at the Annie Awards; Argentina’s Jesica Bianchi for the animated music video “My Way”; and Brazil’s Zombie Studio, whose film “47” won both Best Commissioned Animation and Best Visual Development.

In other categories, Spain’s Nomada Studio won Best Video Game Animation for “Neva,” while the Franco-Spanish co-production “Paradise Buffet” received the award for Best Animation Design. Spain’s “Gilbert” also earned accolades for Best Sound Design and Original Music.

This year’s international jury included industry leaders such as Ben Kalina from Titmouse studio (U.S.), Carolina López Caballero (Spain), Helena Nylander from SVT (Sweden), Daniel Bruson (Brazil), and Leyla Formoso from Prime Entertainment Group (France).

During the Gala, Lope Afonso, Vice President of the Tenerife Council, which sponsors the Awards through Tenerife Tourism, announced the launch of the Quirino Lab, a new training and discussion platform set to debut in November 2025. Building on the Futures Lab initiative, this endeavor aims to enhance collaborative strategies across Ibero-American animation.

Key Takeaways:

Commercial Clout or Arthouse Cred?

The Quirino Awards attract prominent names because they provide a unique opportunity for quality relationship building over a few days, unlike Cannes and Annecy. Industry insiders noted that many projects pitched this year leaned heavily towards arthouse, raising concerns about their commercial viability with major distributors or streaming platforms. However, there was excitement about the potential for these innovative projects to reach new audiences hungry for originality. The challenge lies in finding the right balance; films like “Robot Dreams” by Pablo Berger demonstrate that it’s possible to blend creative ambition with audience appeal. Yet, a strong focus on niche markets could limit global reach. While arthouse animation may find its place, the current distribution model is not yet robust enough to support it.

Location, Location, Location

The Canary Islands now boasts 10 animation studios and some of the most attractive tax incentives globally. However, as several executives at Quirino pointed out, talent requires more than just a studio and financial incentives. With the islands primarily catering to short-term tourism, securing housing for long-term talent remains a challenge. Developing on-the-ground infrastructure will be crucial for fostering growth. Many who try the lifestyle find it rewarding enough to overlook the associated challenges.

Trump 2.0: An Uninvited Guest

While no one at Quirino wanted to dwell on President Trump, his recent comments about foreign production tax breaks were a recurring topic during coffee breaks. With the Canary Islands offering some of the richest rebates available, the concern is less about immediate policy changes and more about the uncertainty they create. Investors are wary, and the animation industry, with its lengthy timelines and high upfront costs, requires a stable environment to thrive. Even a single social media post from Trump can create ripples of uncertainty in fragile co-financing arrangements.

Finding Purpose

Both the Futures Lab and Women in Animation sessions highlighted a strong desire among producers and filmmakers to discuss their challenges. “We encouraged them to reflect on the sacrifices they’ve made to advance their careers and connect with their personal purpose—the things that truly inspire them,” shared Silvina Cornillõn, director of the Quirino Awards, in an interview with Variety. The camaraderie displayed was heartening. “When we delve deep, some may hesitate, but they stayed engaged, listened, and were moved,” she concluded.

Ibero-America’s Big Meet-Up

One of Quirino’s significant achievements is the diverse geographic representation of its attendees. Filmmakers, producers, and executives came not only from Spain and Portugal but from nearly every corner of Latin America, giving the event substantial Ibero-American significance. Having Argentinian Cornillõn leading a Spanish-based festival sends a positive message about the organizers’ ongoing efforts. Quirino has evolved into more than just a regional showcase; it has become a vital platform where the Ibero-American animation community converges to exchange ideas. Collaboration continues to flourish, and the outcomes from various programs over the past few years are bringing high-quality projects to the pitching tables.

2025 QUIRINO AWARDS WINNERS

BEST FEATURE: “Black Butterflies,” (David Baute, Spain, Panama)

BEST SERIES: “Jorel’s Brother – Season 5,” (Juliano Enrico, Brazil)

BEST SHORT FILM: “Capybaras,” (Alfredo Soderguit, Uruguay, France, Chile)

BEST ANIMATION SCHOOL SHORT FILM: “Adiós,” (José Prats, Spain, UK)

BEST COMMISSIONED FILM: “47,” (Paulo Garcia & Natalia Gouvea, Brazil)

BEST MUSIC VIDEO: “My Way,” (Jesica Bianchi, Argentina)

BEST VIDEO GAME ANIMATION: “Neva,” (Nomada Studio, Spain)

BEST VISUAL DEVELOPMENT: “47,” (Paulo Garcia & Natalia Gouvea, Brazil)

BEST ANIMATION DESIGN: “Paradise Buffet,” (Santi Amézqueta & Héctor Zafra, Spain, France)

BEST SOUND DESIGN AND ORIGINAL MUSIC: “Gilbert,” (Alejandro Salueña García, Arturo Lacal Ruiz & Jordi Jiménez Xiberta, Spain)