Alberto Vázquez's 'Decorado' Wins Top Feature Prize at 9th Quirino Awards; Colombia, Portugal Also Achieve Significant Victories
At the recent 9th Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards, held in the vibrant city of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, Alberto Vázquez's latest animated feature, "Decorado," was honored with the prestigious Best Feature Film award. This achievement further solidifies Vázquez's remarkable career in animation, adding a third Quirino Award to his collection. The ceremony also celebrated the burgeoning talent in Ibero-American animation, with significant wins for productions from Colombia and Portugal, highlighting the region's diverse and creative landscape.
Quirino Awards Celebrate Ibero-American Animation Excellence
On April 17, 2026, the 9th Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards concluded in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain, recognizing outstanding animated works from across the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America. The evening's highlight was the Best Feature Film award, presented to Galician animation maestro Alberto Vázquez for his profound film, "Decorado." This marks Vázquez's third triumph at the Quirino Awards, following his previous wins for the short film version of "Decorado" in 2018 and "Homeless Home" in 2021. "Decorado," a poignant exploration of identity and societal perceptions, is a co-production involving Spain's María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, UniKo, and Glow Animation, alongside Portugal's Sardinha em Lata, and had previously secured an animated feature Goya Award earlier this year.
Colombia also garnered significant recognition, with Bogotá-based Careloko Producciones clinching the Best Series award for "There Is Something Behind You." This suspenseful children's animation, masterfully written and directed by Julián Gómez Reyes, received crucial backing from Colombia's Abrecámara public fund. The award for Best Short Film went to Portugal's Marta Reis Andrade for "Dog Alone," a beautifully crafted 2D fable exploring themes of isolation and familial bonds. Produced by BAP – Animation Studio in collaboration with France's Ikki Films, the short has already received acclaim at numerous film festivals, including AFI Fest and the Valladolid International Film Festival.
The awards demonstrated a broad geographical distribution of talent, with Spain leading with three awards, followed by Colombia, Portugal, and Brazil each securing two, and Argentina earning one. This equal division of five awards each between the Iberian Peninsula and Latin America underscored the rich tapestry of animation talent across the two regions. A distinguished international jury, chaired by Brazilian producer Cesar Cabral, evaluated 265 submissions to determine this year's winners.
Additional accolades were distributed across various categories. The Best School Short Film award was given to the Colombia-Spain co-production "Ballad of Fishes and Birds," directed by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo. Ana Marta Mendes from Portugal was recognized for Best Music Video for "Paulinha," animating a track by Raul Manarte. Brazil's Zombie Studio took home the Best Commissioned Film award for "18 Months" by Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea. In the realm of interactive entertainment, Spain's Valhalla Cats won Best Video Game Animation for José Ginés Picón López’s "Stars in the Trash."
Technical categories saw Brazilian multi-hyphenate Rosana Urbes receiving Best Visual Development for "Safo." The Best Animation Design award was presented to the Argentina-Mexico co-production "My Gut Friend," directed by José Manuel Lo Bianco and Mariano Andrés Bergara. Finally, Spain's "The Quinta’s Ghost" by James A. Castillo, which was also shortlisted for an Oscar, was honored with Best Sound Design and Original Music.
The Quirino Awards consistently highlight the exceptional creativity and craftsmanship within the Ibero-American animation industry. This year's ceremony not only celebrated established talents like Alberto Vázquez but also brought to light emerging voices and innovative productions from across the diverse cultural landscape. The wide array of winning countries and categories underscores the dynamic growth and global impact of animation from this region. It serves as a reminder of the power of storytelling through animation to explore complex themes and connect with audiences worldwide.
