Quirino Awards 2026: ‘Decorado,’ ‘There Is Something Behind You,’ And ‘Dog Alone’ Take Top Prizes

Tenerife, Spain — Decorado, directed by Alberto Vázquez, took home the prize for best feature film at the 9th edition of the Quirino Awards, which were held Friday evening in sunny Santa Cruz de Tenerife, where what was originally forecast to be a cool and overcast affair turned into a true tropical celebration of Hispanic animation.

Other top winners at this year’s ceremony included the Colombian children’s series There Is Something Behind You, created by Julián Gómez Reyes, which took the award for best series, and the Portuguese short Dog Alone by Marta Reis Andrade, which won best short film.

The geographic spread across those top categories was indicative of a broader trend among this year’s honorees. Awards were shared across five countries, with Spain leading with three prizes, followed by Colombia, Portugal, and Brazil with two each, and Argentina with one. The results reflected a balanced split between Iberian and Latin American productions.

Vázquez’s Decorado, a Spain-Portugal co-production, expands his earlier short of the same name into a feature exploring identity and disillusionment in a world driven by appearances. The win marks his third Quirino Award; he previously won twice in the short film category. It’s the latest in an impressive run of prize wins. Earlier this year, Decorado took the Spanish Academy Goya Award for best feature.

In other categories, Ballad of Fishes and Birds by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo won best student short film, while Ana Marta Mendes picked up best music video for her work on Raul Manarte’s “Paulinha.” The award for best commissioned film went to 18 Months by Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea, and the award for best video game animation went to Stars in the Trash by José Ginés Picón López.

Technical awards went to Sappho by Rosana Urbes (visual development), My Gut Friend by José Manuel Lo Bianco and Mariano Andrés Bergara (animation design), and The Quinta’s Ghost by James A. Castillo (sound design and original music).

Launched in 2018, the Quirino Awards recognize animation from across the Ibero-American region and are held annually in Tenerife. Next year’s 10th anniversary edition is scheduled for April 21-23, 2027.

Quirino Awards 2026

Best Ibero-American Animation Feature Film

• Heart of Darkness — Directed by Rogério Nunes. Produced by Karmatique, Split Animation, and Special Touch Studios. (Brazil, France)
• WINNER: Decorado — Directed by Alberto Vázquez. Produced by María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, Uniko, Glow Animation, and Sardinha em Lata. (Spain, Portugal)
• Olivia and the Invisible Earthquake — Directed by Irene Iborra. Produced by Citoplasmas Stopmotion, Kinetic Armatures, Cornelius Films, Bigaro Films, Vivement Lundi!, Panique!, Pájaro, and Nadasdy Film. (Spain, Belgium, Chile, France, Switzerland)
• I Am Frankelda — Directed by Arturo Ambriz and Roy Ambriz. Produced by Cinema Fantasma. (Mexico)

Best Ibero-American Animation Series

• WINNER: There Is Something Behind You – Season 1 — Directed by Julián Gómez Reyes. Produced by Careloko Producciones. (Colombia)
• Women Wearing Shoulder Pads – Season 1 — Created by Gonzalo Córdova. Produced by Cinema Fantasma and Adult Swim. (Mexico, United States)
• Pocoyó – Season 6 — Directed by Guillermo García Carsí. Produced by Pajaroto y Luna AIE and RTVE. (Spain)
• Tainá and the Amazon’s Guardian – Season 2 — Directed by Natália Freitas. Produced by Sincrocine Produções. (Brazil)

Best Ibero-American Animation Short Film

• WINNER: Dog Alone — Directed by Marta Reis Andrade. Produced by Bap – Animation Studio and Ikki Films. (Portugal, France)
• The Quinta’s Ghost — Directed by James A. Castillo. Produced by Illusorium Films and Martirio Films. (Spain)
• Luz Diabla — Directed by Gervasio Canda, Paula Boffo, and Patricio Plaza. Produced by Ojo Raro and Lakeside Animation. (Argentina, Canada)
• Because Today Is Saturday — Directed by Alice Eça Guimarães. Produced by Animais, Os Filmes do Pinguim, La Clairière Ouest, and Studio Kimchi. (Portugal, France, Spain)

Best Ibero-American Animation School Short Film

• Where Do Birds Go When They Die? — Directed by Guido Devoto Brunori. Produced at Escuela Nacional de Experimentación y Realización Cinematográfica (ENERC). (Argentina)
• WINNER: Ballad of Fishes and Birds — Directed by Anny Uribe and Juan José Arévalo. Produced at Universitat Politècnica de València. (Colombia, Spain)
• Wing Shop — Directed by Gabriela Rojas Bustos, Andrea León Gutiérrez, and Sascha Schmit. Produced at BAU Centro Universitario de Artes y Diseño. (Spain, Chile, Mexico, France)

Best Ibero-American Animation Commissioned Film

• WINNER: 18 Months — Directed by Paulo Garcia and Natalia Gouvea. Produced by Zombie Studio. (Brazil)
• Cineminuto Pixelatl 2025 – Enchant the World — Directed by Pablo R. Roldán. Produced by Rudo Company. (Argentina)
• Gaspar’s Journey — Directed by Nj López. Produced by Punkrobot. (Chile)

Best Animation for Video Game

• Last Time I Saw You — Developed by Maboroshi Artworks. (Spain, Japan)
• WINNER: Stars in the Trash — Developed by Valhalla Cats. (Spain)
• Tiris — Developed by Cremaet Studios – ESAT. (Spain)

Best Visual Development

• Dog Alone — Directed by Marta Reis Andrade. Produced by Bap – Animation Studio and Ikki Films. (Portugal, France)
• El Cuerpo de Cristo — Directed by Bea Lema. Produced by Uniko and Abano Producións. (Spain)
• The Rumor Is Born — Directed by Moises Arancibia. Produced by Smog. (Chile)
• WINNER: Sappho — Directed by Rosana Urbes. Produced by Planta Filmes. (Brazil)

Best Animation Design

• Dog Alone — Directed by Marta Reis Andrade. Produced by Bap – Animation Studio and Ikki Films. (Portugal, France)
• WINNER: My Gut Friend — Directed by José Manuel “Becho” Lo Bianco and Mariano Andrés “Mab” Bergara. Produced by Can Can Club, Primo Content, and GUT. (Argentina, Mexico)
• Because Today Is Saturday — Directed by Alice Eça Guimarães. Produced by Animais, Os Filmes do Pinguim, La Clairière Ouest, and Studio Kimchi. (Portugal, France, Spain)

Best Sound Design and Original Music

• Decorado — Directed by Alberto Vázquez. Produced by María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, Uniko, Glow Animation, and Sardinha em Lata. (Spain, Portugal)
• WINNER: The Quinta’s Ghost — Directed by James A. Castillo. Produced by Illusorium Films and Martirio Films. (Spain)
• Because Today Is Saturday — Directed by Alice Eça Guimarães. Produced by Animais, Os Filmes do Pinguim, La Clairière Ouest, and Studio Kimchi. (Portugal, France, Spain)