Apr 9, 2018

2018 Quirino Award Winners: "Ana and Bruno" from Mexico wins Best Feature Film

The Mexican feature Ana and Bruno, which took nearly a dozen years to realize from script to finished film, won the feature film award at the inaugural Quirino Awards, held on Saturday evening on the Spanish island of Tenerife in the Canaries.

Like the European Animation Awards, which also launched their inaugural edition a few months ago, the Quirinos were created to recognize the animation achievements of a specific region, in this case, Ibero-America.

In all, nine awards were handed out this year to projects from five countries: Mexico, Argentina, Spain, Chile, and Brazil. That's from a total of 23 countries that are represented in the Ibero-American sphere. As the animation industries develop in these countries, the Quirino Awards will continue to rise in both prominence and competitiveness.

But as Alberto Vázquez, who won the Quirino award for his short film Decorado, pointed out in his acceptance speech (watch below, in Spanish), the Quirinos are much more than just a competition for a prize. They are a new platform providing an opportunity for a geographically vast animation industry to come together in one place - and to start growing together as one community.

There were nine official winners at the Quirinos, but frankly, everyone who was nominated for an award and everyone who experienced the strong camaraderie at the the event's various components, including the co-production forum and academic congress, was a winner. The idea that the Ibero-American industry can thrive through collaboration is central to the vision of Quirino masterminds José Luis Farias and José Iñesta, who are also the directors of Spain's 3D Wire and Mexico's Pixelatl festivals, respectively. Their first event proved that a brighter animation future is indeed possible when everyone comes to the table and works toward common objectives.

The Quirino winners were selected by an international jury comprised of film historian Giannalberto Bendazzi, producer/distributor Eleanor Coleman, producer/consultant Joan Lofts, and directors/animators David Feiss and Raúl García.

Feature FilmAna and Bruno directed by Carlos Carrera Produced by Altavista Films, Lo Coloco Films, in co-production with Ítaca Films, Ánima Estudios, Five 7 Media, Argos Servicios Informativos (Mexico)

Animation SeriesThe Tiniest Man in the World directed by Juan Pablo Zaramella Produced by Les Films De L'Arlequin, JPL Films, Can Can Club (Argentina, co-production with France)

Short FilmDecorado directed by Alberto Vázquez Produced by Uniko, in coproduction with Autour de Minuit and Abano Producións (Spain, co-production with France)

School Short FilmTántalo directed by Juan Facundo Ayerbe and Christian Krieghoff Universidad de Buenos Aires (Argentina)

Commissioned FilmSing with Meaning: A Biography of Violeta Parra directed by Leonardo Beltrán Produced by Plastivida & Niño Viejo (Chile)

Innovative WorkThe Many Pieces of Mr. Coo directed by Nacho Rodríguez Produced by Nacho Rodríguez (Spain)

Visual Development of Animation WorkHere's the Plan directed by Fernanda Frick Produced by María José Barros (Chile)

Animation Design of Animation WorkWay of Giants directed by Alois Di Leo Produced by Sinlogo Animation (Brazil)

Sound Design/Original MusicTad the Lost Explorer and the Secret of King Midas directed by Enrique Gato and David Alonso Produced by Telecinco Cinema, Telefonica Studios, 4Cats Pictures, Tadeo Jones y el secreto del Rey Midas AIE, Ikiru Films, Lightbox Animation Studios (Spain)