The Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards organization has set a new benchmark in its ninth edition, announcing a record 273 submissions — the largest pool in its history — while unveiling a new structural framework that divides the initiative into two clear strands: the Quirino Awards themselves on one hand and, on the other, a consolidated suite of industry activities led by the Co-Production and Business Forum, Quirino Lab and Futures Lab.
“The closing of this call marks a new registration record, but beyond the numbers, this data confirms that Ibero-American animation is actively producing and enjoying robust creative and professional health, even in circumstances that are not always favorable.” said director of the Quirino Awards Silvina Cornillón.
The 2026 Awards ceremony will take place over April 15-17 – Bradly ne month earlier than usual – in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, moving down from the hills of its former base at San Cristóbal de La Laguna and returning to the city that hosted its first two editions.
A Record-Breaking Call
This year’s call for submissions has attracted works from 20 countries, the highest in Quirino’s history beating the previous record of 18, with Andorra submitting for the first time. The growth continues a multi-year geographic spread across Latin America, Spain and Portugal. Brazil, in particular, is experiencing one of the sharpest upticks, with entries up by around 50% on 2024, underscoring the country’s rising production capacity and engagement with regional networks.
Eligible works cover premieres from June 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2025, spanning seven primary categories — Feature Film, Series, Short Film, School Short Film, Commissioned Work, Video Game Animation and Music Video — alongside three technical awards for Visual Development, Animation Design and Sound Design & Original Music.
An international committee will select six longlisted titles per category in February; an international jury will then whittle these down to three nominees per section, with winners announced at the May ceremony.
A New Two-Pillar Structure
Quirino’s announcement formalizes an evolution several years in the making. What began in 2018 as an awards initiative has expanded. “The Quirino Awards have grown alongside the sector in a virtuous circle. Quirino is now a comprehensive ecosystem where awards, business, and professional training converge, working to position animation as a strategic sector that creates both cultural and economic value,” Cornillón said.
Under the new model, the Awards become a standalone pillar recognizing excellence in Ibero-American animation across 23 countries, while all industry activities consolidate into a second pillar built around three flagship programs: the Co-Production and Business Forum, which last year brought together 200 executives from 25 countries for more than 1,400 meetings; the just celebrated Quirino Lab, a high-level training initiative for executive producers focused on new market dynamics, financial structures, IP expansion and emerging technologies; and Futures Lab, developed with the Ortega-Marañón Foundation to explore prospective scenarios and long-term strategic futures for Ibero-American animation.
The two-pronged approach aims to give greater clarity to Quirino’s mission of celebrating artistic achievement while simultaneously building and binding together the industrial, organizational and human infrastructure needed for sustainable growth.
Quirino’s return to Santa Cruz de Tenerife also marks a renewed visibility for the capital city within the Canary Islands animation map. The move comes as the island, backed by the Tenerife Council, via Turismo de Tenerife and the Tenerife Film Commission, continues to deepen its commitment to animation as a strategic sector. Tenerife’s broader animation ambitions have been underscored by its strong tax incentives, the emergence of local studios such as 3Doubles, B-Water and Atlantis and the island’s increasing presence at top-tier global markets, transforming it into one of the most active hubs in Spain’s wider animation growth.
Last year’s Quirino Awards saw recognition for David Baute’s “Black Butterflies” (Best Film), Brazil’s “Irmão do Jorel” (Best Series), and Uruguay’s “Los carpinchos” (Best Short Film), with works from Argentina, Brazil and Spain also making significant showings.
The ninth edition brings together a broad coalition of sponsors and collaborating entities, including Turismo de Islas Canarias, ICAA, ICEX, Proexca, Ibermedia, the City Council of San Cristóbal de La Laguna, OEI, Welaw, RTVE, Filmin, Multicines Tenerife, Culturamanía, and others, as well as the support of Annecy Festival, Pixelatl, Weird Market, Animation! Ventana Sur and associations from across the Ibero-American animation landscape.
Quirino’s challenge now is not simply to recognize the best works in the Ibero-American market, but to help structure that market, raise professional standards and continue to create long-term conditions for collaboration and international projection
variety.com
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