Alberto Vázquez’s ‘Decorado’ Scoops Top Feature Prize at 9th Quirino Awards; Colombia, Portugal Share Major Wins

Why It Matters

The win underscores the rising global stature of Ibero‑American animation and validates cross‑border co‑production models that are attracting talent, funding, and distribution opportunities worldwide.

Key Takeaways

• "Decorado" wins Quirino Best Feature, Spain‑Portugal co‑production.
• Spain leads awards with three wins, topping Ibero‑American animation.
• Colombia and Portugal each secure two major categories, showing regional growth.
• 265 entries judged, reflecting expanding Ibero‑American animation pipeline.
• Jury chaired by Brazilian producer Cesar Cabral, emphasizing pan‑regional expertise.

Pulse Analysis

The 9th Ibero‑American Animation Quirino Awards in Tenerife marked a watershed moment for the region’s animated content, drawing 265 submissions from across Latin America and the Iberian Peninsula. Established in 2017, the Quirinos have quickly become the premier showcase for feature‑length and short‑form animation, offering a platform that rivals traditional festivals in Europe and North America. This year’s ceremony underscored the sector’s accelerating output, with a record‑high slate of entries reflecting deeper investment, talent migration, and the growing appetite of streaming services for culturally distinct animated stories.

Alberto Vázquez’s “Decorado” captured the top‑honour for Best Feature Film, adding a third Quirino trophy to the Galician auteur’s résumé after earlier wins for his short‑film version and “Homeless Home”. The film, a Spain‑Portugal co‑production involving María y Arnold AIE, Abano Producións, UniKo, Glow Animation and Sardinha em Lata, also secured the animated‑feature Goya earlier this year, illustrating how cross‑border collaborations can amplify a project’s festival circuit momentum and commercial prospects in both European and Latin markets.

The awards also highlighted the rising clout of Colombia and Portugal, each walking away with two major categories, while Brazil and Argentina added niche wins. Such distribution signals a maturing ecosystem where public funds, like Colombia’s Abrecámara, and private studios, such as Portugal’s BAP‑Animation, are leveraging Quirino recognition to attract international co‑production deals and streaming licences. As the jury, chaired by Brazilian producer César Cabral, continues to emphasize artistic merit over budget, the Quirinos are poised to become a catalyst for further investment and talent development throughout the Ibero‑American animation corridor.