Quirino Awards 2019: Finalists Announced In 9 Categories

The second annual Ibero-American Animation Quirino Awards have announced finalists in nine categories for their second edition to take place April 6 on the Spanish Canary Island of Tenerife.

Twenty-five animation productions hailing from seven different countries across Ibero-America, will vie for the awards, which are dedicated to celebrating the region’s burgeoning animation industry. The finalists were selected from 244 submitted works from 16 countries.

Spanish animation projects are most represented with 13 nominations followed by Brazil with 7 finalists, then Colombia (5), Argentina (4), Chile (4), Portugal (3), and Mexico (1).

Individually, the Spanish short La Noria, directed by Carlos Baena, stands out as the most-nominated work and competes in three categories. Two other projects — the second season of the Chilean series Paper Port and the Colombian feature film Tropical Virus — earned two nominations apiece.

Four features are in the running for the top prize this year: Another Day of Life, Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, Tito and the Birds, and Tropical Virus. Last year, the winner was Mexican production Ana & Bruno by Carlos Carrera.

The finalists, whittled down from an earlier list of nominees, were selected by an international jury comprised of director and screenwriter Alê Abreu (Boy and the World), Pixar character art director Deanna Marsigliese, producer Gustavo Ferrada, Sola Media sales director Barbie Heusinger, and Xilam Animation’s head of development Marie-Laurence Turpin.

In addition to the awards ceremony, the Quirino festivities also entail a co-production and business forum for industry professionals to exchange information about the state of animation in the Ibero-American region. Those interested in participating in the co-production forum can submit an application until Friday, February 22, on the Quirino Awards website.

Here is the full list of finalists in all nine categories:

Best Ibero-American Animation Feature Film

• Another Day of Life, directed by Raúl de la Fuente & Damian Nenow. Produced by Platige Films y Kanaki Films, in co-production with Walking The Dog, Wüste Film, Animationsfabrik, Puppetworks Animation Studio (Spain, co-production with Poland, Belgium, Germany)
• Buñuel in the Labyrinth of the Turtles, directed by Salvador Simó. Produced by Sygnatia Films, The Glow, Submarine B.V., Hampa Animation Studio, Telemadrid, TV Aragón (Spain, co-production with Netherlands)
• Tito and the Birds, directed by Gustavo Steinberg, Gabriel Bitar & André Catoto. Produced by Bits Filmes (Brazil)
• Tropical Virus, directed by Santiago Caicedo. Based on the graphic novel of Powerpaola. Produced by Timbo Estudio (Colombia)

 Best Ibero-American Animation Series

• Jorel’s Brother – “Be Broccoli!,” directed by Juliano Enrico. Produced by Copa Studio (Brazil)
• Petit, directed by Bernardita Ojeda Salas. Based on the work of Isol. Produced by Pájaro, in co-production with Pakapaka, Non Stop and Señal Colombia (Chile, co-production with Argentina, Colombia)
• Paper Port Season 2 – “The Lives of Others,” directed by Alvaro Ceppi. Produced by Zumbastico Studios, Gloob, Señal Colombia, Pakapaka (Chile, co-production with Brazil, Colombia, Argentina)

Best Ibero-American Animation Short Film

• Guaxuma, directed by Nara Normande. Produced by Vilarejo Filmes, Les Valseurs (Brazil, co-production with France)
• La noria, directed by Carlos Baena. Produced by Nightwheel Pictures (Spain)
• Mum’s the Word, directed by Khris Cembe. Produced by UniKo, Autour de Minuit (Spain, co-production with France)

Best Ibero-American Animation School Short Film

• The Hat, directed by Alexandra Allen. Instituto Politécnico do Cávado e do Ave (Portugal)
• Patchwork, directed by María Manero Muro. Universidad Politècnica de Valencia (Spain)
• Reverie, directed by Philip Piaget. The Animation Workshop – VIA University College (Mexico, co-production with Denmark)

Best Ibero-American Animation Commissioned Film

• The Amazing Story of the Man that Could Fly and Didn’t Know How, directed by Manuel Rubio. Produced by Hiru Animation (Spain)
• Lorenzo Live 2018 Intro, directed by Manuele Fior & Silly Walks Studio. Produced by Silly Walks Studio (Spain, co-production with Italy)
• Starting From Zero, directed by Carlos Salgado. Produced by User T38, DDB (Spain)
• The Fall – Love Never Let Us Down, directed by Paulo Garcia. Produced by Zombie Studio (Brazil)

Best Ibero-American Animation Innovative Work

• Belisario – The Little Big Hero of the Cosmos, directed by Hernan Moyano. Produced by Planetario Ciudad De La Plata (Argentina)
• Bring You Home, directed by Marc Terris & Xavi Terris. Produced by Alike Studio (Spain)
• Mibots Playroom, directed by Nathalie Martinez. Produced by Wise Blue Studios (Spain)

Best Visual Development of Ibero-American Animation Work

• Augur. Produced by Bando À Parte, Zéro De Conduite Productions (Portugal, co-production with France)
• The Wolf House. Produced by Diluvio, Globo Rojo (Chile)
• La noria. Produced by Nightwheel Pictures (Spain)

Best Animation Design of Ibero-American Animation Work

• Lino – An Adventure of Nine Lives. Produced by Startanima (Brazil)
• La noria. Produced by Nightwheel Pictures (Spain)
• Paper Port Season 2 – “The Lives of Others.” Produced by Zumbastico Studios, Gloob, Señal Colombia, Pakapaka (Chile, co-production with Brazil, Colombia, Argentina)

Best Sound Design and Original Music of Ibero-American Animation Work

• Black Is Beltza. Produced by Black is Beltza A.I.E., Talka Records, Set Màgic Audiovisual (Spain)
• Between Shadows. Produced by Animais, co-production with Vivement Lundi!, Um Segundo Filmes (Portugal, co-production with France)
• Tropical Virus. Produced by Timbo Estudio (Colombia)

(Pictured at top, l to r: “Another Day of Lie,” “Tito and the Birds,” “Tropical Virus”)