Gruesome Italian Stop-Motion Short ‘Playing God,’ Mexican CG Charmer ‘Nube’ Score Oscar Qualification With Animayo Gran Canaria Wins

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The 20th annual Animayo Gran Canaria Animation Festival in Spain, a competition that qualifies for the Oscars, has revealed the victors of this year’s event. Over the past twenty years, this festival has been promoting animation, visual effects (VFX), and cinematics in video games.

This year, a panel of experienced professionals from studios such as Disney, Skydance, and Rodeo FX served as judges for the competition. They reviewed 55 short films selected among thousands submitted from 84 different countries, which were chosen from an initial pool of over 2,000 entries by Animayo staff.

The competition was judged this year by industry veterans from studios like Disney, Skydance, and Rodeo FX. They looked at 55 short films selected from thousands of submissions across 84 countries. These were chosen by Animayo staff from an initial pool of over 2,000 entries.)

As a passionate admirer, I’m thrilled to share that the prestigious Grand Jury Award at the festival was bestowed upon “Playing God,” an emotionally heavy stop-motion masterpiece by the talented Italian director Matteo Burani. This film mesmerized the jury with its intense atmosphere, exceptional animation, and sound design. As a unique platform in Spain, Animayo’s top accolades act as a stepping stone towards the Academy Awards. Interestingly, the animated short film that won the 2025 Oscar for Best Animated Short, “In the Shadow of the Cyprus,” first earned its qualification for the Oscars at last year’s Animayo.

Festival director Damián Perea commented on this year’s “Playing God” jury selection, saying: “This year’s Grand Prize was given to a strong production with brave and audacious storytelling, which is not often encountered in the animation world. The stop-motion method used in it is incredibly refined, detailed, and skillfully executed.

The second Oscar-eligible accolade for Animayo originates from the Animación con Ñ category, which honors animated productions hailing from Hispanic nations. This year’s victor, the Mexican short film “Nube” by Diego Alonso Sánchez de la Barquera Estrada and Christian Arredondo Narváez, weaves a poignant tale of motherhood using the voyage of two cloud characters personified.

Perea stated, ‘In the Animation with Ñ segment, I express a heartfelt piece filled with compassion, gentleness, and beauty that touches the soul.’ This work, he explained, is profoundly human, stirring emotions within and without.

2021 was a year that highlighted daring stories and artistic ventures, and several remarkable films received acclaim. “La Rivière des Ourses,” directed by Anaïs Mauzat, won the Best Social Awareness accolade for its powerful ecological message. On the other hand, “Forevergreen,” helmed by Disney alumni Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, received recognition in two categories: Best Art Direction and Best 3D. Lastly, the student film “Courage,” produced at Supinfocom, was awarded the Critics’ Award for its heartfelt narrative about personal resilience.

At this year’s event, “Quota,” a Dutch production by Job, Joris & Marieke, received the Audience Award – a significant marker of shifting audience preferences. Notably, it also clinched the prize for Best Comedy for Adults. The film skillfully combines humor with environmental awareness, a theme that struck a chord with many attendees.

Perea noted that after twenty years, it’s clear that the Canarian audience has evolved alongside us in regards to the more competitive Audience Award. Today, they are a discerning, demanding crowd, who have their own unique standards. Their selections don’t just show taste, but a profound grasp of the art we honor.

The standout recognition at the Festival went to “Like Friend, Like Deer,” directed by Malek Eghbali from Iran, for its exceptionally artistic flair. Meanwhile, “The Girl with the Occupied Eyes” took home the Best 2D award, commended for its inventive commentary on contemporary screen obsession.

With pride, I can say that as this year’s significant edition of Animayo comes to an in-person close, it solidifies its status as a worldwide nexus fostering creative ingenuity, compelling narratives, and visual brilliance.

As a passionate cinephile, I’m excited to share that I’ve been involved with Animayo, an event that wouldn’t be possible without the backing of several esteemed institutions and organizations. The Cabildo de Gran Canaria, through its Presidency Service – La Isla de Mi Vida, has been instrumental in our success. Also lending their support is the Society for the Promotion of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria City, the Department of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce of the Government of the Canary Islands via Promotur, Turismo Gran Canaria, the Fundación La Caja de Canarias, the Government of the Canary Islands themselves, as well as a host of production companies, studios, schools, universities, and private businesses that are dedicated to nurturing and advancing the region’s film industry. Together, we aim to bring audiovisual and technological culture and education to all audiences.

Animayo Gran Canaria 2025 – Official Award Winners

Grand Jury Award

“Playing God,” Matteo Burani (Italy)

Best Student Short Film

Garbage,” composed by Gregory Bouzid, Maxime Crançon, Robin Delaporte, MaCéo Durand, Romain Fleischer, Alexis Le Ral, Margaux Lutz, and Fanny Vecchie, from France.

Best Art Direction

“Forevergreen,” Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears (USA)

Best Social Awareness

“La Rivière des Ourses,” Anaïs Mauzat (Belgium)

Best Comedy for All Ages

“Eureka!,” Kris Borghs (Belgium)

Best Comedy for Adults

“Quota,” Studio Job, Joris & Marieke (Netherlands)

Best Stop Motion

“Playing God,” Matteo Burani (Italy)

Best Story

“Two Ships,” McKinley Benson (Portugal)

Best 3D

“Forevergreen,” Nathan Engelhardt & Jeremy Spears (USA)

Best 2D

“The Girl with the Occupied Eyes,” André Carrilho (Portugal)

Special Mention of the Festival

“Like Friend, Like Deer,” Malek Eghbali (Iran)

Best Animación con Ñ

“Nube,” Diego Alonso Sánchez de la Barquera Estrada & Christian Arredondo Narváez (Mexico)

Best Cartoon

“Ciao Peskao,” Guillermo González Fidalgo & Andrea García García (Spain)

Best Video Game Cinematic

“Secret Level – Dungeons & Dragons: The Queen’s Cradle,” Maxime Luère (France)

Best Music Video

“AJR – Maybe Man,” Edoardo Ranaboldo (USA)

Best Commissioned

“Hero – June,” Paulo Garcia (Brazil)

Best VFX Supported Storytelling

“The Cause of the Accident That Started the Fire,” Lope Serrano (Spain)

Critic’s Award

“Courage,” Margot Jacquet, Nathan Baudry, Marion Choudin, et al. (France)

Audience Award

“Quota,” Studio Job, Joris & Marieke (Netherlands)

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2025-05-29 06:17