‘Enjoying God,’ ‘Nube’ Take Animayo Prime Honors, Oscars Qualification

Spain’s Oscar-qualifying Animayo Gran Canaria animation competition has introduced the winners of its twentieth anniversary version, marking 20 years of championing animation, VFX and online game cinematics.

This 12 months, a global jury composed of business veterans from studios like Disney, Skydance and Rodeo FX evaluated 55 quick movies chosen for competitors throughout a number of official sections, which have been whittled down by Animayo workers from an preliminary batch of over 2,000 entries from 84 international locations.

The competition’s coveted Grand Jury Award went to “Enjoying God,” a grim stop-motion story by Italian director Matteo Burani. The movie captivated the jury with its atmospheric depth, masterful animation and sound design. As Spain’s solely double Oscar-qualifying animation competition, Animayo’s prime honors function a launchpad to the Academy Awards. In truth, 2025’s animated quick Oscar winner, “Within the Shadow of the Cyprus,” earned its preliminary Oscar qualification finally 12 months’s Animayo.

Pageant director Damián Perea mirrored on the jury’s “Enjoying God” choice this 12 months, stating: “The Grand Prize has been awarded to a strong work, with daring and daring storytelling, one thing not often seen within the animation panorama. Its stop-motion approach is exceptionally delicate, meticulous and superbly executed.”

Animayo’s second Oscar-qualifying award comes from the Animación con Ñ class, which celebrates animated works from Hispanic international locations. This 12 months’s winner, the Mexican quick “Nube” by Diego Alonso Sánchez de la Barquera Estrada and Christian Arredondo Narváez, tells a poetic story of motherhood via the journey of two anthropomorphized clouds.

“Within the part Animación con Ñ, I rejoice a brief stuffed with sensitivity, tenderness and an aesthetic that caresses,” stated Perea. “It’s a deeply human work that strikes each inside and outside.”

In a 12 months that emphasised daring narratives and inventive danger, a number of standout movies earned reward. “La Rivière des Ourses” by Anaïs Mauzat received Greatest Social Consciousness for its ecological message, whereas “Forevergreen,” directed by Disney alumni Nathan Engelhardt and Jeremy Spears, earned Greatest Artwork Route and Greatest 3D. “Braveness,” a scholar movie from Supinfocom, took dwelling the Critics’ Award for its emotionally resonant story of non-public perseverance.

The Viewers Award, all the time a telling indicator of evolving viewer tastes, went to the Dutch movie “Quota” by Job, Joris & Marieke, which additionally received Greatest Comedy for Adults. The movie blends humor with environmental consciousness, a tone that resonated strongly with attendees to this 12 months’s occasion.

“As a result of after twenty years of competition, you’ll be able to inform: the Canarian public has grown with us,” Perea stated of the more and more aggressive Viewers Award. “At the moment, it’s a educated, demanding public, with its personal standards. Their decisions mirror not simply style, however a deep understanding of the artwork we rejoice.”

Particular Point out of the Pageant was awarded to “Like Pal, Like Deer” by Iranian director Malek Eghbali for its outstanding inventive type, whereas “The Lady with the Occupied Eyes” received Greatest 2D, praised for its artistic critique of recent display screen habit.

Because the in-person portion of this 12 months’s milestone version concludes, Animayo continues to cement its repute as a world hub for artistic innovation, storytelling, and visible excellence.

Animayo is organized with help from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria via its Presidency Service – La isla de mi vida, the Society for the Promotion of the Metropolis of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the Division of Tourism, Trade and Commerce of the Authorities of the Canary Islands via Promotur, Turismo Gran Canaria, the Fundación La Caja de Canarias, the Authorities of the Canary Islands, in addition to manufacturing corporations, studios, colleges, universities and plenty of non-public corporations that help the area’s movie business and efforts to carry audiovisual and technological tradition and training to all audiences.

Animayo Gran Canaria 2025 – Official Award Winners

Grand Jury Award

“Enjoying God,” Matteo Burani (Italy)

Greatest Pupil Quick Movie

“Trash,” Gregory Bouzid, Maxime Crançon, Robin Delaporte, MaCéo Durand, Romain Fleischer, Alexis Le Ral, Margaux Lutz, Fanny Vecchie (France)

Greatest Artwork Route

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

Greatest Social Consciousness

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

Greatest Comedy for All Ages

“Eureka!,” Kris Borghs (Belgium)

Greatest Comedy for Adults