Animayo Gran Canaria, Spain’s foremost animation film festival, has awarded its top prizes to family-themed “18 Months” and “Because Today is Saturday.”
Both features will go on to compete at the Oscars given that Animayo remains the first and only animation festival in Spain recognized by the Academy as an Oscar-qualifying festival in two categories: the Grand Jury Prize and Best Animated Short Film with Ñ.
These winners are also eligible to vie for the Annie Awards as starting this year, Animayo forms part of the first Annie Awards qualifying festival list set up by ASIFA-Hollywood.
For Damián Perea, director and founder of Animayo, “being included in the Annie Awards list is one of the most important recognitions the festival has received since its creation. It confirms that the work developed from Gran Canaria ‘La Isla de mi Vida’ for more than two decades is now part of the international conversation on the present and future of animation.”
As winner of the Animayo Gran Canaria 2026 ‘La Isla de mi Vida’ Grand Jury Prize, “18 Months” by Paulo García and Natalia Gouvea also takes home a cash prize of $3,480 (€3,000).
