THE STORY OF CURTAS
Half a century of fantastic resistance

53rd Edition

In 2025, Vilagarcía was transformed into the city where monsters live, establishing itself as a global capital of fantasy capable of standing eye to eye with the great European festivals. The city was literally taken over by monsters: from the impressive Monstrorama exhibition at Salón García, where audiences could see the most celebrated monsters in cinema at life size, to the arrival of iconic vehicles such as the peculiar van of the Ghostbusters from Green Slime and the flying Ford Anglia from Harry Potter. In addition, there was a striking exhibition dedicated to the Marvel universe entitled Infinity Heroes Showroom. This visual display, together with the endorsement of Dread Central, which ranked the festival among the 90 must-see genre festivals in the world, and its inclusion in the international elite by joining the Fédération Méliès, confirmed the status of a festival that has successfully blended tradition with spectacle.

The programme was a feast of pop culture that transcended the screen, bringing together legends such as Marcus Nispel and Paco Plaza alongside muse Diana Peñalver and special effects masters like Arturo Balseiro. Graphic art shone with its own light thanks to talents such as Santipérez and Xermánico. Between silent film screenings accompanied by live music from Caspervek and FX makeup workshops, the festival brought the curtain down with an unprecedented in-house production. In a historic alliance with the Orquestra Clásica de Vigo, the festival reinvented Night of the Living Dead, bringing actors onto the stage to perform new dialogue and providing live music. An apotheotic finale that proved Curtas is not limited to screening cinema, but breathes it, celebrates it and reinvents it.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

Guests | Program | Catalog | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Feature Film
The Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin, by Hadrah Daeng Ratu (Indonesia, 2025)

Best Director
The Book of Sijjin and Illiyyin, by Hadrah Daeng Ratu (Indonesia, 2025)

Best Performance
Colby Minifie for The Surrender, by Julia Max (Canada, 2025)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Special Effects
Hold the Fort, by William Bagley (United States, 2025)

Special Jury Prize
Los Ojos del Diablo, by Daniel de la Vega (Argentina, 2025)

Best Latin American Film
Consequências Paralelas, by Gabriel França and CD Vallada (Brazil, 2025)

SHORT FILMS

Best Short Film
Last Night Stand, by Pierre-Luc Gosselin (Canada, 2025)

Best Director
Daughter, by Jorge Sermini (Belgium, 2025)

Best Animated Short Film
The Boy who cheated Death, by Pipou Phuong Nguyen (France, Vietnam, 2025)

Best Galician Short Film
Hippocampus, by Xaime Miranda (Spain, 2024)

Best Music Video
I’ve been fallin’, by Ugur Savaş (Turkey, 2025)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Paco Plaza
Marcus Nispel
Arturo Balseiro

Icon of the Fantastic
Diana Peñalver

Curtas Award
Tomás Hijo

VIDEO

IMAGES

52nd Edition

2024 was the year in which the festival finished defining its identity, fully embracing the celebration of the 85th anniversary of Batman. Vilagarcía dressed for the occasion, with Plaza de Galicia serving as the stage for one of the edition’s major attractions: a fully functional replica of the 1989 Batmobile. The vehicle, identical to the one seen in Tim Burton’s film, was not only an exhibition piece, but also allowed fans to witness live demonstrations of its mechanisms, becoming the most popular meeting point of the festival.

Beyond the spectacle, the programme reinforced the event’s prestige with high-profile guests. Director Richard Stanley, responsible for titles such as Hardware and Color Out of Space, captivated audiences with his Lovecraftian mysticism, while the comic and literature section shone with Jorge Fornés, a key artist in the recent history of the Dark Knight, and screenwriter Ángel Agudo. With carefully curated exhibitions such as “The Year of the Bat” and a film selection that sparked interest beyond Spain’s borders, Curtas proved it has matured, balancing entertainment for general audiences with a top-tier cultural offering.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

Guests  | Program | Catalog | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Feature Film
The Complex Forms, by Fabio D’Orta (Italy, 2023)

Best Director
Tóxico, by Lorenzo Lerín (Spain, 2024)

Best Performance
Roberto Hoyo for Tóxico, by Lorenzo Lerín (Spain, 2024)

Best Special Effects
The Complex Forms, by Fabio D’Orta (Italy, 2023)

Special Jury Prize
The Beast Hand, by Taichiro Natsume (Japan, 2024)

Best Latin American Feature Film
1978, by Nicolás and Luciano Onetti (Argentina, 2024)

Audience Award
Terrifier 3, by Damien Leone (USA, 2024)

SHORT FILMS

Best Fantastic Short Film
La Valla, by Sam Orti (Spain, 2024)

Best Director
Factory Drop, by Petja Pulkrabek (Germany, 2024)

Best Animated Short Film
The Shadow of Dawn, by Olga Stalev (Estonia, 2024)

Best Galician Short Film
Odysseus, by Aarón Pérez Pardiñas (Spain, 2024)

Best Galician Director
Xogo de Nenos, by Miguel R. Berride (Spain, 2023)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Richard Stanley

VIDEO

IMAGES

51st Edition

In 2023, Vilagarcía crossed the threshold into the afterlife, turning its 51st edition into an immersive experience where the boundary between the living and the dead completely dissolved. The city was transformed into a supernatural setting where a tribute to the classic The Phantom of the Opera by Lon Chaney coexisted with a gastronomic and cinematic homage to the late William Friedkin; a “chilling dinner” at A Peixería where diners enjoyed a menu inspired by The Exorcist while the Santa Compaña and hordes of zombies took over the streets. Between scares, the spirit of adventure came from a monumental exhibition dedicated to Indiana Jones, whose iconic replicas attracted thousands of curious visitors, balancing gothic horror with the nostalgia of adventure cinema. Alongside this were the presence of the Ecto-1, the iconic vehicle of the Ghostbusters, and KITT, the Pontiac Trans-Am from Knight Rider.

The guest lineup reaffirmed the festival’s international status, bringing true masters of the genre to the Rías Baixas. Director Neil Marshall, acclaimed for The Descent, led a stellar roster alongside Italian filmmaker Lamberto Bava and the legendary Catriona MacColl, an unforgettable face of European horror under Lucio Fulci. It was an edition in which the festival not only looked to the screen, but also took the spectacle to the streets with parades featuring the Addams Family and terrifying clowns, once again demonstrating its ability to reinvent itself and make audiences an active part of the fantasy.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

Guest list | Program | Catalog | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
La Mesita del Comedor, by Caye Casas (Spain, 2023)

Best Latin American Film
Juego de Brujas, by Fabián Forte (Argentina, 2023)

Best Director
Auxilio, el poder del pecado, by Tamae Garateguy (Argentina, 2023)

Best Performance
David Pareja and Estefanía de los Santos for La Mesita del Comedor, by Caye Casas (Spain, 2023)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Special Effects
Abruptio, by Evan Marlowe (United States, 2022)

Special Jury Prize
Análogos, by Jorge Olguín (Chile, 2023)

Audience Award
All you need is Blood, by Bucky Le Boeuf, Cooper Roberts (United States, 2023)

SHORT FILMS

Best Fantastic Short Film
Company, by Natan Stoessel (United Kingdom, 2023)

Best Animated Short Film
In Seiner Gnade, by Christoph Büttner (Germany, 2022)

Best Director
Lost in the Sky, by Simon Öster (Sweden, 2023)

Best Galician Short Film
Carraxe, by Muriel Pernas (Spain, 2023)

Best Galician Director
In Half, by Jorge Morais Valle (Spain, 2023)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Lamberto Bava
Neil Marshall

Icon of the Fantastic
Catriona McColl

VIDEO

IMAGES

50th Edition

The 50th anniversary of Curtas burst beyond the limits of the screen, turning Vilagarcía into a true theme park of nostalgia and science fiction. More than 20,000 people answered the call of the exhibition and the legendary DeLorean from Back to the Future, in an edition that confirmed its international stature thanks to an exceptional red carpet. Walking it were director Mick Garris, a living legend for his adaptations of Stephen King, and illustrator Dave McKean, joined by Lone Fleming, muse of Spanish horror cinema and star of classics such as The Night of the Blind Terror. It was a year of great cultural richness, with space to enjoy Nosferatu with live music or experience a mischievous closing with the cabaret of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

However, the heart of this edition beat with the emotional tribute to Rafael Sabugueiro, the visionary who ignited the spark of amateur filmmaking in 1973 and who passed away just days before seeing half a century of his work fulfilled. His memory permeated every corner of the festival, from the Auditorium to Salón García, recalling the humble origins of a festival that has evolved into a giant. A success in both audience and trajectory that, as a final flourish to the celebrations, was institutionally endorsed with the official declaration of the festival as an Event of Local Tourist Interest.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
Piove, by Paolo Stripoli (Italy, 2022)

Best Latin American Film
Mete Miedo, by Nestor Sánchez Sotelo (Argentina, 2022)

Best Director
Piove, by Paolo Stripoli (Italy, 2022)

Best Performance
Andrea Trepat for La Paradoja de Antares, by Luis Tinoco (Spain, 2022)

Best Screenplay
Legiones, by Fabián Forte (Argentina, 2022)

Best Cinematography
Piove, by Paolo Stripoli (Italy, 2022)

Best Special Effects
Piove, by Paolo Stripoli (Italy, 2022)

Special Jury Prize
Pussycake, by Pablo Parés (Argentina, 2021)

SHORT FILMS

Best Fantastic Short Film
Dispensary of Death, by Simon O’Neill (Ireland, 2022)

Best Animated Short Film
The Monkey, by Xosé Zapata & Lorenzo Degl’innocenti (Spain, 2022)

Best Galician Short Film
Compañeiros, by Fernando Tato (Spain, 2022)

Best Galician Director
Teratoma, by Jano Pita (Spain, 2021)

Best Short Film Other Genres – Fiction
Kafka’s Doll, by Bruno Simões (Portugal/Spain, 2022)

Best Short Film Other Genres – Documentary
U.N. Slap Commission, by Valentin Burkhardt & Stephan Kämpf (Germany, 2022)

Best Short Film Other Genres – Video Art
Lux Tenebrae, by Andres Toro (Spain, 2022)

Audience Award for Best Short Film
Operación Frankenstein, by José María Fernández de Vega (Spain, 2022)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Mick Garris

Icon of the Fantastic
Lone Flemming

Curtas Award
Rafael Sabugueiro (In memoriam)
Dave McKean

VIDEO

IMAGES

49th Edition

Vilagarcía travelled back in time to 1984, turning the Rivas Briones hall into a true film set where visitors could be photographed among the creatures of Gremlins, Critters and Ghoulies, immersing themselves in an atmosphere of eighties nostalgia. Although the absolute spotlight fell on the historic visit of master filmmaker Joe Dante, who acted as an ambassador of the genre and led memorable encounters, the festival proved that its power of attraction extended far beyond Hollywood.

The festival rolled out a top-tier national red carpet that opened with the presence of director Daniel Monzón and acclaimed writer Elia Barceló, consolidating the event as a multidisciplinary benchmark. In the graphic arts section, the Auditorium shone brightly thanks to a powerful exhibition of original artwork that brought together comic talents such as Belén Ortega, Jesús Merino and Javier Fernández, who displayed pages from his successful King Spawn. All of this coexisted with local cinematic phenomena such as Jacinto, by Javi Camino, which filled the theatres and confirmed the strong health of Galician fantasy cinema.

The poster illustration was created by Flavio Greco.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
The Sadness, by Rob Jabbaz (Taiwan, 2021)

Best Latin American Film
Nocturna, la noche del hombre grande, by Gonzalo Calzada (Argentina, 2021)

Special Mention for Direction
Gonzalo Calzada for Nocturna, la noche del hombre grande

Special Mention:
For the performances of Pepe Soriano & Marilú Marini in
Nocturna, la noche del hombre grande

Special Jury Prize
The Spine of Night, by Phillip Gelatt & Morgan Galen King (United States, 2021)

Audience Award “Planet Horror”
Jacinto, by Javi Camino (Spain, 2021)

SHORT FILMS

Best Fantastic Short Film
Tío, by Juan Medina (Spain, 2021)

Best Animated Short Film
Unnecessary Things, by Dmytro Lisenbart (Ukraine, 2021)

Best Director
Ospel, by Xanti Rodríguez (Spain, 2020)

Best Short Film Other Genres – Documentary
Dores, by Coral Piñeiro (Spain, 2021)

Best Short Film Other Genres: Fiction
Votamos, by Santiago Requejo (Spain, 2021)

Best Galician Short Film
La metafísica del asesino, by Rubén Méndez (Spain, 2021)

Best Galician Director
Sombra do Mar, by Sergio Pereda (Spain, 2021)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Video Creation
Le voyage dans la lune, by Rotem Tsulker (Israel, 2021)

Audience Award “Planet Horror”
O Que Queda De Nós, by Miguel Gómez Abad (Spain, 2021)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of Fantasy
Joe Dante
Elia Barceló

Curtas Award
Nacho Vigalondo
Manel Loureiro

VIDEO

IMAGES

48th Edition

If there was an edition that defined the true character of the festival, it was the 2020 edition. The year began with a statement of intent when it was rebranded as Curtas Festival do Imaxinario, a definitive commitment to the fantasy genre that would soon become an act of cultural resistance. With the pandemic hitting the world, the organisation refused to move the event online, defending the physical, in-theatre experience as an irreplaceable ritual. Thus, Vilagarcía became a safe haven where audiences could escape reality and enter the atmosphere of the Nostromo, thanks to a spectacular exhibition dedicated to the Alien saga that transformed real fear into cinematic fascination.

But that “resistance” also carried a deep emotional weight. The festival had to bid farewell to one of its great references and patron, master artist Juan Giménez, who was honoured with a heartfelt posthumous tribute through the exhibition and book «Eterno Juan Giménez», celebrating the legacy of the creator who had designed the festival’s image years earlier. Despite face masks and strict safety measures, talent did not miss the occasion: figures such as Oscar-nominated director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, filmmaker Paula Cons and illustrator Miguelanxo Prado rallied around the event at its most difficult moment, proving that the imaginary can survive even the most adverse circumstances.

The poster illustration was created by Pasqual Ferry.

Annual Report | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILM

Best Film
Come True, by Anthony Scott Burns (Canada, 2020)

Best Latin American Film
Al morir la matinée, by Maxi Contenti (Uruguay, 2020)

Special Jury Prize Official Fantastic
Comrade Drakulich, by Márk Bodzsár (Hungary, 2019)

Special Mention Fantastic Latin America
Luz la flor del mal, by Juan Diego Escobar Alzate (Colombia, 2019)

Audience Award “Planet Horror”
Every Time I Die, by Robi Michael (United States, 2019)

SHORT FILMS

Best Short Film Official Fantastic
Killing Small Animals, by Marcus Svanberg (Sweden, 2020)

Best Animated Short Film
El libertario, by Eugenio Gómez (Colombia, 2019)

Best Director
Malakout, by Farnoosh Abedi (Iran, 2020)

Best Galician Short Film
La penumbra, by Dani Viqueira (Spain, 2020)

Best Galician Director
Mare, by Guille Vázquez (Spain, 2019)

Best Short Film Other Genres- Fiction
La Cara, by Javier Marco (Spain, 2020)

Best Short Film Other Genres – Documentary
Narote, by David Vázquez (Spain, 2019)

Special Jury Mention
Candela, by Marc Riba & Anna Solanas (Spain, 2020)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Video Creation
Nimti, by Juan Francisco Calero (Spain, 2020)

Audience Award “Planet Horror”
Snake Dick, by David Mahmoudieh (United States, 2020)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Juan Carlos Fresnadillo

Curtas Award
Javier Olivares
Miguelanxo Prado
Paula Cons

VIDEO

IMAGES

47th Edition

In 2019, the Curtas Festival do Imaxinario reached its 47th edition, demonstrating a multiversal ambition that transformed Vilagarcía into a bridge between science and magic. The event was built around three major themes: the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, the universe of Harry Potter, and a block dedicated to the magical beings of Galicia. This combination allowed the scientific rigor of science communicator Álex Riveiro to coexist with the Pottermania that overflowed the Rivas Briones hall, where an exhibition of magical objects and spacecraft replicas—from the dawn of cinema and the Discovery from 2001 to the Nostromo from Alien or the Rocinante from The Expanse—attracted thousands of visitors of all ages.

On the artistic level, the festival reaffirmed itself as the great epicenter of the ninth art by bringing together legends such as David Lloyd, the iconic illustrator of V for Vendetta, and figures of the stature of Salva Espín, Pasqual Ferry, or Iban Coello. Galician talent also played a fundamental role with the participation of the artist Nekro, creator of this year’s poster, and a tribute to local mythology that connected international fantasy with local roots. With activities ranging from space modeling to intimate encounters with Marvel and DC authors, Curtas Festival do Imaxinario 2019, under the leadership of Luis M. Rosales, confirmed its status as an essential event where pop culture and imagination know no borders.

The poster illustration was the work of Nekro.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
Amor en Polvo, by Suso Imvernón, Juanjo Moscardó, and María Mínguez (Spain, 2019)

SHORT FILMS

Best Short Film
El cumple, by Breixo Corral and P. Alén (Spain, 2019)

Best Galician Short Film
Brotes, by Jorge Fernández (Spain, 2019)

Best Galician Direction
Neno bonito, by Fran X. Rodríguez (Spain, 2019)

Best International Direction
The Van, by Erenik Beqiri (France, 2019)

Best Documentary Short Film
Gurs, historia y memoria, by Verónica Sáenz (Spain, 2019)

Best Galician Documentary
Eu tamén necesito amar, by Antonio Caeiro (Spain, 2019)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Video Creation
Degusté, by Stephane Baz (France, 2018)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
David Lloyd

Curtas Award
Pasqual Ferry
Clara Alvarado
Isabel Blanco
Tiago da Silva
Manuel Manquiña

VIDEO

IMAGES

46th Edition

In 2018 the Festival transformed Vilagarcía into a crossroads between Middle-earth and Westeros, making fantasy literally take over the streets. While the Rivas Briones guarded the Iron Throne, the fearsome Night King from Game of Thrones roamed A Baldosa and a craft fair filled Rey Daviña street, creating a unique immersive atmosphere. This setting served as the backdrop for an invasion of illustration legends: John Howe, the man who brought Tolkien’s universe to life for cinema, shared the spotlight and talks with masters such as Ciruelo Cabral, Esteban Maroto, illustrator Ariel Olivetti and digital artist Nekro, offering intimate moments where they could be seen drawing dragons live or debating the creative process.

On the cinematic front, the festival demonstrated its maturity by combining nostalgia with innovation. Fans enjoyed a big-screen marathon of The Lord of the Rings, as well as major premieres such as The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mike Newell or the Galician film Nove de novembro. The programme was enriched with documentaries and talks featuring leading figures such as Miguelanxo Prado and Luis Davila, along with the presence of acclaimed actors Macarena Gómez and Antonio Durán “Morris”, who together with soft-combat activities and FX make-up, completed the cultural offering. This edition closed with a film music concert, confirming that Curtas had successfully reinvented itself as an international benchmark for the fantasy genre.

The poster illustration was created by Esteban Maroto.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
Sanfelices, by Roberto Lázaro (Spain, 2018)

Best Director
Uma vida sublime, by Luis Diogo (Portugal, 2018)

SHORT FILMS

Best Animated Short Film
The box, by Dusan Kastelic (Slovenia, 2017)

Best Galician Short Film
El último adiós, by Rubén Cruz (Spain, 2017)

Best International Short Film
El atraco, by Alfonso Díaz (Spain, 2017)

Best Documentary Short Film
Invierno en Europa, by Polo Menárguez (Spain, 2018)

Best Galician Documentary Short Film
Mariñeiro, by Juan Galiñanes (Spain, 2018)

Best Galician Director
A ponte é a ponte, by Carlos A. Quirós (Spain, 2018)

Best International Director
Ainhoa, by Iván Sainz-Pardo, Spain, 2017)

Roberto Camba Award for Best Video Creation
Areka, by Begoña Vicario (Spain, 2017)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
John Howe
Ciruelo Cabral

Icon of the Fantastic
Macarena Gómez

Curtas Award
Nekro
Ariel Olivetti
Antonio Durán “Morris”

VIDEO

IMAGES

45th Edition

2017 marked a turning point by proving that the festival was no longer just an autumn event, but a cultural lifeline that energised Vilagarcía throughout the entire year. The machinery started early, in January, recovering classics such as Willow and bidding an honourable farewell to Princess Carrie Fisher, a “living festival” philosophy that continued in June with the premiere of PequeCurtas at the Liceo Casino. Those family animation screenings were the perfect prelude to what was to come: a Star Wars invasion that exceeded all expectations. The Rivas Briones hall, transformed into the spaceport of Mos Eisley, proved too small for the more than five thousand visitors who wanted to see the life-size figures up close, even forcing the exhibition to be moved to the Arousa Shopping Centre after the festival closed.

That public success went hand in hand with a serious commitment to the industry through the creation of the Competitive Feature Film Section. The Auditorium became a prestigious showcase where the Berlinale Golden Bear winner, On Body and Soul, coexisted with the Portuguese freshness of A mãe é que sabe and home-grown talent with O Rebelde. It was a year of high-level encounters: from talks with Ángel Sala (director of the Sitges festival) or Miguel Ángel Vivas, to an electrifying closing ceremony with Juanma Bajo Ulloa celebrating the twentieth anniversary of Airbag. Meanwhile, the world of comics once again proved to be a fundamental pillar, bringing together legends of the art such as Juan Giménez, Esteban Maroto, Jesús Merino and Luis and Rómulo Royo on the same poster. With the bar set high and the city still recovering from the Imperial March, the festival was already looking ahead to 2018 with its focus set on the universe of Tolkien.

The poster illustration was created by the festival’s patron Juán Giménez.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

FEATURE FILMS

Best Film
A mãe é que sabe, by Nuno Rocha (Portugal, 2016)

Best Director
A mãe é que sabe, by Nuno Rocha (Portugal, 2016)

Best Screenplay
Alberto Utrera, Sergio Granda and Carlos Soria for Smoking Club, by Alberto Utrera (Spain, 2017)

Best Performance
Rodrigo Poison for Smoking Club, by Alberto Utrera (Spain, 2017)

Special Jury Prize
Marisa en los bosques, by Antonio Morales (Spain, 2016)

Audience Award
Smoking Club, by Alberto Utrera (Spain, 2017)

SHORT FILMS

Best Animated Short Film
In A Heartbeat,by Beth David E Esteban Bravo (United States, 2017)

Best Galician Short Film
O Rebelde,by Oscar Doviso (Spain, 2016)

Best International Short Film
Le Mécène, by Lionel Auguste (France, 2016)

Best Galician Director
El Visitante (Noelia Muiño, 2017)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Esteban Maroto
Luis Royo

Curtas Award
Jesús Merino
Juanma Bajo Ulloa

VIDEO

IMAGES

44th Edition

With the dual ambition of placing Vilagarcía on the international cultural map and consolidating it as an undisputed benchmark of national audiovisual culture, the Curtas Film Fest unveiled its most expansive proposal in 2016. Under the new direction of Luis Miguel Rosales, the event managed to transcend the screening rooms and flood the city with a multidisciplinary approach that integrated cinema, comics and pop culture across three simultaneous venues.

The festival, which symbolically opened with the screening of the 1978 Superman, immersed attendees in a wave of eighties nostalgia through cycles such as «Return to the 80s» and «From Panel to Screen». This renewal, which received half a thousand works to compete, enhanced its prestige and relevance thanks to the support of international figures such as filmmaker John Landis and the presence of comic art masters of the calibre of Juan Giménez and Alfonso Azpiri.

Beyond the screenings, the event reinvented itself as a space for cultural cross-pollination where avant-garde and heritage came together. The programme included powerful exhibitions, —featuring original pieces from films such as Gremlins, Alien, or Terminator and combined with others dedicated to the world of comics and illustration—, as well as a vibrant celebration of Samaín, and workshops covering both filmmaking and characterisation. At the same time, the festival knew how to honour its roots linked to the Liceo Casino and look towards the history of Galician cinema by recovering Miss Ledyia, the historic 1915 film in which Castelao took part, with a soundtrack created especially for the occasion, thus demonstrating its ability to attract global talent without losing its original essence.

The poster illustration was created by Mo Caró.

Program | Exhibitions

AWARDS

Best Short Film
Titán, by Álvaro González (Spain, 2015)

Best Animated Short Film
Taller de corazones, by León Fernández (Mexico, 2015)

Best Galician Short Film
Einstein Rosen, by Olga Osorio (Spain, 2016)

Best Galician Director
Lurna, by Nani Matos (Spain, 2016)

Best Director
17 años juntos, by Javier Fesser (Spain, 2015)

HONORARY AWARDS

Master of the Fantastic
Juan Giménez
Alfonso Azpiri

Curtas Award
Salvador Larroca
Nacho Fresneda
Mo Caró

VIDEO

IMAGES

43rd Edition

With survival at stake and bearing the weight of being Galicia’s longest-running film festival, the Curtas Film Fest faced its most critical edition in 2015 following the decision of the Liceo Casino to sever ties with the event due to a suffocating economic crisis. In a zero-budget scenario and without institutional support, the arrival of Luis M. Rosales, then director of the Festival de Cine Fantástico de Madrid and the specialised magazine Scifiworld, proved providential in organising, in just two months, an emergency call that managed to bring together a thousand films from 25 countries and present a feature film programme that foreshadowed what was to come in subsequent years.

Despite the precariousness and the risk of disappearance, the festival preserved its artistic integrity at Salón García and the halls of the Liceo Casino, counting on the expertise of Alberto Hortas —a renowned special effects technician and member of the team behind Pan’s Labyrinth— as the sole official guest to provide a touch of professional excellence. This edition of resistance, which replaced major resources with a titanic sacrifice, not only prevented the breaking of a decades-long tradition in Vilagarcía, but also laid the foundations for the definitive internationalisation of an event that refused to let its legacy die.

The poster was created by Luis M. Rosales.

Program

AWARDS

Best Short Film
Namnala, by Nacho Solana (Spain, 2014)

Best Animated Short Film
Alike, by Rafa Cano Méndez and Daniel Martínez Lara (Spain, 2014)

Best Galician Short Film
Koan, by Omar Rabuñal (Spain, 2014)

Best Galician Director
Restart, by Olga Osorio (Spain, 2014)

Best International Director
Scrabble, by Cristian Sulser (Switzerland, 2014)

HONORARY AWARDS

Curtas Award
Alberto Hortas

IMAGES

42nd Edition

In a challenging year for the continuity of the festival, led by the organization’s director Antonio Castro, the career of Antonio Giménez-Rico was honored. The director of essential works such as El disputado voto del Sr. Cayo received the warmth of Vilagarcía, symbolizing the bridge between classic auteur cinema and the renewing spirit of our festival. A necessary tribute to a man who devoted his life to dignifying the craft of filmmaking in Spain.

AWARDS

Fiction

First prize
Amateur, by David Rodríguez Ramírez (Spain, 2013)

Second prize
Sájara, by Juanan Martínez (Spain, 2013)

Opera Prima

First prize
Epitafios, by María Ballesteros (Spain, 2014)

Second prize
I Just Had a Dream, by Javier Navarro (Spain, 2014)

Animation

First prize
Tempo inverso, by Gregorio Muro Arriet and Mikel Muro Basterra (Spain, 2014)

Second prize
El balsero, by Guillermo Zapata (Colombia, 2014)

IMAGES

41st Edition

Under the September sky and with Plaza de Galicia transformed into an open-air cinema, the Curtas Film Fest celebrated its fortieth edition in 2013, reaffirming its remarkable openness to the world. Under the direction of Antonio Castro and with the screening of the 20 finalists selected from 305 submissions, what began as a strictly local event evolved into a first-rate international festival. Despite operating with a modest budget, the closing ceremony hosted by actor Josito Porto succeeded in turning Vilagarcía into the epicenter of audiovisual vanguard, supported by the municipal music band and a popular screening that brought the seventh art into the streets.

What truly became etched in the festival’s history was the moment its trajectory was honored with the Lumière Medal for Cinema, an award granted by the Lumière Foundation recognizing more than four decades of uninterrupted dedication to cinematic culture in Vilagarcía de Arousa.

This distinction not only rewarded the festival’s historic effort to bring cinema closer to audiences, but also highlighted its fundamental role in the preservation and dissemination of audiovisual works. Receiving the Lumière Medal placed Curtas among a select group of institutions devoted to safeguarding film heritage, consolidating its prestige before embarking on the major transformation toward the fantasy genre that would come in the following years. It was the definitive recognition of forty-two years of resistance and passion for the big screen.

AWARDS (INCOMPLETE)

Best short film
Un monde meilleur, by Sacha Feiner (Belgium/Switzerland)

Best animated short film
Alfred & Anna, by Juanma Suárez (Spain)

Young filmmakers
Ahora, no, by Elia Ballesteros and Kate Campbell (Spain, UK)

IMAGES

40th Edition

With its sights set on celebrating four decades of history, the Curtas Film Fest faced its 2012 edition by consolidating its role as a benchmark for short-format cinema, receiving more than three hundred works in competition. Under the presidency of Alfonso Saavedra, the organization defended the continuity of the festival during a period of drastic budget cuts that halved municipal support—a challenge the team overcame by prioritizing cultural commitment over financial resources. This edition not only reaffirmed the festival’s capacity for resistance in the face of crisis, but also maintained its vocation of service to the seventh art, once again turning the city into the epicenter of Galician audiovisual vanguard and demonstrating that the true value of the proposal lies in the quality of the works that each year seek their place on the big screen.

Program 

AWARDS

Best short film
Prólogo, by Lucas Figueroa (Spain, 2012)

Best animated short film
Ella, by Juan Montes de Oca (Spain, 2011)

Best new director
Don Enrique de Guzmán, by Arantxa Echevarría (Spain, 2012)

39th Edition

On the eve of its fortieth anniversary, the festival faced its 2011 edition by consolidating its creative maturity with a record figure of 410 short films in competition, despite a complex context of economic crisis that forced the organization to undertake a notable exercise in austerity. This necessary reduction in the amount and number of awards did not diminish the prestige of an event that, driven by its board and the tribute to local pioneer Tino Silva, once again transformed the city into a hive of screenings for school audiences and film lovers alike. The closing ceremony at the auditorium, enlivened by musician Roi Casal, reaffirmed that the true value of the Curtas Film Fest lies in its unbreakable commitment to new talent, proving that even in difficult times, the big screen remains the strongest cultural engine of the region.

AWARDS

Best short film
La mujer del Hatillo Gris, by Luis Trapiello

Animation
La Bruxa, by Pedro Solís

Documentary
Asorey, by Grupo Lumiere

New director
Ejercicio, by Raúl Pérez
 

VIDEO

IMAGES

38th Edition

The 2010 edition, held within the framework of the Xacobeo celebrations, marked a milestone in participation and cultural openness for the newly renamed festival. By firmly adopting Curtas Film Fest as its official name, the event maintained its generalist character at this stage, establishing itself as an essential showcase for short films of all genres and styles prior to its later specialization. The festival opened its thirty-eighth edition in October 2010, marked by a significant shift forward in its usual calendar in order to encourage university participation and streamline administrative procedures. Under the direction of Óscar Rodríguez, the event not only reaffirmed its international vocation through an ambitious twinning project with the Mexican festival DocsDF, but also enriched its cultural programme with screenwriting seminars and object animation workshops. The municipal auditorium once again became the epicentre of a week in which technical innovation coexisted with historical memory, paying an emotional tribute to key figures such as Xesús González Monedero, a fundamental pillar in the creation and development of the festival. This tribute recognised his immense contribution to placing Vilagarcía on the national cinematic map.

AWARDS

Best short film
El Cortejo, by Mariña Seresesky (Spain, 2010)

Best animated short film
Aden (Oxygen), by Hans Van Nuffel (Belgium, 2010)

Best New Director
Pablo Larcuen for Mi amigo invisible

Best Performance
Silvia Casanova for Viejos perdedores

Liceo Casino-Xacobeo 2010 Award
Iria López for Dous homes e un suicidio

Special Audience Award
Iria López for Dous homes e un suicidio

IMAGES

37th Edition

The Audiovisual Festival of the Liceo Casino of Vilagarcía opened its thirty-seventh edition in late November 2009, consolidating the municipal auditorium as its main venue. Under the direction of Fernando Pérez, who highlighted the excellent quality of the works in competition, the festival strengthened its international projection and its financial endowment, distributing a total of 6,800 euros in prizes. This year’s programme not only included a carefully curated official selection, but also paid an emotional tribute to the pioneers of the event, embodied in the figure of Alejandro Granja, and offered a retrospective look at the collective La Cuadrilla with the presence of Luis Guridi. The closing gala, supported by representatives of the City Council, the Provincial Council and the Liceo Casino itself, reaffirmed the importance of this showcase for emerging talent and the need to keep alive the links between audiovisual creation and the social fabric of the region.

The festival once again demonstrated its ability to identify talent before its commercial breakthrough. Although it did not receive an award in the final list of winners, the participation of the short film X nada in the official section stands out.

The presence of this work at the festival takes on special significance today, as it represented one of the first steps in the career of Dani de la Torre, who years later would become one of the leading directors of action and thriller cinema in Spain with titles such as El desconocido or the series La Unidad.

AWARDS

Best short film
Vestido, Jairo Boisier (Chile)

Best animated short film
Homeland, by Doug Scott (USA, El Salvador)

Best New Director
Runners, by Marc Reixach

Best Performance
Luis Tejero for Runners, by Marc Reixach

Liceo Casino Award
La niña que tenía una sola oreja, by Álvaro León (Spain, 2009)

Audience Award
Padre Modelo, by Alejandro Marzoa

IMAGES

36th Edition

Consolidated as an unavoidable benchmark after thirty-six years of history, the Festival opened its 2008 edition reaffirming its global projection with the reception of more than 500 works from different parts of the world. Under the direction of Cruz López, in his third year at the helm of the festival, screenings were moved to the municipal auditorium to provide a more professional infrastructure, complemented by the launch of its own web portal and a strong commitment to training, highlighted by a low-budget filmmaking workshop that attracted hundreds of young participants. The programme of this edition not only stood out for its official section and the notable participation of local filmmakers, but also for the emotional cycle «Re-visións» and the international outlook of the «Outras Latitudes» section, which included Emmy Award–winning works. Despite the success with audiences and critics, the closing of the event delivered a message of demand to public administrations, underlining the need for greater institutional and financial commitment so that the oldest festival in Galicia can continue to grow at the pace its international prestige requires.

At a time when the short film was beginning to gain social recognition, the jury acknowledged technical and narrative excellence by awarding the first prize to Peque Varela for her work 1977. This short film not only triumphed in Vilagarcía, but would go on to become one of the most important animation works in Galician audiovisual history, competing at festivals around the world (including Sundance). It was an edition marked by stylistic diversity that consolidated the festival as an essential platform for showcasing works that, just a few years later, would be regarded as modern classics of our cinematography.

This is the first edition in which the word “Curtas” appears prominently.

Rules

AWARDS

1st Prize – Fiction
1977, by Peque Varela

2nd Prize – Fiction
Ex aequo. El Taxi?, by Telmo Esnal & ¡Nena!, by Luis Segura

Animation
El empleo, by Santiago Bou Grasso

Special Jury Prize
O pintor de ceos, by Jorge Morais Valle

Galicia Prize
Os señores do vento, by Xurxo González

Liceo Casino Award
Automóvil, by Andrés Victorero

IMAGES

35th Edition

With the ambition of consolidating itself as the leading reference point for film lovers in Galicia, the thirty-fifth edition of the festival arrived in 2007 by promoting greater audience involvement through a new special award. This edition managed to gather a record number of 400 productions, also restoring classic categories such as documentary to the official section. The festival not only maintained its prestige with the backing of the Academy of Film and renewed support from the Provincial Council of Pontevedra, but also enriched its programme with tributes to pioneers of local cinema and innovative workshops for schoolchildren, reaffirming its essence as the oldest and most dynamic showcase for short films on the Iberian Peninsula.

The celebration of the festival’s 35th anniversary in 2007 confirmed that Vilagarcía was a talismanic territory for Spanish animation, capable of attracting works that were succeeding at major international festivals. The main headline of the edition was the triumphant return of Enrique Gato, who won his second award at the festival, this time with Tadeo Jones y el sótano maldito. This prize consolidated the festival’s relationship with the character that, years later, would become the highest-grossing success in the history of animation in Spain.

The quality of the official selection was evident in its awards list, where the work Niños que nunca existieron by David Valero also stood out. This short film, acclaimed for its visual poetry and mixed technique, was just one example of the level of an edition that, three and a half decades after its birth, continued to demonstrate its importance for short filmmaking in Spain, serving as a bridge between the tradition of its founding amateur cinema and the new digital avant-garde.

As a golden finale to the 35th anniversary, the cultural dimension of the event went beyond the screen with the release of a CD that brought together various rock bands from Vilagarcía de Arousa, reinterpreting iconic compositions from the history of cinema.

Program | Festival Pass

AWARDS

1st Prize – Fiction
El canto del grillo, by Dany Campos

2nd Prize – Fiction
Niños que nunca existieron, by David Valero

Best Documentary
Mimoune, by Gonzalo Ballester

Animation
Tadeo Jones y el sótano maldito, by Enrique Gato

Young Filmmakers
En el armario, by Eva Rey Piñeiro

Galicia Prize
Cousas do Kulechov, by Susasna Rey

Liceo Casino Award
Buscando el sol, by David Blanco

Audience Award
El viaje de Saíz, by Coke Rioboo

IMAGES

34th Edition

With its sights set on ambitious modernisation and professionalisation, under Cruz López, the festival sought to take a qualitative leap forward by expanding its programme and including parallel activities for the first time. This edition received 372 productions from different parts of the world. A record figure, with a strong representation of Galician works, which forced the committee to carry out a demanding selection process to choose the thirty films that starred in an intense programme spread over more than a month. The festival not only reaffirmed its maturity with parallel activities such as screenwriting workshops and short film marathons, but also actively sought to become the definitive attraction hub for new creators, even integrating educational sessions for schoolchildren. The emblematic event, already considered the oldest in the region, concluded on 20 October with a red carpet at the municipal auditorium that brought together well-known figures from Galicia’s acting and cultural scene.

The edition was a perfect snapshot of the concerns of Spanish cinema at the time, balancing social realism with visual innovation. The festival reaffirmed its ability to discover narrative gems by awarding its top prize to El amor a las cuatro de la tarde, by Sebastián Alfie, a work that captivated audiences with its sensitivity. At the same time, the festival continued to strongly support the fantasy genre and digital techniques, awarding Perpetuum Mobile, by Enrique García and Raquel Ajofrín, as the best animated piece.

A tribute was paid to Eduardo Puceiro, an indispensable figure in the Galician cultural scene and former director of the Centro Dramático Galego, whose career and connection to the festival embodied the love for cinema that Vilagarcía has safeguarded for decades. Puceiro was one of the great mentors of the festival in its early stages. Under his guidance, the festival achieved great prominence by awarding works by Chano Piñeiro and Juan Pinzás.

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

Best Short Film
El amor a las cuatro de la tarde, by Sebastián Alfie

Best Animated Short Film
Perpetuum Mobile, by Enrique García and Raquel Ajofrín

Young Filmmakers
Botellón, by Tomás Silberman

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Prize
Baseado en feitos que puideron ter acontecido, by Perozo Porteiro

Liceo Casino Award
O conxuro, by Pablo Millán

IMAGES

33rd Edition

With the reception of a total of 256 works from different parts of the national and international geography, the thirty-third edition of the Audiovisual Festival of the Liceo Casino of Vilagarcía consolidated its role in 2005 as an epicentre of emerging cinema. The festival, which screened the fifty finalist films at the municipal auditorium during the first half of October, stood out not only for the technical quality of the proposals, but also for a programme that included talks on music in the seventh art and special sessions for children. Under the supervision of a jury chaired by figures from the Galician audiovisual sector, the event concluded on 21 October with a closing gala enlivened by local dance, reaffirming the institution’s commitment to promoting young filmmakers and productions in the Galician language.

Today, this edition is remembered as one of the most visionary of its time. The jury knew how to identify the talent of a generation destined to transform Spanish cinema. With awards for Isabel de Ocampo, who just a few years later would win a Goya Award, Oskar Santos, who would later direct titles such as El mal ajeno, produced by Alejandro Amenábar, or the adaptations of the famous comic characters Zipi y Zape y el club de la canica and its sequel, Zipi y Zape y la isla del capitán. But if there was one award that marked a historic milestone, it was the one given to Enrique Gato for the first short film featuring Tadeo Jones. This recognition in Vilagarcía marked the beginning of a legendary bond between the festival and the character that would eventually break all box office records in Spain.

Program

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
Espermatozoides, by Isabel de Ocampo

Second Prize
El soñador, by Oskar Santos

Third Prize
El futuro está en el porno, by Vicente Villanueva

Best Animated Short
Tadeo Jones, by Enrique Gato

Young Filmmakers
Antonio Revisitado, ny Javier Roldán

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
La buena caligrafía, by Álex Sampaio

Liceo Casino Award
Machulenco, by David Blanco

IMAGES

32nd Edition

Consolidated as a major driving force for emerging creation, the Liceo Casino de Vilagarcía Audiovisual Competition reached its thirty-second edition in 2004, setting a new participation record with the submission of 271 short films. The event, which extended its programme over two intense weeks of cinema, not only reaffirmed its appeal to Galician filmmakers but also projected the city’s name on a global scale with works arriving from such diverse places as Mexico, Argentina, Italy and the United States. Despite the logistical demands involved in managing such a large volume of entries, the festival once again succeeded in turning the Casa da Cultura into a hub for debate and exhibition of the seventh art. The closing ceremony, moved to the Municipal Auditorium to accommodate growing public interest, featured the support of renowned professionals from the Galician audiovisual scene, sealing an edition that confirmed the competition as the oldest and most dynamic springboard for new talents seeking to break into the industry.

This edition, held within the framework of the institution’s centenary celebrations, stood out for its exceptional quality, awarding works that would soon go on to triumph at the Goya Awards. Titles such as What the Eye Does Not See, by José Braña, which would win the Goya for Best Fiction Short Film, or the animated Minotauromaquia, by Juan Pablo Etcheverry, also a Goya winner in its category and later nominated for the European Film Awards, placed the festival at the forefront of international animation. The festival also demonstrated its keen eye for emerging talent by awarding debut filmmaker Álex Pastor, future director of Carriers (Infectados), Eternal and Incorporated.

Rules

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
What the Eye Does Not See, by José Braña (Spain, 2004)

Second Prize
Minotauromaquia: Pablo in the Labyrinth, by Juan Pablo Etcheverry (Spain, 2004)

Third Prize
10 Minutes, by Alberto Ruíz

YOUNG FILMMAKERS

First Prize
The Natural Route, by Álex Pastor (Spain, 2004)

Second Prize
The Seventh Commandment, by Lluis Hereu (Spain, 2004)

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Sea of Stars, by Jorge Candán

Liceo Casino Award
Metamorphosis, by Fran Estévez

IMAGES

31st Edition

Now an unmissable event that places Vilagarcía as the great “mecca of cinema” in the Arousa region, the Liceo Casino Audiovisual Festival celebrated its 31st anniversary in 2003 by once again shattering all previous records. Under the presidency of Marisa Rodríguez, the first woman to lead the society, the call reached an all-time high of 284 entries, far surpassing participation in previous editions and consolidating an exceptional “vintage” in terms of technical quality. With a notable presence of Galician directors and proposals arriving from diverse national and international locations, the festival transformed the Casa da Cultura into a hive of emerging talent during an intense week of screenings. The mid-October closing ceremony, accompanied by the Liceo choir and attended by local authorities, not only served to recognize the value of new filmmakers, but also confirmed that, after three decades of history, the festival remains the strongest and healthiest springboard for the future of the film industry in Galicia.

The 31st edition confirmed the festival as a platform for filmmakers destined to lead the industry. Among the standout names was Patxi Amezcua, who was beginning his successful career in the thriller genre, in which he has since established himself as director and screenwriter of titles such as Séptimo, Infiesto and El correo. Likewise, the festival revealed the potential of Martín Rosete, today an internationally active filmmaker based in the United States and director of productions such as Remember Me.

Rules

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
Mus, by Patxi Amexcua

Second Prize
Anatomía Patológica, by Assumpta García Mas

Third Prize
El ladrón navideño, by Javier Tostado Domingo

YOUNG FILMMAKERS

First Prize
Revolución, by Martín Rosete (Spain, 2002)

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Good Night Mon Ami, by Virginia Curiá and Tomás Conde

Liceo Casino Award
Niebla, by Mónica Alonso Veiga
 

VIDEO

IMAGES

30th Edition

Already established as an essential benchmark for emerging cinema, the Liceo Casino de Vilagarcía Audiovisual Festival celebrated its thirtieth edition in 2002, breaking all its historical records with the submission of 249 works. The momentum of the internet and the festival’s presence on specialized platforms meant that the call not only exceeded expectations in terms of quantity, but also achieved a technical quality described by the organization itself as “exceptional” and “unmatched.” With a consolidated international outlook thanks to films arriving from Italy, Argentina, and Colombia, the Casa da Cultura was transformed for an intense week into the epicenter of emerging talent. The closing of this special edition also served as the stage for the announcement of new institutional plans to promote Galician short films, reaffirming the festival as the most solid and long-standing showcase for creators seeking their first major springboard into the industry.

That year, the festival discovered filmmakers who are now key figures in contemporary cinema. The most noteworthy name of this edition was José María Goenaga, creator of works such as Loreak, Handia, and The Endless Trench.

The awards also crowned José Javier Rodríguez Melcón, whose victory in Vilagarcía preceded his special mention at the Goya Awards. Likewise, the talent of Mario Iglesias was recognized, a filmmaker with a highly personal voice within Galician independent cinema, as well as that of Marc Riba and Anna Solanas, with the short film that went on to win the Goya Award in the animation category.

Rules

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
Carlos’s Birthday, by José Javier Rodríguez

Second Prize
Corten, by Mario Iglesias

Third Prize
250 Mortadella Sandwiches, by Luis Moreno

Fourth Prize
VO, by Trece Producciones

Fifth Prize
Tercero B, by José María Goenaga

YOUNG FILMMAKERS

First Prize
El negre es el color dels déus, by Marc Riba and Anna Solanas

Second Prize
Absences, by Nelly Regueira

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
A escola das areas, by Virginia Curiá and Tomás Conde

IMAGES

29th Edition

Driven by the rise of the internet and a prestige that was already crossing international borders, and organized for the first time by the newly merged Liceo Casino de Vilagarcía, the festival reached its historical peak in 2001 with the submission of 183 films. The call, which attracted entries from places as distant as New York, Argentina, and Switzerland, reaffirmed the city as a “modest Cannes” for emerging cinema and new talent. Despite the generational change within the organization and the necessary search for new institutional support, the festival managed to preserve its essence with an intense week of screenings at the Casa da Cultura. The closing gala at the end of October, presided over by figures such as the Director General for Audiovisual Communication, Rosanna López, not only served to present the awards in the Young Filmmakers and Special Prizes categories, but also demonstrated that, after nearly three decades of history, the festival remained the most solid showcase for audiovisual creation in Galicia.

This edition stood out for honoring Sergio G. Sánchez, a name that has since become a key figure in contemporary Spanish cinema. After being recognized in Vilagarcía, Sánchez achieved worldwide acclaim as the screenwriter of The Orphanage and The Impossible (both directed by J. A. Bayona), and as the director of Marrowbone and the series Alma. The figure of Miguel del Arco also stood out; after his time at the festival, he went on to establish himself as one of Spain’s most influential stage directors and playwrights, as well as the director of feature films such as Las furias.

Rules

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
El velatorio, by Javier Domingo

Second Prize
The Envy of the Japanese Army, by Miguel Arco

Third Prize
Animal, by Miguel Díez

Fourth Prize
Against Wind and Tide, by Carlos Castro

Fifth Prize
7337, by Sergio Sánchez

YOUNG FILMMAKERS

First Prize
Guateque del 66, by Carlos Lorenzo

Second Prize
Below Zero, by A. Martínez and X. Pereira

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Os difuntos falaban Castelao, by Virginia Curiá and Tomás Conde

Liceo Casino Award
Borsh, by David Blanco
 

VIDEO

IMAGES

28th Edition

The festival faced the year 2000 by breaking participation records with the submission of 105 works, consolidating Vilagarcía as an unavoidable reference point for new talent in the audiovisual sector. Under the presidency of José Portela, the twenty-eighth edition moved its final phase to the Casa de la Cultura, whose halls were decorated with flowers and garlands to make up for the absence of the now-defunct Cine Fantasio. After several days of screenings that included titles such as Puta de oros, Ignotus and 15 días, the October closing gala became an event of great solemnity which, despite budgetary constraints, managed to recreate an atmosphere worthy of major festivals. The evening not only served to acknowledge the quality of films arriving from across Spain, but also paid a heartfelt tribute to the memory of Máximo Patiño, a key figure in the history of a festival that was already approaching three decades of existence.

This edition is also historically notable for having recognised Rodrigo Cortés, who is today one of the Spanish directors with the greatest international projection, known for directing productions such as Buried, Red Lights and the recent Escape.

Equally significant was the award given to Belén Macías, a key figure in Spanish fiction who has consolidated her career in both cinema and television, directing titles such as The Patio of My Prison and Marsella. The awards list also included the Lagares Brothers, who that same year made history by winning the Goya Award, and Alber Ponte, a highly personal voice within Galician audiovisual creation.

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First Prize
El puzzle, by Belén Macías

Second Prize
Utopías, by Alberto Ruíz

Third Prize
15 días, by Rodrigo Cortés

Fourth Prize
Los girasoles, by José and Manuel Lagares

Fifth Prize
Una luz encendida, by Alber Ponte

YOUNG FILMMAKERS

First Prize
Jazzoo, by Álvaro de la Herrán

Second Prize
The Death of Sardanapalus, by Maider Oleaga

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Ignotus, by Tomás Conde and Virginia Curiá

Casino Award
13-1, by Iñaki Abella

IMAGES

27th Edition

On the threshold of the new millennium, the twenty-seventh edition became an absolute record in terms of entries, receiving 123 films —from an unprecedented Canadian submission to two dozen Galician productions—, a creative deluge that forced the organization to extend the conclusion of the competition: while the screenings, with titles such as The Brave, filled the September schedule, the uncertainty of the awards was not resolved until well into October. It was at that late gala, which broke with the solemnity of speeches before authorities such as Joaquín Gago and Rosana López, where the Madrilenian Jesús del Cerro was finally crowned for La isla de la tortuga, sharing the spotlight with a spontaneous Teté Delgado, who came on stage to collect the second prize for the film Sinceridad.

Del Cerro subsequently went on to develop an extraordinarily prolific career. As one of the creative minds behind the success of landmark television series such as Médico de Familia and Un paso adelante, he also consolidated a significant international career as a director and producer in markets such as Eastern Europe.

Another key name recognized in this edition was Alberto Ruiz Rojo, who has become one of the most solid fiction directors in Spain. His signature is behind major television successes such as La templanza, Caronte and El Cid, standing out for their high visual and narrative quality.

Inscription | Rules

AWARDS

AUDIOVISUAL

First prize La isla de la tortuga, by Jesús del Cerro

Second prize Sinceridad, by Alberto Ruiz Rojo

Third prize Amigos

Special mention Exame ás 10, by Antón Caeiro

Special mention Cuaderno de Bitácora

OTHER AWARDS

Casino Award Herbonx Killer

Galicia Award Noite Meiga

IMAGES

26th Edition

Far from showing any signs of fatigue after the celebrations of its silver anniversary, the twenty-sixth edition —held in 1998— was strengthened by unprecedented institutional support, materialized in a grant of three million pesetas from the Consellería de Cultura, which guaranteed its financial stability. This financial breathing space allowed the organization, with Máximo Patiño as secretary, to enrich the programme with a series of film conference days in early October and to innovate in the awards by introducing the “Audiovisual” and “Novos Realizadores” prizes. It was a year of resurgence for celluloid, which made a strong comeback over video thanks to a substantial participation of short films such as O día que morreu Clint Eastwood, Un, dos, tres… taxi, Infinito or the documentary El secadero del congrio, screened between the Casino and the Casa de Cultura. The cycle culminated at the Cine Fantasio with a gala where, after one million pesetas were distributed in prizes, the event was brought to a close with the screening of the film The Brave, directed by and starring Johnny Depp.

Letter | Inscription | Rules

AWARDS

Information not available.

IMAGES

25th Edition

Reaching a quarter of a century is no minor milestone, and for that reason the 1997 edition devoted itself to celebrating its silver anniversary by looking both in the rear-view mirror and toward the future. In an effort to rationalize management, the Casino decided to bring the dates forward to September and to cloak the anniversary in a mantle of nostalgia, organizing exhibitions of historic posters and round tables where veteran local filmmakers debated the evolution of the format since the days of Super-8. However, the celebration had a bittersweet artistic aftertaste: despite a high level of participation that exceeded sixty works —with an overwhelming majority coming from outside Galicia—, the jury’s rigor dampened the festivities by declaring such symbolic awards as Best Documentary and the local prize void, making clear at this commemorative closing that the festival found itself at a vital crossroads regarding its model and continuity.

The twenty-fifth edition of the festival consolidated its role as a discoverer of new cinematic languages by awarding León Siminiani, today one of the most prestigious filmmakers and documentary artists in Spain. Siminiani has revolutionized the cinematic essay and true crime with works such as Mapa and the series El caso Asunta.

Also standing out is the figure of Alberto Rodríguez, an essential director of contemporary Spanish cinema and winner of multiple Goya Awards. His career, launched on platforms such as Vilagarcía, includes works like La isla mínima, Modelo 77 and the series La Peste, noted for their technical and narrative mastery.

AWARDS

CINE

Narrative and Animation
Celtiberia 1, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Documentary
Void

VIDEO

Narrative and Experimental
Inercia, by Elías León Siminiani

Documentary Video
Tana Toraja, by Ramón Font de Saint-Germain

Runner-ups:

• Bancos, by Santiago Amoedo and Alberto Rodríguez
• El retorno de Cipriano, by Antonio Caeiro
• Así nos organizamos, by Jesús Bosque

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
A Fraga, by Roberto Fernández

Casino Award
Void
 

VIDEO

IMAGES

24th Edition

On the doorstep of its silver jubilee, the 1996 edition became a historical turning point by certifying the end of an era: faced with low participation in celluloid—barely nine tapes compared to the avalanche of video—the Casino announced that this would be the final call for the Super-8 format. It was a year of generational and thematic transition, where for the first time fiction surpassed documentary in the number of works, and in which the closing gala was held at the Cine Fantasio. Far from the media spotlight of the previous edition, the organization opted this time for technical reliability, entrusting the verdict to a strictly professional jury composed of producers, editors, and TVG staff, with Alberto Morales Ruiz as secretary. This transition cycle closed with a gala presided over by Councilor Pérez Varela, culminating in the screening of the film Richard III.

This edition is historically significant for featuring the competition entry of Koldo Serra, who today is one of the most powerful action and suspense directors in Spain. Serra has consolidated an international career directing films such as The Backwoods (with Gary Oldman) or 70 Binladens, in addition to being a key figure in the global success of the series Money Heist.

The awards also highlighted the talent of filmmakers like Isabel de Ocampo, who years later would win the Goya Award for Best Short Film.

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation
Desierto

Runner-up
Las lágrimas de un pañuelo, by Isabel Vilallonga Shelly

Documentary
Acantilado, by Marcelino Arriaza López

VIDEO

Fiction and Experimental
Tabaco y ron, by Juana Gamero

Runners-up

• A grande viaxe, by José Antonio Giménez García
• La sala de espera, by Ramón Font

Documentary
Nasa Tul, by Jesús Bosque

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Roberto Fernández López

IMAGES

23rd Edition

With an air of renewal and an undeniable attempt at “Hollywood” glamour at the Cine Fantasio—giant screens included—the 1995 edition wavered between format nostalgia and unavoidable technical evolution. Under the presidency of Manuel Morales, who advocated for maintaining the essence of Super-8 until reaching the silver jubilee, the gala was marked by the support offered by Councilor Vázquez Portomeñe to finance the leap to 16 mm, responding to the demands of a media-heavy jury led by Gustavo Pernas, Mon Santiso, and Uxía Blanco. It was a year of contrasts: while the organization had to extend the deadline due to an avalanche of entries and half of the finalists turned out to be Galician, the tribunal’s rigor left prestigious prizes vacant, such as the narrative film award and the “Casino” regional award, on a night that emotionally remembered the late Chano Piñeiro as an example of the talent emerged from this festival.

This edition highlights the figure of Chema Gagino, a key name for understanding the evolution of Galician audiovisuals. After his time at the festival, Gagino has developed a prolific career as a director, screenwriter, and television producer, participating in major productions in Galicia and also standing out for his work in training new generations of filmmakers.

Letter | Inscription | Rules

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation
Vacant

Runners-up:

• Contestador, by Ramón Font
• Distrito Picasso, by Chema Gagino

Documentary
México 91, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

VIDEO

Fiction and Experimental
La fiesta y otras aventuras de Pío, by Eduardo Gabín Videla

Documentary
Cuando el libro se convierte en arte, by the group Auryn

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
A pillada rapuda, by the group Natrix
 

VIDEO

IMAGES

22nd Edition

The 1994 edition, marking twenty-two years of cinema and eleven of video, wavered between institutional advocacy and artistic demand, celebrating its big night at the Cine Fantasio with the screening of Widows’ Peak. With a prize fund of one million pesetas, the festival served as a stage for a jury presided over by Professor Emilio Gallego to call on authors to “go beyond the image” and move past mere technical mastery. It was an event with a marked social and political profile, remembered as much for the anecdote of the “Senator of the Kingdom” sign reserved for then-mayor Rivera Mallo as for the public commitment secured from the Xunta to guarantee the financial survival of a festival that, under the direction of Guillermo Poyán, continued to fight to be an essential date on the Galician cultural calendar.

This edition stood out for recognizing the early work of Virginia Curiá and Tomás Conde, who years later would establish themselves as top professionals in stop-motion animation in Galicia, founding the production company Algarabía and garnering multiple international awards. Virginia and Tomás have won 5 awards throughout the history of the festival.

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation
Camaleón>, by Antonio Sánchez and Marcelino Arriaza

VIDEO

Fiction and Experimental
Alegrías de puerta tierra, by Victoria Curiá and Tomás Conde

Runner-up
Testamento, by Chema Gagino

Documentary
La lana, by Pyrene P.V.

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
A cultura castrexa: Os celtas, by Antonio Río López

Casino Award
Vacant

IMAGES

21st Edition

The 1993 edition was characterized by the determined ambition of its president, Guillermo Poyán, to transform the Vilagarcía event into a “miniature San Sebastián.” With a reinforced budget of around four and a half million pesetas—of which one million was entirely allocated to prizes to increase competitiveness—the festival sought the presence of established figures from the national scene such as José Luis López Vázquez and Antonio Ferrandis, although they were ultimately unable to attend the presentation of the film El juego de los mensajes invisibles. The screenings, which took place during the first fortnight of October at the Casino, culminated in a closing gala at the Cine Fantasio, where a prestigious jury chaired by the Vice-Rector of the Complutense University, Emilio García Fernández, decided the awards for an edition that reaffirmed its institutional solidity thanks to the support of the Xunta and the Deputación.

The early participation in the festival of Sandra Sánchez is noteworthy; years later, she would establish herself as one of the most respected editors and directors in Galicia, already foreshadowing a career marked by narrative rigor, technical quality, and sensitivity in works such as the acclaimed documentary Tralas Luces.

Inscription | Rules

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation
Velatorio, by Pere Botifoll

Documentary
Baja Mar, by Antonio Sánchez and Marcelino Arriaza

VIDEO

Fiction and Experimental

First prize
El otro lado, by Antonio Matesanz and José Álvarez

Second prize
Visión, by José Álvarez

Documentary
Vacant

Runners-up:

• Ayer y hoy de la Casa de La Troya, by Carlos Dávila and Sandra Sánchez.
• En las riberas del Nilo, by Romón Font

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Camiños a Compostela: O camiño Inglés, by Antonio Río López

Casino Award
A Serra do Courel, by Roxelio Barbosa
 

IMAGES

20th Edition

1992 took on a commemorative character as it celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the film festival, an anniversary that, however, served to highlight the city’s infrastructural deficiencies. Despite the fact that the presidency of the Xunta had promised a dignified auditorium for these galas two years prior, the closing ceremony on December 21st had to be divided once again between the Casino and the Casa de Cultura, featuring the presence of the Director General of Culture, Paz Lamela, but without the long-awaited stage. Under the presidency of Guillermo Poyán, the festival achieved a resounding success in participation—the press reported the receipt of hundreds of tapes—and offered prizes of up to 100,000 pesetas, closing its major week in an evening with a deep local flair that coincided with the official premiere of the Anthem to Vilagarcía, performed by the Music Band and the Santa Eulalia Choir.

AWARDS

CINEMA

Documentary

First Prize
Imágenes para el recuerdo

Second Prize
Sinfonía

VIDEO

Fiction and Experimental

First Prize
Deseos Ocultos

Second Prize
Merenda de nejros

Special Mention
Montaje demente

Special Mention
Tempus Fugit

Documentary

First Prize
O país de Trey

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
A torre de Hércules

19th Edition

The 1991 edition represented an unprecedented qualitative leap for the festival by incorporating, as a result of an ambitious agreement between the president of the Casino, Guillermo Poyán, and the Xunta de Galicia, the “Xacobeo 93” Professional Video competition, endowed with a millionaire budget. This institutional boost turned Vilagarcía into the audiovisual capital of the region, ensuring the presence of Manuel Fraga at a closing ceremony where the promise of a future auditorium for the city resonated once again. In purely artistic terms, the festival maintained its amateur essence with the 19th edition of cinema and the 8th of video, inaugurating the screenings at the Casa de Cultura with the local work A Ruta Xacobea en Galicia, by Xesús Méndez, and featuring once again the ethnographic mastery of Eugenio Monesma, who participated this time out of competition exhibiting El Picón.

Flyer | Bases

AWARDS

FILM

Fiction

Gold Film
El Pozo, by José and Manuel Lagares

Silver Film
Absit, by Juan José Díaz Cantero

Bronze Film
Antítesis, by Pedro Sánchez Ibañez

Documentary

First Prize
Void

Second Prize
Void

Third Prize
Pinsapo, by Antonio Sánchez Corrales

VIDEO

Fiction

First Prize
Void

Second Prize
Chove Impaciencia, by Roberto Camba

Third Prize
Ollos de Ferro, by Xosé Antonio Rodiño

Documentary

First Prize
El Muro, by Sandra Sánchez Cachada

Second Prize
Río Burbia, by José Roberto Fernández

Third Prize
Debosión, by Xulio Martínez Rodríguez

OTHER AWARDS

Xacobeo 93 Award
Void

Casino Award
Ruta Xacobea, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

Galicia Award
Debosión, by Xulio Martínez Rodríguez

Video Language Policy Award
Chove Impaciencia, by Roberto Camba

Film Language Policy Award
Void
 

IMAGES

18th Edition

The eighteenth edition, held in December 1990 under the presidency of Manuel Morales Fontanes, took on a profound nostalgic character as it became the last major gala hosted by the emblematic Cine Arosa before its definitive closure. In this context of bidding farewell to a historic theater, the festival reaffirmed its commitment to the preservation of visual memory, a vocation perfectly embodied by the figure of Eugenio Monesma, already established as an absolute benchmark in ethnographic cinema for his vital work in rescuing lost trades. The closing ceremony, which included an emotional tribute to the cinema’s owner, Emilio Bóveda, not only highlighted the importance of documenting disappearing rural traditions but also served to close a fundamental cycle in Vilagarcía’s culture, by then fully integrating the seventh video competition into a festival that looked toward the future without forgetting its roots.

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction

First Prize
Detrás de ella, by Bartolomé García Amengual

Second Prize
Luci, by Vicente Pascual

Third Prize
Los desastres de Goya, by Francisco J. Valiente Ros

Documentary

First Prize
Vacant

Second Prize
Los sin impuestos, by Jaime Agullo Trullas

Third Prize
Ecosistemas acuáticos, by José Fernández López

VIDEO

Documentary

First Prize: A Noite das Flores, by Clara María de Saa

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Impacto ecológico de los incendios, by José Carricarte Iglesias

Casino Award
El paraíso verde, by Rafael Sabugueiro

IMAGES

17th Edition

1989 was an exercise in resilience and passion for the format: held unusually in December (from the 18th to the 23rd) and with a tight budget of 2.5 million pesetas, the event managed to overcome the lack of resources with a very high artistic level. While in the cinema section the Lagares Brothers and Enrique Nieto Nadal reaffirmed their technical and narrative mastery, documentary video saw the absolute consecration of Eugenio Monesma, who swept the first two prizes in the category for his invaluable ethnographic work. The social and activist tone was set by the local collective Video Dansas—composed of amateurs from Vilagarcía, Vilanova, and Catoira—who won the “Galicia” and “Casino” awards thanks to their defense of the Arousa heritage.

Program

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction

First Prize
Luna Llena, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Second Prize
Jaque Mate, by José and Manuel Lagares Díaz

Third Prize
El sueño más dulce, by Vicente Pascual Pascual

Special Mention
Raposo, by Carlos Rivero Terán

Documentary

First Prize
Los caracoles, by Miguel Ángel Quintana and Ángel Bernal de Lasarte

Second Prize
Vacant

Third Prize
Ronda, by Carlos and Rafael Girón

VIDEO

Fiction

First Prize
El Ángel Blanco, by Andrés Suarez

Second Prize
Fotograma, by Estética Moderna PC and PK-6

Third Prize
La Moneda, by Juan Calatayud Canejero

Documentary

First and Second Prize
For the quality and ethnographic interest of the five works by Eugenio Monesma Moliner

Third Prize
Afición y Trabajo, by Orestes Pérez Quiñones and Campos del Puerto

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
Cortegada S.O.S., by Video Dansas

Casino Award
To the body of work presented by Video Dansas

IMAGES

16th Edition

The 1988 edition represented the festival’s great technological leap as video consolidated itself over traditional Super-8, a transition that the Casino de Vilagarcía supported by doubling the prizes for this new format. Already the oldest festival in Galicia and with solid institutional support, the event reaffirmed its prestige in a brilliant closing ceremony at the Cine Arosa, in an edition that marked the audiovisual future of the province.

Program

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation

First Prize
La voz de su amo, by Bartolomé García Amengual

Second Prize
Nocturno, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Third Prize
El viajero, by Andrés Suau Mayáns

Documentary

First Prize
Abelletas, by Eugenio Monesma Moliner

Second Prize
Acuicultura, by Jesús Méndez Méndez

Third Prize
Caaveiro, by José Roberto Fernández López

VIDEO

Fiction
Zoo, la invasión de la Tierra por los animales, by Juan Carlos Falcón Noya (Ex Aequo)
Ronal Figueirido, axente segredo, by Rafaél Martínez Ruíz and Onmtel, by Xosé Búa González (Ex Aequo)

Documentary
Galicia de Romaría, by Juan Carlos Falcón Noya (Ex Aequo)
Carbón Vegetal, by Eugenio Monesma Moliner (Ex Aequo)

OTHER AWARDS

Casino Award
Galicia de Romaría, by Juan Carlos Falcón Noya

Galicia Award
Ronal Figueirido, axente segredo, by Rafaél Martínez Ruíz
 

IMAGES

15th Edition

The 1987 edition, which commemorated the festival’s crystal jubilee, established itself as a national reference point by attracting nearly fifty entries, with a notable presence of filmmakers from the Levantine and Catalan regions. Under the presidency of Rafael Sabugueiro, the festival reached a record investment of nearly three million pesetas and received definitive backing from the Dirección Xeral de Cultura for its institutionalization. Artistically, the festival’s closing ceremony evidenced the unstoppable rise of video compared to cinema, prompting the organization to consider a future increase in prizes to accommodate this new technological reality.

Rules | Flyer | Program

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation

First Prize
Lumbre, by Carlos Rivero Terán

Second Prize
Primerísimo Plano, by Amando Beltrán Sogorb

Third Prize
El sistema, by Francisco Valiente Ros

Documentary

First Prize
Rabel, by Albatros Camera

Second Prize
Artoa, by Miguel Angel Zarraonaindia

Third Prize
Nacimiento, vida y Muerte, by Jesús Méndez Méndez

VIDEO

Fiction
Teoría Relativa, by Xosé Búa González

Documentary
Drun Lacho, gitanos en Aragón, by Eugenio Monesma Moliner

OTHER AWARDS

Galicia Award
As telleiras de Arousa, by Juan Carlos Falcón Noya

Casino Award
Teoría Relativa, by Xosé Búa González

Special Mention to the body of work by Eugenio Monesma Moliner

IMAGES

14th Edition

1986 stood out for its enviable health, successfully gathering a total of 42 films and 23 videotapes in a transitional year where the electronic format was beginning to gain serious ground. Under the coordination of Rafael Sabugueiro and with a prestigious jury chaired by Professor Luis Hueso, the event reaffirmed its national importance by attracting works from all over Spain, from Alicante to Zaragoza. On the artistic side, local artist Xurxo Alonso provided the image for the event with a poster that symbolized Vilagarcía’s maritime vocation. The closing ceremony, held at the Cine Arosa with the screening of La mitad del cielo, closed a week of screenings that demonstrated the solidity of a festival that was already considered the annual “acid test” for the Casino’s board of directors.

Rules | Letter 1 | Letter 2 | Ticket | Invitation

AWARDS

CINEMA

Fiction and Animation

First prize
Un cuento fuerte, muy fuerte, by Enrique Nieto Nidal

Second prize
Color de la Luz, by José Antonio Vizarraga

Third prize
Lucía, by Santiago Chóliz Polo

Documentary

First prize
Tresviso, la cumbre del Picón, by Albatros Cámaros

Second prize
Arte y Restauración, by Pedro Sánchez Ibáñez

Third prize
El Karst, by Joaquín Tornel Olmos

VIDEO

Fiction and Animation
Licor de Nardos, by Xavier Brisset and Lucía Dancausa

Documentary
Void / No winner

OTHER AWARDS

Casino Award
Void / No winner

Galicia Award
Xan de Xenaro, by Taller de Vídeo de Fene

IMAGES

13th Edition

The 1985 edition consolidated the “Film Week” format by moving its screenings to the Caja de Ahorros auditorium to accommodate an ever-growing audience. The festival strengthened its national character by attracting works from all over Spain and promoting emerging sections such as video and scientific cinema. The closing ceremony, presided over by Gerardo Fernández Albor and featuring the screening of Stico, reaffirmed Vilagarcía as the major annual event for non-professional cinema in Galicia. As a point of interest, it is worth noting that the first voices calling for the institutionalization of the festival began to emerge.

The poster was created by Xurxo Alonso.

AWARDS

Fiction and Animation

First Prize
Soledad, by Carlos Soler Vázquez

Second Prize
Microdesfile, by Francisco Valiente Ros

Third Prize
La Máscara de la Muerte Roja, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Documentary

First Prize
La ostricultura, by Benxamin Rei

Second Prize
La Laguna de Valdoviño, by Ramon Fernández Lopes

Third Prize
Viejo Roble, by Eugenio Monesma Moliner

Other Awards

Fiction Video
25×24, by Antonio Caeiro

Casino de Vilagarcía Special Award
To the body of work by Benxamin Rei

Galicia Award
La dorna, by Benxamin Rei
 

IMAGES

12th Edition

The 1984 edition marked a milestone in the festival’s history by introducing for the first time an official section dedicated to video, coexisting with a Super-8 format that still showed great strength through works of ethnographic and social significance. Under the presidency of Rafael Sabugueiro, the festival reaffirmed its national dimension with a selection of pieces from across Spain, from the “navateras” by Eugenio Monesma to proposals by Enrique Nieto or local authors like Jesús Méndez. The event, which already enjoyed the support of the Xunta de Galicia through the awarding of the “Filmes de Ouro” (Golden Films), concluded a stage of maturity at the Cine Fantasio, proving that Vilagarcía was not only a meeting point for non-professional cinema but also a privileged observatory of the transition toward new electronic languages.

AWARDS

Impacto en las zonas húmedas, by J. Roberto Fernández

As cruces de pedra, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Buño, terra de oleiros, by X. Méndez

11th Edition

The 1983 edition was nearly cancelled due to the silence of the Casino’s new board of directors, which caused logical concern among film enthusiasts who had already sent in their works. Ultimately, the festival resurfaced strongly under the presidency of Rafael Sabugueiro, who introduced strategic changes such as moving the dates to autumn to avoid competition with summer festivities and to improve public attendance. This eleventh installment not only increased the prize money to attract filmmakers from all over the peninsula but also achieved an international dimension with the participation of foreign filmmakers and the debut of an animated film category. Furthermore, the festival marked a technological milestone by recording the works on video for the first time, thus ensuring their future dissemination in cultural and educational centers and consolidating Vilagarcía as an indispensable showcase for non-professional cinema.

Rules | Program

AWARDS

Fiction Cinema

First Prize for Fiction
Extravío, by Eduardo de Castro Pastor

Second Prize for Fiction
Truchas con Flores, by Umberto Esquivel

Third Prize for Fiction
Al oeste del rancho Culbert, by the group Els QK’s

Documentary Cinema

First Prize for Best Documentary
Lantzeko Iyotiak, by Enrique Monton Ciured

Second Prize for Best Documentary
Enclave de Sol, by Francisco José Valiente Ros

Third Prize for Best Documentary
Vidas, Colores…, by Antonio Sánchez Corrales

Other Awards

Special Award for Best Film by a Galician Amateur
Una idea, un esfuerzo, una reality, by J. Ernesto Díaz Noriga

Award for Best Animated Film
Tabú, by Francisco José Valiente Ros

International Award
Viaje en bicicleta a Dinamarca, by Felix Otteo (Germany)

10th Edition

The tenth edition of the festival, held in 1982, provided a definitive boost to its regional profile thanks to the support of the Xunta de Galicia, which for the first time granted “gold films” to the winners. Under the presidency of Rafael Sabugueiro, the festival achieved high national participation. The closing ceremony, held in a packed Cine Fantasio, reaffirmed the deep roots of an exhibition that, after a decade of history, had consolidated itself as the main benchmark for amateur cinema in the community.

AWARDS

Fiction Cinema

First Prize
Ácaro, by Raúl Contel

Second Prize
Caso Cerrado, by Francisco Pau Agustín

Third Prize
Los Escorpiones, by Umberto Esquivel

Documentary Cinema

First Prize
Campaneiros de Arcos, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

Second Prize
Variaciones, by José Manuel Otero

Third Prize
Los Diablos de San Blás, by Enrique Montón Ciured

Other Awards

Special Award for Best Film by a Local Amateur
Campaneiros de Arcos, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

Special Jury Mention
La ruta mágica, by Francisco José Valiente Ros

9th Edition

The ninth edition of the festival, held in 1981, marked its consecration as one of the events with the highest financial endowment and prestige at a national level, even securing the Minister of Culture’s acceptance of the honorary presidency of the event. Under the coordination of Rafael Sabugueiro and Jesús Monedero, the festival not only maintained its rigor in the selection of Super-8 works but also strengthened its commitment to Galician identity by awarding works with ethnographic content. The closing ceremony at the Cine Arosa provided the finishing touch to an edition defined by the high quality of films arriving from all over Spain, consolidating Vilagarcía as a privileged observatory of amateur film culture at the time.

AWARDS

Fiction Cinema

First Prize
Homo Neuroticus, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Second Prize
Autopista Norte, by Humberto Esquivel

Documentary Cinema

First Prize
Fiadeiras de Zobra, by Deza Cine Galego

Second Prize
Ceibes Cabalos, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

Third Prize
Follas Mortas, by José M. Otero Vich

Other Awards

Award for the Best Film by a Local Amateur
Ceibes Cabalos, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

Special Award
Ceibes Cabalos, by Xesús Méndez Méndez

8th Edition

The 1980 edition marked a year of maturity and consolidation for the festival, reaffirming its ability to attract the attention of filmmakers from across the country despite the organizational difficulties of the time. Under the coordination of Jesús García Monedero, the competition stood out for the high quality of the works submitted in Super-8, which forced the jury to carry out an exhaustive selection among numerous fiction and documentary pieces. With the support of entities such as the Ministry of Culture and the recently created Xunta de Galicia, the Vilagarcía event was confirmed as the great showcase for non-professional cinema in the region, achieving a national projection that made each edition a key date for the city’s cultural and community fabric.

Program | Daily Program

AWARDS

Fiction Cinema

First Prize
A os meus queridos páis que me están escoitando, by Xavier Vilaverde

Second Prize
Cantigas da emigración, by Daniel González Alén

Third Prize
Pioner II, by Enrique Nieto Nadal

Documentary Cinema

First Prize
Silencio y Oración, by Marino Lorenzo de Camora

Second Prize
Fiesta, by Santiago Cholis Polo

Third Prize
La Piscicultura, by Benxamín Rei

Other Awards

Award for the Best Film by a Local Amateur
Algo que morre, by Rafaél Sabugueiro
 

IMAGES

7th Edition

In 1979, the festival maintained its regional character as a platform to boost Galician talent, although it was marked by a demand from the jury that left an impact: the first prize in the fiction category was declared vacant due to a decline in the quality of the submitted works. Despite this artistic rigor, the festival, organized by the Casino, managed to strengthen its institutional structure thanks to the support of the Ministry of Culture and the Xunta de Galicia. This edition, characterized by the amount of its prizes and a solid organizational base, served as a preamble to the major national expansion that the contest would experience in the following years.

Notification Letter

AWARDS

Narrative Cinema

Gold Film
Deserted

Silver Film
Requiem por una gaviota, by Ignacio Pardo

Bronze Film
Vía Láctea, by M. Sicart

Documentary Cinema

Gold Film
Moradas pacegas del Salnés, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Silver Film
O campo galego, by Daniel González

Bronze Film
Amanece en Vigo, by Juan Pinzás

Other awards

Best Local Amateur
Moradas pacegas del Salnés, by Rafael Sabugueiro

IMAGES

6th Edition

The 1978 edition marked the maturity of the festival with a list of winners deeply rooted in regional identity, led by Chano Piñeiro, who won first prize and best screenplay for Os paxaros morren no aire. With the support of the Casino and a massive reception from the people of Vilagarcía, this installment reaffirmed that the festival was already an essential engine for the development of a unique audiovisual language in the community.

Rules | Program

AWARDS

Narrative Cinema

Gold Film
Os paxaros morren no aire, by Chano Piñeiro

Silver Film
Y el hombre se hizo hombre, by Punto de mira

Bronze Film
A fouce esquecida, by Benjamín Rey

Documentary Cinema

Gold Film
Lalín, by D. Gonzalez Alén

Silver Film
Una ciudad que agoniza, by Carlos Fernández Santander

Bronze Film
El queso gallego, by Benjamín Rey

Other awards

Screenplay Award
Os paxaros morren no aire, by Chano Piñeiro

Special Photography Award
Crucero por el Rhin, by Constantino Silva Fernández

Editing Award
Y el hombre se hizo hombre, by Punto de mira

Audience Award Casino Trophy
O leite, by Xesús Méndez

5th Edition

The fifth edition in 1977 marked a qualitative leap in the history of the contest by opening its call for entries to all of Galicia, which resulted in a spectacular increase in participation and its consolidation as the major benchmark for Galician amateur cinema. The first competitive sections were established. The relevance achieved by the festival that year went beyond the screen, with a notable philatelic exhibition being held that prompted an institutional milestone: the granting by the Post Office of a special postmark, whose design included a film camera to commemorate the event. With this rollout, the Vilagarcía festival not only reaffirmed its organizational maturity under the auspices of the Casino but also managed to integrate different cultural disciplines, turning the August week into a first-magnitude social and artistic event for the community.

Rules | Program

AWARDS

Gold Film
Mateo, by the Punto de Mira group

Silver Film
Corpus Christi, by Benxamín Rei

Bronze Film
Desastre del Urquiola, by Carlos Fernández

Other awards

Best Screenplay
O consello de compadre, by Deza Cine Galego

Best Photography
Regata inolvidable, by Julio García

Best Editing
Desastre del Urquiola, by Carlos Fernández

Best Local Theme Award
Contrapunto, by Xesús Méndez

Best Direction and Filmmaking
Mateo, by the Punto de Mira group

IMAGES

4th Edition

1976 was a time of great cultural effervescence for Vilagarcía. The fourth edition consolidated the contest as one of the most relevant social events of the Arousa summer. Artistically, the festival featured the prominent presence of actor Eduardo Poceiro Llovo, whose participation highlighted the close relationship between the competition and local creators seeking new languages in non-professional cinema. Furthermore, there was a notable leap in the quality of the films presented, which, for the first time, were entirely sound films. Under the protection of the Casino, the event coincided with a moment of institutional openness, managing to attract not only a loyal audience that filled the sessions but also the interest of the regional press, which already regarded this “Film Week” as an essential showcase for the burgeoning audiovisual talent from all over Galicia.

Program

AWARDS

Gold Film
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Silver Film
Viaje a Londres, by Constantino Silva Fernández

Bronze Film
Romería da morte, by A. Estévez Piña

Special Mentions

Audience Award
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Press Award
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Best Dramatic Storyline
A fala do muiño mudo, by Carlos López Piñeiro

Best Documentation and Historical and Cultural Research
Cumbres del monte de Santa Tecla, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Other Mentions

Best Direction
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Jesús Méndez

Best Photography (Ex-aequo)
Viaje a Londres, by Constantino Silva Fernández
Cumbres del monte de Santa Tecla, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Best Recording
Es historia, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Best Film Direction
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Best Editing
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Best Screenplay
O mexilón, prosperidade ou decadencia de Arousa, by Xesús Méndez

Best Local Theme
Vilaxoán pobo D’Arousa, by Benjamín Rey Fernández

Best Galician Theme
A rapa das bestas, by Benjamín Rey Fernández

Best Galician Theme
A rapa das bestas, by Benjamín Rey Fernández
Romería da morte, by A. Estévez Piña

IMAGES

3rd Edition

The 1975 edition represented a decisive step toward the festival’s integration into the social life of the town by opening up, for the first time, to the direct participation of local amateurs. This third installment not only served to gauge the creative pulse of Vilagarcía’s filmmakers but also strengthened the contest’s link with its immediate surroundings, consolidating the Casino as a center of cultural effervescence where residents transitioned from being mere spectators to becoming protagonists of their own stories on Super-8.

AWARDS

• Arte rupestre, by Rafael Sabugueiro
• La bandera, by Jesús González
• Yo, el berberecho, by A. Neira
• Fantasía, by Rafael Sabugueiro
• Viaje a Italia, by C. Silva
• Ribeira sagrada del Lérez, by Rafael Sabugueiro
• Rosalía de Castro, by R. Varela
• París, by R. Varela
• Lázaro y el ciego, by Jesús González

Special Mentions for Best Silent Films

• Galicia Monumental, by J. García
• Excursión a tres islas, by C. Silva
• Flor y arte, by J. García

IMAGES

2nd Edition

In its second edition, held in 1974, the Amateur Film Contest reaffirmed itself as an initiative of great internal significance for the Casino de Vilagarcía, while still maintaining the restriction of exclusive participation for society members. The most significant aspect of this year was the creative momentum generated by the contest, as the vast majority of the films exhibited were produced expressly to compete in the festival, demonstrating the growing enthusiasm among members for cinematographic language.

AWARDS

• Instantáneas americanas, by Ramón Varela
• Una visita al pazo de Oca, by Rafael Sabugueiro
• Ayer, hoy y mañana, by Jesús González
• Lembranzas da miña terra, by Rafael Sabugueiro
• Rapa das bestas, by A. Neira
• Arte en Santiago, by M. Varela
• Villagarcía, ayer y hoy, by C. Silva
• Mosaico deportivo, by J. Méndez
• Un día en el safari, by J. M. Avilés

IMAGES

1st Edition

The festival’s birth in 1973 had a deeply collective and enthusiastic origin, when a group of seven amateur filmmakers, led by Rafael Sabugueiro, proposed to the board of the Casino de Vilagarcía the creation of a space to exhibit their own works. Curiously, Sabugueiro’s father had launched a similar contest in A Coruña, so using its rules and statutes as a starting point, the first Amateur Film Contest was born. An initiative that in its early days had a strictly social and private nature, limiting participation and screenings to the members of the entity. Those first films in Super-8 format, recorded with more passion than resources by the members themselves, laid the foundation for what would eventually become an unmissable event for non-professional cinema throughout Spain and later an international benchmark for fantasy cinema.

AWARDS

Casino Trophy
Vilagarcía, by Rafael Sabugueiro

Navy Cmdr. Trophy
Cortegada, by M. Varela

Sagra Trophy
Vilagarcía, the sea and its patron saint, by Julio García

Garrido Trophy
Vilagarcía and San Roque, by Julio García

Giménez Trophy
Vilagarcía, the sea and its festivities, by R. Varela

Aquaphilia Trophy
Arosa Bay, by A. Granja

City Council Trophy for best film:
Rafael Sabugueiro

Foto Ferrazo Trophy for best direction:
Rafael Sabugueiro

Liceo Marítimo Trophy for best presentation:
Rafael Sabugueiro

La Camelia Trophy
Cherris, by C. Silva

C. A. Vigo Trophy
Trip to the Canary Islands, by T. Varela

Banesto Trophy
Flowers, by Rafael Sabugueiro

B. Bilbao Trophy
The Camellia and the Pearl, by Julio García

R. C. Regatas Trophy
Discovery Regatta, by Julio García

Banco Pastor Trophy
On Four Wheels, by A. Castañeira

Kodak Trophy
Regattas II, by G. Gómez

President’s Trophy
Bermuda Regattas, by J. García Bravo
 

IMAGES