The Weird Market brings its 17th edition to a close with a list of winners that points to the immediate future of the animation sector. A total of 13 IPs, including short films, series, and video games, as well as national and international short films, take home the awards from this market, which also includes the WFest festival. This competition measures itself against other events that double or triple its financial power, says director José Luis Farias, as he demands more support from some institutions in order to keep the event viable and growing. “We’re going to keep fighting for Weird Market wherever we can, because our creators and producers deserve a meeting point in our country.” 

This year, the leading event for animation, video games, and new media has chosen to focus on “intellectual property” rather than genres or formats, as reflected in the winning titles, which showcase the diversity and creative potential of the artists behind them. A case in point is the RTVE-Weird Market Talent Award for Best Animated Short Film Project for Moosika, by Goya winner Víctor Monigote and Esther Yañez. This project delves into the origins of music through the eyes of a young prehistoric woman with half her body paralyzed, who through her experiences discovers the magic of sounds and their power to turn violence into peace. The newly created award has a cash prize of €25,000, an amount that, in this case, will be used entirely to develop the winning short film project and turn it into a feature film or animated series, if so determined by RTVE. 

Another notable award is the Movistar Plus+ Short Film Award, which on this occasion went to Only Rats by Paz del Carre. This Spanish-Portuguese co-production uses the stop-motion technique to immerse viewers in the experiences and reflections of these misunderstood animals in New York City. This award consists of the work’s acquisition by Movistar Plus+ for a sum of €9,000 in broadcasting rights for a period of two years (with an unlimited number of screenings), with the first year being exclusive to said channel. In addition, the short film will premiere at the 2026 or 2027 edition of Weird Market. 

Alongside them, Nuria Mañosa Vázquez was recognized with the Best Young Creator Series Project Award (Annecy-MIFA) for Kipaut Survival Guide. The Catalonian artist thus obtains free registration for the next edition of Annecy-MIFA (MIFA professional registration). 

THREE VIDEO GAME PROJECTS AWARDED BY RTVE

The video games section also has its own awards, which are presented each year by RTVE. In this edition, the RTVE/Fallo de sistema Award for Best Video Game Project went to Numbra, by Hamahiru – DigiPen Bilbao. Meanwhile, Parkoff! by Xabier Olaz won the RTVE/Fallo de sistema Award for Most Innovative Video Game Project. Lastly, Jordi & Oslo: La Cua Perduda by Joveguille received the RTVE/Fallo de sistema Award for the Weird Plus Video Game.

JURY AND AUDIENCE PICK THEIR FAVORITES AT THE WFEST SHORT FILM FESTIVAL 

The WFest short film festival, part of the Weird Market, has also announced its winners. This year, the international jury chose the Jordanian film (co-produced with France) Shadows by Rand Beiruty as the best international short film. According to the jury, this work, already awarded at other major events such as Venice and Annecy, “portrays in a beautiful and compassionate manner the resilience of a woman, like so many others, in the face of violence, loss, and exile.” 

For the European section, the jury made up of Argentina’s Bárbara Cerro, France’s Sylvain Grain, and Armenia’s Vrej Kassournel chose Percebes (Portugal-France) by Alexandra Ramires and Laura Gonçalves for its “poetic essence.” When It Comes (It Will Have Your Eyes) by Izibene Oñederra was the winner of Best National Short Film.

A new award has been created this year: the Jury Award for International Talent for a debut film or short film from an international school, which went to Balconada by Bulgarian director Iva Tokmakchieva.

In addition, two special mentions were awarded, one in the European section for Off-Time by Nata Metlukh and another in the national section for Mater Benefacta by Marc Riba and Anna Solanas.

The Audience Award, which is decided by the viewers’ vote, this year went to Jervasio by Felix Bollain and David Rosel.

The 17th edition of Weird Market is primarily sponsored by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Valencia City Council, Valencia Innovation Capital, with the participation of Acción Cultural Española through the Program for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture (PICE). It also receives support from RTVE, Movistar Plus+, Valencia Game City, HP, Tangram Solutions, the Valencian Institute of Culture attached to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment, BCN Game Fest, DIBOOS, AVEPA, and Animat, among others.