MAFIZ bids farewell to international industry

Uruguay and Madrid will be the guests of honour at the 30th edition of the Festival de Málaga

Yesterday, the closing ceremony and awards presentation of MAFIZ took place in the Mena Room of the NH Hotel, hosted by Romina Zace. Juan Antonio Vigar, director of the Festival de Málaga, welcomed attendees, praising the success of this edition for having brought together more than 1,600 professionals from 53 countries. After emphasising that the industry section is “a fundamental pillar for the festival,” he affirmed that “culture is about encounter.”

He then introduced Arianne Benedetti, Deputy Minister of Culture of Panama, who described the experience as the guest of honour at this edition as enriching and one that “gives its professionals the opportunity to grow, to explore other horizons, to understand the system, and to experience cinema at this Festival.” “United by our language and our history, we are stronger,” she concluded.

The Panamanian delegation, which recently signed a co-production agreement with Uruguay, passed the torch as guest country of Latinamerican Focus. Represented at the event by Valentina Prego, executive secretary of ACAU, Vigar promised that “next year we will bring a more temperate climate to showcase the diversity of Latin America, with our cinema, both narrative and documentary,” and highlighted the continued presence of its films at the festival's various editions.

Following this, Vigar announced that Madrid will be the focus of Territories in 2027. Raúl Torquemada, director of the Madrid Film Office, spoke at the event, emphasising the potential of an industry that closed out a record-breaking 2025 with 71 feature films shot in the capital and the strong presence of its cinema at this year's festival. The recognition takes on a special significance due to its symbolic value, since it was precisely within the framework of the Festival de Málaga that the Madrid film office was founded.

Following this, the awards ceremony began, culminating in a performance by a Panamanian carnival group.

MÁLAGA WORK IN PROGRESS

Málaga WIP España - El Impulso

Festival de Málaga Award (Málaga WIP Spain El impulso) valued at 5.000 €.
‘Taranta’, by Samuel Nacar.

Special Mention
‘L’Escletxa’, by Àlex Lora.

Yagán Films Award. Sound postproduction services, valued at 13.000 €.
‘L’Escletxa’, by Àlex Lora

Sideral Award. International distribution valued at 10.000 €.
‘L’Escletxa’, de Àlex Lora

Music Library Acorde Award. Music production and basic music supervision services valued at 1.500 €.
‘Lecho de pasto’, by Carmela Román

Abycine Málaga WIP España - El Impulso Award. direct selection in international industry forums.
‘Lóngquán’, at Adrià Guxens

Cine y Tele Award. Advertising page in the magazine
‘Lecho de pasto’’, by Carmela Román

Málaga WIP Iberoamérica

Festival de Málaga Award (Málaga WIP Iberoamérica), valued at 5.000 €.
‘Pequeñas tragedias’, by Daniel Nolasco (Brazil)

Special Mention:
‘Vacas’, by Brian Jacobs (Peru)

Río Bravo Award. Production of a trailer, promo or teaser valued at 5.000 €.
‘La residencia’, by Mariel García Spooner (Panama)

Chemistry Award. Image postproduction valued at 15.000 USD.
‘Valijero’, by Esteban Trivisonno (Argentina)

Yagán Films Award. Sound postproduction services valued at 13.000 €.
‘La residencia’, by Mariel García Spooner (Panama)

Music Library Award. Music production and basic music supervision services , valued at 1.500 €.
‘La mujer, el diablo y el fuego’, by Aurora Caballero (Mexico)

OnlyPost Award
‘Vacas’, by Brian Jacobs (Perú)

Latamcinema.com Award. Advertising page in the magazine.
‘Meteorito’, by Sebastián Múnera (Colombia)

Festivals committed to selecting a Malaga WIP film are:

Abycine Lanza. Abycine Málaga WIP España El Impulso Award.
‘Lóngquán’, by Adrià Guxens

#LINKRIO. FIDBA Industria
‘Cuscú’, by Risseth Yangüez (Panama)

REC Festival
‘L’Escletxa’, by Àlex Lora

SANFIC Latam
‘La residencia’, by Mariel García Spooner (Panama)

Miami International Festival
‘Vacas’, by Brian Jacobs (Peru)

MÁLAGA FESTIVAL FUND CO-PRODUCTION EVENT (MAFF)

AID Award. Audiences, impact and distribution. Specialized strategic consultancy en valorada en 10.000 €.
‘La caza y la pesca’, by María Victoria Andino (Argentina)

1st Cántico Producciones Award. Up to 10 minutes of original music, valued at 6.400€.
‘Aquí me bajo yo’, by Matias Bize (Chile)

2nd Cántico Producciones Award. Original music and sound postproduction Música for trailer or teaser up to 2 minutes, valued at 3.400 €.
‘El legado de reina’, by Tatiana Salamin (Panama)

3rd Cántico Producciones Award. Production of a teaser teaser, original music and postproduction for a project valued at 3.400 €.
‘Los vivos y los patos’, by José Luis Isoard Arrubarrena (Mexico)

SIDERAL Award, for international distribution valued at 5.000€.
‘Los amigos de mis papas’, by Romina Tamburello (Argentina)

TÉRREA Award. Sustainability plan valued at 2.000 €
‘La hija bastarda’, by Olivia Delcán (Spain)

LH Coach Award (ex aequo). Two ‘pitching’ sessions valoradas en 1.800 USD.
‘Carretera de supervivencia’, by Rodrigo García Chapetón (Guatemala)
‘Los indecentes’, by Jean Michel Cerf (Uruguay)

Music Library Acorde Award. Music production and basic music supervision services valued at 1.500 €

Acorde Music Library (Iberoamerica).
‘Videoclub 2001’, by Guillermo y Javier Polo (Spain)

Acorde Music Library (Latin America).
‘Los amigos de mi papa’, by Romina Tamburello (Argentina)

Acorde Music Library Women Screen Industry.
‘Stella Maris’, by Laura Muñoz Liaño (Spain)

Festivals committed to selecting a MAFF project are:

Bolivia Lab Award. Participation in its production laboratory.
‘Carretera de supervivencia’, by Rodrigo García Chapetón (Guatemala)

ECAM Forum Award. Participation at the 2027 ECAM Forum.
‘La hija bastarda’, by Olivia Delcán (Spain)

SANFIC Award Santiago Lab
‘Los indecentes’, by Jean Michel Cerf (Uruguay)

MÁLAGA SHORT CORNER

RTVE / Málaga Short Corner Talent Award for the Best Fiction Short Film, valued at 15.000 € and its premiere at the Malaga Festival.
‘Mar de noche’, by Pablo Garví

Festhome Award for the Best Short Film, valued at 3.000 € in fees.
‘La fabula de la punki adolescente’, by Juan Vicente Castillejo

Cinelebu Award. Invitation to the CineLebu Festival and its industry market..
‘El sonido de las tijeras’, by María Ríos
‘La isla’, by Ismael Sordo

Lenso Films Award. Audiovisual equipment valued at 2.500 €.
‘La isla’, by Ismael Sordo

Pelayo Gutiérrez Sound Award.Fifteen session of sound postproduction including sound mixing
‘La isla’, by Ismael Sordo

YAQ Distribución Award. Sound postproduction valued at 13.000€
‘Sonámbulos’, by Alfonso and Manuel Bernal

Festivals committed to selecting a Malaga Short Corner film are:

Premio Abycine. Participation at International Markt.
‘Sonámbulos’, by Alfonso and Manuel Bernal

Impulso ECAM Award. Project consultancy
‘Trapitos’, by Matheus Malburg

WARMI LAB

LH Coach. Five sessions of script analysis valued at 7.500 USD.
‘El día de la matanza’, by María José Martín (Spain)

Terrea. Sustainability plan valued at 2.000 €
‘Bronce’, by Augusto de Alba (Spain, Mexico)

MÁLAGA TALENT

Residencia de Cine Extremadura Award. Scholarship for its 4th residendy.
‘Donde duermen las abejas’, by Nika Shukova and Tomás Pichardo (Dominican Republic)

Yolanda Barrasa Script Award. Script consultancy
‘Vainilla’. by Juan González (Colombia)