The 29th Málaga Film Festival highlights Spanish and Latin American cinema with its Work-in-Progress (WIP) program held from March 11–13 and the Animation Trends Showcase on March 10.
The WIP program supports films in completing post-production, securing international distribution, and finding financing, while the Animation Trends Showcase presents new examples of Spanish animated films.
The WIP lineup of the Málaga Film Festival includes The Fissure (L’Excletxa) and El Retorno de Júpiter from Spain, as well as Latin American films such as The Guy Across the Street, The Residence, and Cow. Focusing on projects that reflect the diversity of Ibero-American cultures and identities, the program screens films for festival programmers, sales agents, distributors, and fund representatives.
At the Animation Trends Showcase, 10 upcoming Spanish animated films were presented, including:
- Girl and Wolf (Chica y Lobo): A young adult dark fantasy set in a medieval village, seeking international sales.
- The Amalur Prophecy (Amaluz Profezia): An epic fantasy inspired by Basque mythology with strong female leads.
- The Day Ewan McGregor Introduced Me to His Parents: A 2D hand-drawn animation about a 40-year-old woman confronting societal expectations, desire, and motherhood.
- Flamingo Flamenco: A 3D CGI family-comedy about a flamingo regaining confidence through dance.
- A la Fresca: A 2D animation exploring rural depopulation and elderly life.
- Almond Eyes (Ojos de Almendra): A teen romance using abstract and symbolic 2D animation.
- Run, Kuru, Run! (¡Corre, Kuru, corre!): A 3D family animation adapted from children’s books.
The Málaga Film Festival also hosts roundtable discussions on exporting Spanish animation, workshops led by industry professionals, and a special “Golden Talk” by Pixar’s Rodrigo Blaas for animation experts. The event highlights Spanish animation’s range from family-friendly to young adult themes, using 2D, 3D, and hybrid techniques, with an emphasis on cultural identity, strong female leads, and emotional storytelling.
Through both the WIP program and the animation showcase, the Málaga Film Festival aims to boost the national and international visibility of Spanish and Latin American cinema.
