The Insularia International Film Festival – Islands of the World Network concluded its tenth edition with a gala held on Sunday, October 11, at the Asabanos Cultural Center in Valverde, on the island of El Hierro. The event once again focused on cinema produced in island territories from all over the planet, a hallmark of the festival since its inception.
The significance of this edition lies not only in its anniversary status but also in the geographic diversity of the participating works, coming from places as disparate as Chile, Scotland, Cuba, Australia, Reunion Island, and the Balearic Islands, within the Panorama competitive section.
You Land, winner of the first Jury Prize
The first Jury Prize went to You Land, a work directed by Debora Maité. The jury highlighted the technical and artistic care of the short film, as well as the sensitivity with which it addresses current issues such as mental health, caregiving, and the construction of identity on social media.
Special mention for Dodo
The festival also awarded a Special Mention to Dodo, directed by Lorris Coulon. The jury valued that the work moves away from conventional narrative registers to address, with an agile and original tone, issues such as colonialism, environmentalism, and bullying.
Other awards of the tenth edition
The second Isla Verde Prize went to Their Accounts, by Hannah Hunters, recognized for its experimental approach to the tensions generated by tourism in island territories, especially in relation to access to housing.
On the other hand, in collaboration with the Fundación Canaria Diario de Avisos, Insularia presented the Ínsula Prize to the Asociación Cultural y Etnográfica Sabinosa un Sentimiento, for its work in safeguarding and disseminating the cultural heritage of El Hierro, in recognition of its role as a repository of local collective memory.
Closing with the BAFTA Shorts 2026
Following the awards ceremony, the gala concluded with the screening of the BAFTA Shorts 2026 program, the result of the ongoing collaboration between Insularia and the British Council. The session was presented by Cristina Ward, Head of Arts at the British Council in Spain.
Among the titles exhibited, recognized or nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, were the animated short films Cardboard, Solstice, and Two Black Boys in Paradise, along with Magid / Zafar, Nostalgie, Terence, This Is Endometriosis, and Welcome Home Freckles.
The festival continues its tour through the Canary Islands
With this event in Valverde, Insularia ends its screenings at the main venue in El Hierro, but its activity does not conclude. The festival will now begin its traditional tour through other islands of the Canary archipelago.
In the coming weeks, the programming for this tenth edition will move to cultural spaces and outdoor venues in La Gomera, La Graciosa, La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura, in line with the festival's commitment to cultural decentralization and the dissemination of international island cinema.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Insularia Festival?
It is the Insularia International Film Festival – Islands of the World Network, a festival focused on the exhibition of cinema produced in island territories around the world, with its main headquarters in El Hierro.
Which short film won the first prize in 2026?
The first Jury Prize went to You Land, directed by Debora Maité, for its technical and artistic quality and its treatment of issues such as mental health and digital identity.
Which countries were represented in the Panorama section?
The Panorama competitive section included works from Chile, Scotland, Cuba, Australia, Reunion Island, and the Balearic Islands.
What is the Ínsula Prize and who received it this year?
It is an award presented together with the Fundación Canaria Diario de Avisos to entities that preserve island cultural heritage. In this edition, it was awarded to the Asociación Cultural y Etnográfica Sabinosa un Sentimiento, from El Hierro.
What is the relationship between Insularia and the BAFTAs?
The festival regularly collaborates with the British Council to screen the BAFTA Shorts program, which brings together short films recognized or nominated by the British Academy of Film and Television Arts.
Where can the programming be seen after the closing in El Hierro?
The programming for this tenth edition will travel in the coming weeks to La Gomera, La Graciosa, La Palma, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura.
