In early December, I traveled to the Spanish province of Palencia to join the Press Jury at the Aguilar Short Film Festival, where the International Competition revealed a remarkable diversity of voices, forms, and cinematic ambitions. Among many strong contenders, the Press Jury ultimately distinguished three films that stood out as genuine cinematic gems.
A carefully curate program
Every December, the picturesque medieval town of Aguilar de Campoo transforms into a true Spanish mecca of short films. Now celebrating its 37th edition, the Aguilar Short Film Festival is one of the country’s longest-running events dedicated to the short format. Its carefully curated program brings together award-winning films from major international festivals alongside lesser-known discoveries, including local productions. Beyond screenings, the festival extends into industry events and MiniAguilar, a parallel program dedicated to young audiences. With awards spanning directing, screenwriting, acting, cinematography, editing, and production design, Aguilar remains deeply committed to recognizing cinema in all its creative dimensions.
The Press Jury awarded a Special Mention for Best Animation to Shoes and Hooves (Cipők és paták, Viktória Traub, 2024). This visually striking animated short constructs a vibrant universe populated by hybrid creatures, distinguished by a bold and instantly recognizable artistic style. At its core, the film unfolds as a metaphor for identity, desire, and self-acceptance. Following the romantic misadventures of a centaur girl in a world of diversely shaped beings, the narrative gently explores difference—not as an obstacle to be erased, but as a defining condition of existence. The film invites empathy while acknowledging that compromise is not always possible, reminding us that difference carries both beauty and risk.
The second Special Mention went to Un piso estupendo (co-directed by Camila de Lucas Gabriela, Isabel Gómez de Arteche Núñez, Alejandra Llorens Andrés, Jaime Marqués Cordero, Daniel Pérez Valderrama, 2024), a hybrid short that skillfully blends fiction, documentary observation, and performative realism. Using a minimalistic visual approach and subtle humor, the film tackles the urgent and globally resonant issue of the housing crisis. Set almost entirely within the confines of a property viewing, the short places viewers in the uncomfortable position of witnessing a real estate agent enthusiastically presenting a ridiculously small apartment —gradually revealed as part of an elaborate scam. The film’s restrained aesthetic enhances its impact, underlining how housing speculation erodes dignity while masquerading as normality. Beyond its political urgency, Un piso estupendo also reaffirms the short format as an ideal space for formal experimentation and concise yet powerful storytelling.
The satirical spirit of Voltaire
The Press Jury Prize was awarded to Loynes (Dorian Jespers, 2024), undoubtedly the most accomplished directorial work in the competition. This brilliant short first premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight (Quinzaine des Cinéastes), a side section of the Cannes Film Festival. Set in 19th-century Liverpool, this courtroom drama revolves around the trial of a corpse with no name, no history, and no voice. Within a tight 25-minute runtime, Jespers constructs a cinematic world that stretches far beyond conventional narrative boundaries. Through precise casting, an intricate visual language, and a bold improvisational texture, the film unfolds as an experience rather than a story to be summarized. Echoing the satirical spirit of Voltaire—particularly Candide—Loynes fluidly shifts between philosophical parable, picaresque narrative, and moments of pure Kafkaesque absurdity.
From fiction and documentary to animation, hybrid forms, and even AI-generated shorts, the Aguilar Short Film Festival continues to challenge audiences to think, laugh, empathize, and rediscover the endless possibilities of short cinema. In doing so, the festival not only celebrates cinematic craft but also reinforces the power of short films to help us see the world—and each other—from new perspectives.
No one has posted any comments yet. Be the first person!