Lanzarote talent shines as Animated Short Film heads to Málaga Film Festival

A young producer from Lanzarote is making waves in the Spanish film industry after helping to bring an emotive animated short to one of the country’s most prestigious film events.

Ana Sofía Rodríguez Sutil has played a key role in the journey of El niño de orejas rojas (The Boy with Red Ears), which has been selected for the Málaga Film Festival. The production has earned a spot in the official selection of Navarran productions participating in MAFIZ 2026, the festival’s industry section. As part of this showcase, Navarra Film Industry will host its own dedicated stand within the Industry Hub, providing a platform for the project to reach international buyers and distributors.

The 13-minute short, which is entirely free of dialogue, is the work of director and writer María Lucía Suárez Barbery. This Spanish animation blends the genres of drama and fantasy to weave an intimate and symbolic tale. The story follows a young boy growing up in the forest whose life is turned upside down when he returns home one day to find his mother ill. His subsequent discovery of fire becomes a poignant narrative device, exploring themes of childhood, illness, and the enduring search for hope through a rich tapestry of imagery and sound.