Queer stories, visibility and talent make their way into the ninth edition of the awards
Diversity is not a passing trend. It is a necessity, a requirement, and in the world of cinema, also an achievement. This 2025, the Premios Fugaz, considered the most relevant recognitions for short films in Spain, put the focus on narratives that until not so long ago were invisible. Stories that represent – honestly, sensitively and without stereotypes – LGTBIQ+ people.
“Violets” and “Cholera”: visibility in different times
Among the most recognized works this year, stand out Violetas and Cólera, two short films that not only move with their narrative, but also claim queer identities and experiences.
Violetas, directed by Borja Escribano, has obtained four technical nominations: Best Cinematography (Mario López), Art Direction (Lucía Meca), Costumes (Alba Martínez Villamor) and Makeup and Hairstyling (Escribano himself). But beyond the technical, what really moves is its story: set in 1945, in the midst of Franco’s dictatorship, the short tells the forbidden link between Juan, a university assistant, and Manuel, a young man whose very existence challenges the regime of the time.
For its part, Cólera, by José Luis Lázaro, has been nominated for Best New Director. In this case, the story is set in a more contemporary context: Guillem and Nico share a day at the beach, one of those afternoons that promise eternity, until an unexpected turn puts their relationship to the test. A story that speaks of love, but also of fears, doubts and courage.
Beyond the awards: Is the story changing?
LGTBIQ+ representation in Spanish cinema has evolved, but there is still some way to go. This year’s nominations for the Fugaz invite us to reflect: Are we witnessing a real change in the way our stories are told? Or do we continue celebrating exceptions in a panorama where the norm still excludes?
The truth is that both Violetas and Cólera are committed to careful narratives, without caricatures, where the LGTBIQ+ is not a superficial addition, but the emotional core of the story.
The big night of the Spanish short film
The presentation gala of the Fugaz 2025 Awards will take place on June 25, in Room 25 of the Kinepolis Ciudad de la Imagen cinemas (Madrid), with capacity for a thousand people. A meeting that promises to be a celebration of emerging talent, creativity, and also—why not—inclusion.
This year, more than 600 short films were evaluated by a commission of 1,600 professionals from the sector. In addition, the organization has incorporated two new categories: Best Hispanic American Short Film and Best School Short Film, thus expanding the scope and diversity of the contest.
Key supports and a more plural future
Behind the Fugaz Awards there is a network of support that includes entities such as Kinépolis, Madrid Film Institute, The Core School, Menorca Doc Fest, Welab, and Filmin, among many others. Institutions such as Movistar+ and the Universidad Complutense de Madrid also collaborate, consolidating these awards as the greatest showcase for Spanish short films.
But the real support is in the public. Those who see these stories are moved, recognize themselves or discover realities that were foreign to them. Because in the end, cinema also serves that purpose: to open your eyes, your heart… and perhaps, change the world.
