ANIMAC PRESENTS THE TWELVE SELECTED PROJECTS OF INCUBATOR 2026

The professional section reinforces its support for creators with the Incubator Prize, worth 2,000 euros

Animac, the International Animation Cinema Show of Catalonia, organized by the Lleida City Council, which will be held in Lleida from February 19 to 22, has selected the twelve projects that will participate in the 2026 edition of Incubator, its professional space dedicated to supporting animation projects in the development, production or post-production phase.

The Incubator 2026 call has received 111 projects from 14 countries, with a significant participation of projects from the Spanish State, Europe and Latin America, a figure that confirms the consolidation of this space as a reference for creators who seek to grow their projects in a professional environment.

At the state level, candidates from Catalonia and the Valencian Community stand out, as well as from the rest of the Spanish State, with projects from communities such as Madrid, Galicia, Andalusia and the Canary Islands. Active since 2013, the Incubator has been characterized by a model of close and pedagogical support, designed especially to provide tools to creators who, in many cases, face their first pitch before professionals in the sector.

According to Carolina López, director of Animac, the selection process places the artistic quality and creative potential of the proposals at the center, but also the desire to offer a real opportunity to emerging talents who have not yet had access to consolidated professional circuits. This support is reinforced with a panel of high-level experts, made up of professionals who usually form part of leading international markets and forums. In this edition, the panel will feature Carlos Grangel, Nora Twomey or Gina Thorstensen, among others.

López highlights that the level of the jury is comparable to that of paid pitching spaces, which makes Incubator an exceptional and accessible opportunity, since participation is free and eliminates economic barriers.

As a novelty for this edition, the twelve selected projects will compete for the Incubator Prize, endowed with 2,000 euros and financed by the Fundació de les Arts de Lleida. The award was born as another step in supporting projects in development, with the aim of reinforcing their viability and offering them a concrete boost at a key moment in the creative process.

The projects selected for Incubator 2026 are:

“4Crims”, directed by Ignasi Tarruella (Quart Produccions and 15L Films); “Max’s great delirium”, creation of Álex Martínez Ruano and Matías Tolsà Montedoro; “Gamusino”, directed by Andrei Simkin; “Mínimas”, creation of Cristina Achaui and Omar Penagos; “The fly on the wall”, directed by Luis Paredes (Inaudita Films, Kabiria Films); “O Laúro”, directed by Giovanna Lopalco (Acariño Films); “Pacífico”, directed by Camila Murúa Solís; “The Agony of Rasu Ñiti”, direction and production by Manuel-Antonio Monteagudo; “Topo y la luz”, directed by María Ramos; “Villa Hermosa”, directed by Patricia Romanov; “Volcano”, directed by Adina Oana Enache, Sara Priorelli and Maria Zilli (Melting Production); and “Who Killed Cock Robin”, directed by Romina Martí O’Toole.

The exhibition has the support of CaixaForum Lleida, the Fundació de les Arts de Lleida, the Ministry of Culture (ICAA), the Provincial Council of Lleida (IEI) and the ICEC of the Department of Culture of the Generalitat of Catalonia.