Oscar®-qualified Cafuné by Lorena Ares & Carlos F. de Vigo on Animation’s Human Power

Los Angeles, CA (September 18, 2025). CAFUNÈ, the latest work from award-winning directors and producer Carlos F. de Vigo and Lorena Ares. It is an emotionally powerful animated short exploring the enduring effects of trauma on refugee children. Inspired by a comic by a Spanish artist.

Logline: The story follows Alma, a young girl haunted by the memory of a shipwreck. In which she was the sole survivor. When her doll falls into a swimming pool, it mirrors her past tragedy. She is forced to relive her pain. Until a saviour helps her begin the journey of healing and rebuilding her life.

Deeply human and visually striking, CAFUNÈ has resonated with audiences worldwide. The film has been selected at more than 170 official international festivals. It is a recipent of dozens of awards, including the Goya Award, the highest honor in Spanish cinema. As well as a special recognition from Amnesty International. Who praised the film’s sensitivity in portraying the human cost of displacement and survival. It holds a universal message of resilience. It presents a delicate portrayal of childhood trauma. The film is now Oscar®-qualified, placing it among the year’s most important animated shorts.

The Official Trailer for Cafuné Directed by Lorena Ares & Carlos F. de Vigo

Co-directors Carlos F. de Vigo and Lorena Ares bring over 20 years of experience in animation and video games, with a creative partnership defined by bold artistic vision and social critique. Their previous short, It Dawns the Longest Night(2022), was Goya-nominated and won the Biznaga de Plata at the Málaga Film Festival. Individually, Carlos directed the acclaimed feature Memoirs of a Man in Pajamas (2017) and several successful video games for Sony and Nintendo, while Lorena directed the fantasy-adventure feature Hanna and the Monsters. Both have been nominated by the Spanish Film Academy for their debut features.

Adding to the film’s creative force is Carlos Grangel, celebrated character designer behind iconic films such as Corpse Bride, Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, Madagascar, and Hotel Transylvania. His distinctive contribution enriches CAFUNÈ’s haunting yet tender visual world, elevating Alma’s story into something at once intimate and universal.

CAFUNÈ is produced by an accomplished, award-winning team including directors Carlos F. de Vigo and Lorena Aresthemselves, alongside Sergy Moreno, founder of White Leaf Producciones (Josefina, Can’t Say Goodbye), Damián Perea Lezcano, founder of Animayo International Festival and Goya-winning producer with over 26 years in animation, and Mintxo Díaz, a Goya-winning producer with 15+ years of experience (Maus, Shooting for Mirza, Rebelled).

With CAFUNÈ, this powerhouse team delivers a work of profound artistic sensitivity that is capturing the attention of audiences, juries, and critics worldwide, positioning the film as a significant contender on the road to the Academy Awards®.

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