Figures of the 17th Weird Market position it as the reference market for animation and video games
Skwigly
The 17th edition of Weird Market positioned the event as the leading market for animation, video games and new media in Spain, with impressive figures such as 420 registered participants and a total of 630 requested meetings during its 2025 version in Valencia. These numbers show the relevance of the event, which in addition featured 173 selected projects and 30 short films in competition at its WFest program.
The figures show that we are addressing a need in the industry, and also that it entails a huge effort to put on a new edition of this magnitude every year. An event like Weird involves very high costs, and we have been working for years to ensure that the financial factor is not a limitation and that the Market is accessible to everyone. It is important that the sector continues to have a place to meet and generate synergies.
-José Luis Farias (Director, Weird Market)
Between September 30 and October 5, Valencia became the focal point for hundreds of professionals who participated in presentations, talks, B2B meetings, a recruitment day, and screenings. The 2025 edition was marked by a change in focus that has placed emphasis on intellectual property, beyond genres or formats. Says Farias:
We have a great creative potential that in recent years has been showing its muscle internationally. Talent is there, and that is helping to overcome any barriers or prejudices. What really matters are the ideas and how they are developed.
After 17 years of experience, Weird Market is a meeting point, a place for decision-making, and a talent scout where market trends and dynamics are anticipated.
One of the highlights of this edition was the roundtable discussion entitled “The Future of Spanish Animation,” a professional meeting organized by DIBOOS that was attended by representatives from the President’s Office, ICEX, CDTi, Spain Audiovisual HUB, SEDIA, the Ministry of Culture, ICAA, and RTVE. The meeting sought to draw up a medium- and long-term plan through connections and strategies with common objectives for the industry.
This year, the Spanish Federation of Animation and Visual Effects Producers (DIBOOS) chose this event to present the “Honorary Diboos Award,” which this year went to director Enrique Gato, creator of one of the highest-grossing film series in Spanish cinema: Tadeo Jones.
34,000 EUROS IN PRIZES AND 13 IPs AWARDED
The event also awarded prizes worth 34,000 euros, with 13 IPs standing out among short films and short film projects, series, and video games. One of the biggest developments in this area was the presentation of the first RTVE-Weird Market Talent Award for Best Animated Short Film Project, valued at 25,000 euros thanks to the support of the public broadcaster. The work that inaugurated this section was Moosika by Víctor Monigote and Esther Yañez.
In this same category, the Movistar Plus+ Short Project Award went to Only Rats by Paz del Carre, the Best Young Creator Series Project Award (Annecy-MIFA) went to Kipaut Survival Guide by Nuria Mañosa Vázquez, and another new addition, the International Talent Jury Award for a debut film or international school short film, went to Balconada by Bulgarian director Iva Tokmakchieva.
In the video games category, the RTVE/Fallo de Sistema Awards went to Numbra (Best Video Game Project), Parkoff! (Most Innovative Video Game), and Jordi & Oslo: La Cua Perduda (Weird Plus Video Game).
Meanwhile, the winners of WFest were Shadows, Percebes and When it comes (it will have your eyes) which were selected by the jury, and Jervasio, the audience’s pick.
The 17th edition of Weird Market is primarily sponsored by Creative Europe MEDIA, the Valencia City Council and Valencia Innovation Capital, with the participation of Acción Cultural Española through the Program for the Internationalization of Spanish Culture (PICE). It is also supported by RTVE, Movistar Plus+, Valencia Game City, HP, Tangram Solutions, the Valencian Institute of Culture attached to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Universities and Employment, BCN Game Fest, DIBOOS, AVEPA, and Animat among others.