The 2026 CIIF Market Santa Cruz de Tenerife Award goes to the Brazilian project *Perto de Mim, Longe de Tudo*.
The Canary Islands International Film Market (CIIF Market) has awarded the CIIF Market Santa Cruz de Tenerife 2026 Prize to the Brazilian project *Perto de Mim, Longe de Tudo*, from the production company Filmes de Mentira, in recognition of its strong international potential. The award—which includes a €3,000 travel grant to attend an international market of the recipient’s choice—was presented to this feature film, written and directed by Diogo Leite da Silva and produced by Paula Aidar.
The film, whose title translates to *Close to Me, Far from Everything*, tells the story of Geralda, a woman diagnosed with advanced glaucoma that will eventually leave her blind. Faced with this, she decides to fulfill one of her greatest dreams: to experience the Carnival in Rio de Janeiro. Despite her family’s opposition, she uses her savings for the trip, but ends up falling victim to a scam that leaves her alone and stranded. With her vision becoming increasingly limited, she ultimately finds solace in the fact that she was able to live the experience she had so deeply desired.
Two Canarian projects recognized by the Cabildo de Tenerife
The Cabildo de Tenerife Award for the Canarian Project with the Greatest Potential has been awarded *ex aequo* to *Yo Gané*, by The Kung Fu Brothers, and *Harraga*, by Mercedes Ortega. Both projects will receive a complimentary accreditation to attend an international film or audiovisual market.
*Yo Gané*—a dramatic feature film written, directed, and produced by Vasni J. Ramos—is based on a real-life incident of gender-based violence that took place in Spain. The story begins when Miriam, following an argument with her partner, discovers that a knife is embedded in her abdomen. The film thus addresses one of the most harrowing episodes of gender-based violence in the country’s recent history.
Meanwhile, *Harraga*—directed and produced by Mercedes Ortega alongside Ana Sánchez Gijón—is a project of “fictionalized reality” that explores migration among children and young people. Through the stories of three minors from Senegal, Western Sahara, and Morocco who are secretly preparing to leave for Europe, the film combines fictional narratives with real-life testimonies to examine the motivations, decisions, and consequences surrounding migration.
The remaining awards recognize the co-production potential and the quality of the selected projects.
The Puerto Rican project *Agua Brava*, from Canica Films, was the most awarded entry in this edition, receiving three honors: the MAFIZ Award for the best Latin American project with co-production potential, the Cinexis Award for the best Latin American project, and the Con Un Pack International Sales Award, which includes international guidance and representation.
The MAFIZ Award for the best European project went to *La mujer del río*, by Atekaleun (Spain), while Music Library & SFX recognized *Amparo, pero no olvido*, by Treboamedia (Spain), and *Los huecos de la luna*, by Warmi Audiovisual (Peru).
Meanwhile, the Blurr Stories Award has recognized *Empatía*, by Jorge Guimerá (Canary Islands), and *Crespín*, by Tarea Fina (Argentina), with laboratory and post-production services. *Empatía* also received the Vector de Ideas Award for the best European project, sharing this recognition with *Las cosas buenas les pasan a otros*, by 80 Mundos (Argentina), in the Latin American category.
At the Cinexis Awards—which offer a guaranteed commercial screening opportunity—*1615*, by Atlantika Films (Spain), was recognized as the best European project, while *Harraga*, by Mercedes Ortega, was named the best project from the Canary Islands.
The Pelip Award also recognized *1615* as the best Spanish project, *Yo Gané* as the best project from the Canary Islands, and *Hace mucho tiempo que te amo*, by Miranda Films (Cuba), as the best Latin American project. The latter also received a special jury mention for the quality of its proposal.
Finally, the Con Un Pack International Sales Award was presented to the European project *Stella Maris*, from Producciones 24Violets (Spain).
With these awards, CIIF Market concludes an edition that brought together 22 projects from ten countries—seven of them from the Canary Islands—and reinforced Tenerife’s role as a meeting point for the European and Latin American audiovisual industry.
The 22nd edition of CIIF Market has concluded an intensive schedule of activities, featuring over 600 one-on-one meetings between those in charge of the selected projects and professionals from the international audiovisual industry.
The 22nd edition of CIIF Market has concluded an intensive schedule of activities, featuring over 600 one-on-one meetings between those in charge of the selected projects and professionals from the international audiovisual industry.
The market is promoted by Festeam, Communication and Events, and is sponsored by the Tenerife Island Council, through the Area of Culture, Museums and Sports; the Government of the Canary Islands, through the Canary Institute of Cultural Development, Canary Islands Film and PROEXCA; and the Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council, through the Development Society and Macaronesia Films; with the collaboration of Turismo de Tenerife, through the Tenerife Film Commission; and the Canary Islands Audiovisual Cluster, among other entities.
