The winners of Semana de Terror Donostia 2026
After several days of films, scares, encounters and emotions, the 37th San Sebastian Horror and Fantasy Film Festival has announced the winners of its 2026 edition. One of the historic festivals of the Méliès International Festivals Federation, San Sebastian is a long-standing reference point for European fantastic cinema and an important meeting place for filmmakers and genre enthusiasts.
And the winner is…
Méliès d’argent Short Film Winner @ Donostia 2026
The winner of the Méliès d’Argent Award for Best European Fantastic Genre Short Film at San Sebastian Horror & Fantasy Film Festival is Insecticida (Insecticide) directed by Paula Gallego (Spain, 2026).
In a dark and lonely chamber, Dasnein is born — a grotesque insect who tries to satisfy his most onanistic instincts through a hypnotic screen that displays the lustful and chaotic world of Panium. As he continues to watch this world, Dasnein becomes increasingly obsessed, until his own obsession ultimately leads to a fatal outcome.
The jury of the International Short Film Competition, composed of Oriol Estrada, Iratxe Fresneda and María Teresa García Mora, awarded the film for its artistic skill in combining different animation styles and disciplines in a cutting critique of our toxic relationship with screens.
The winners of the Méliès d’argent competitions will qualify for the Méliès d’or, the annual award celebrating European fantastic cinema.
Don’t forget to watch the MELIES D’ARGENT Special Programs on our Méliès Fantastic Hub!