TACFEST 2025: SEEK, BLOWBACK, ANGIE, And More Announced Among The Winners Of The Action Film Festival’s Third Edition
5.13 at 9:56am: A previous version of the announcement was updated, courtesy of the festival, to include additional accolades for action director Kenji Tanigaki.
EARLIER: Our own Mike Garcia was on hand alongside the selected jurors for this year’s third edition of the Toledo Action Fest. The festival has announced the Quixote Award winners as of the weekend and I can certainly attest to the merits of a few of these, particularly action shortfilm Angie starring Renée Ortiz, and feature-length entries Blowback and Seek; Those three were about all I had time for so the brunt of the work was largely on Mike who contributed a handy selection of reviews you can currently check out under his byline here.
To that end, I can’t thank enough for Mike and his interest in using Film Combat Syndicate to help extend the festival’s reach and effectively amplifying a spotlight on things out there. It also helps that he actually lives in Spain and he and TACFEST stewards Iván Fernández and filmmaker Nacho Serapio are networked pretty darn well! In the meantime, take a few beats and have a look below at the list of the winners, as well as extensive details about the festival’s fan expo and let’s cheer these victors on as we look toward next year’s fourth edition!
Toledo, May 11, 2025
The third edition of the Toledo Action Fest and its groundbreaking TACEXPO concluded this Saturday with record-breaking attendance, a thrilling lineup, and the highly anticipated QUIXOTE AWARDS 2025 ceremony, which recognized the best in international action cinema. Over three action-packed days of screenings, industry activities, and professional networking, the festival firmly established itself as Europe’s leading showcase for independent action films and martial arts on screen.
This year’s TACFEST featured dozens of screenings from across the globe, including feature films, short films, teasers, and reels from Japan, Argentina, Mexico, the UK, USA, France, South Korea, Norway, Germany, the Czech Republic, and Spain. The festival, now a benchmark in the action genre, concluded with the QUIXOTE AWARDS gala, honoring creativity, technique, and the spirit of the new generation of action heroes.
The award presented by Ronin Cine Asiático in collaboration with the festival, titled the Ronin/Quixote Award for Contribution to the Genre, was given to action choreographer, action director, and filmmaker Kenji Tanigaki. Recently awarded Best Action Choreography for Twilight of the Warriors: Walled In at the Hong Kong Film Awards, Kenji is considered one of the top action choreographers working today, known for his work on all five Rurouni Kenshin films and his long-standing collaboration with his close friend Donnie Yen, acting as his right-hand man. Alongside his video of appreciation, an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip from the film was screened.
On Saturday, May 10, the town of Yuncos hosted the vibrant TACEXPO, a unique event that brought together audiences, filmmakers, martial artists, and stunt professionals. The day was a huge success thanks to a packed program including themed stands, martial arts seminars, stage combat, weapons training, high falls, speed-striking competitions, chanbara duels, demonstrations, and musical kata performances. It was an unprecedented celebration of action, training, and spectacle in Spain.
During the gala, the launch of the upcoming TACFEST LAB 2026 was also announced—a new initiative aimed at developing original action film projects.
QUIXOTE AWARDS 2025 – Full Winners List
- Institutional Recognition Award: Town Council of Illescas (Mayor José Manuel Tofiño and Youth Councillor Sandra Quevedo)
- QUIXOTE HONORARY AWARDS:
- Justo Diéguez, creator of the revolutionary Keysi Fighting Method, used in major Hollywood films like Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Jack Reacher, and Mission: Impossible III. The award was received by his daughter, Jessica Diéguez.
- Juanma Bajo Ulloa, acclaimed Spanish filmmaker who revolutionized national cinema with his iconic and action-driven cult comedy Airbag.
- Best Action Reel: Nunca rendirse, by Fernando Verniere (Spain)
- Best Action Teaser/Trailer: Skyland: Project 0, by Paul Hawk (Spain)
- Best Action Director: Yasuaki Ishii, for SEEK (Japan)
- Best Sound Design: Shigeru Fujibayashi, for SEEK (Japan)
- Best Special Effects: El Anciano Protector, by Alfredo Espinal
- Best Teamwork Award: The Merchant, by Gabriel Campoy and Guillem Lafoz (Spain)
- Best Female Stunt Performer (ex aequo): Eva Torrella and Sheila Quevedo (The Merchant)
- Best Male Stunt Performer: Johnny Buffong (Fighting at 12,000ft, UK)
- Best Action Actor: Kane Kosugi, for SEEK (Japan)
- Best Action Actress:
- Honorable Mention: Ángela Tejedor (El juego de los falsos, by Diana Caro, Spain)
- Main Award: Reneé Ortiz, for Angie, by Ángel G. Brophy (Mexico)
- Best Stunt Coordinator: George Karja (Blowback)
- Best Fight Choreography: Yasuaki Ishii, for SEEK (Japan)
- Best Action Screenplay (Feature): Cristian Tapia Marchiori, for Gatillero (Argentina)
- Best International Short Film: Mala sangre, by Guillermo Ronco (Argentina)
- Best National Short Film:
- Honorable Mention: Refugios, by Kike Prada (Spain)
- RC Service Award (€750): La respuesta de Lope de Vega, by Diana Caro (Spain)
- Best New Director:
- Short Film: Mario Dávila, for Siempre en la mira (Mexico)
- Feature Film: Shane Kosugi, for SEEK (Japan)
- Best Director:
- Short Film: Jandro (Alejandro López García), for Cava (Spain)
- Feature Film: Cristian Tapia Marchiori, for Gatillero (Argentina)
- Best International Feature Film:
- Honorable Mention: Blowback, by Bryan Thomson (USA)
- Main Award: SEEK, by Kansuke Asano (Japan)
- Best National Feature Film (RC Service Award, €1,500): Shavala, by Borja Sánchez (Spain)
The ceremony included an emotional tribute to action professionals who passed away this year, including legends like Richard Norton, the iconic Miguel Pedregosa—honored by the Spanish Film Academy for his work in over 500 productions such as The Mission, Conan, The Wind and the Lion, Rambo III, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—and more recent losses such as Pablo G. Sanz and Carlos Suárez, who died during physical activity and a parachuting stunt, respectively. Their legacy lives on in every punch, kick, and fall.
The gala also featured a special message from Doris Martínez, CEO of Latinocircuit TV, who offered award-winning creators the chance to showcase their films on her free bilingual platform, available in the United States (via Freebie TV, WISP TV, TCL Channel, and soon FLOU TV and Whale TV+), Latin America (TCL Channel and Whale TV+), and Spain (via WeDo TV Europe).
The red carpet dazzled with celebrity appearances including Jandro (from El Hormiguero), actor and performer Pablo Puyol, and actress and host Carolina Bona, among many other familiar faces from the film and TV industry.
Toledo Action Fest reaffirms its commitment to independent action cinema, supporting new talent and promoting professional training in fight choreography, stunt work, and screen combat. The countdown to TACFEST 2026 has officially begun.
More information:
www.toledoactionfest.com
