Don Pelayo

Marcelino Díaz Acebal (1992). From a young age, I enjoyed capturing summers in the village and winters at my grandmother's house with cameras and camcorders that gradually entered my life. Alongside my cousin and brother, we delved into cinematography using a camera that could record 30-second clips. We painted frame by frame to create special effects and crafted homemade films, which we later showcased and presented at school after the holidays. At 16 (2008), I made my professional competition debut with the short film "Manillar" at the 46th FICX. Continuing my engineering studies allowed me to connect with professors and students at the Polytechnic School of Engineering in Gijón, leading to the creation of the short film "Haz" in 2016.

Parallel to my professional life, I embarked on a volunteering journey with Erasmus Student Network Oviedo, taking charge of communication and graphic design at local and international events for the next 5 years.

In 2020, amid a challenging family situation exacerbated by the lockdown, a friend who eventually became my partner encouraged me: "Seize this time and dedicate it to all those musical and creative projects in your mind; cheer up!" And so, I created an animation. The story and legend of Don Pelayo in animated form—a creative project that endured for quite some time and has finally come to fruition.