Awakening Beauty () is a 2025 animated drama film directed by Manuel H. Martín and Amparo Martínez Barco. It tackles violence against women and its red flags.
Plot The plot follows Bella a young woman with a brilliant future who falls for artist Ponce. Moving forward six years, they are married, had children and are living in a luxury residence but, as her "Prince Charming" turns out to be a monster, she is also enduring protracted psychological violence and abuse.
Cast Michelle Jenner as Víctor Clavijo as Ponce
Production Written by Manuel H. Martín and Carmen Jiménez, the screenplay is freely inspired by the real life experiences of , a Sevillian activist against gender violence. The film is a Spanish-American co-production by La Claqueta PC alongside Bella Animación La Película AIE, Tal y Cual, and Miami Film Gate.
Release Awakening Beauty had its world premiere at the 70th Valladolid International Film Festival on 27 October 2025. Distributed by Syldavia Cinema, it was released theatrically in Spain on 28 November 2025.
Reception Salvador Llopart of La Vanguardia rated Awakening Beauty 2 out of 5 stars, deeming it to be, rather than a film, "a pamphlet that is not ashamed to be one".
David Arroyo of MeriStation rated the film 3 out of 5 stars, declaring it a sort of "instruction manual with examples of abuse, consequences, and solutions", albeit a quite comprehensive and well developed one.
Accolades
| || 31st Forqué Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Animation Film || || |- | rowspan = "3" | | 5th Carmen Awards || colspan = "2" | Best Animation Film || || |- | 81st CEC Medals || colspan = "2" | Best Animation Film || || |- | 40th Goya Awards | Colspan = "2" | Best Animated Film || ||
See also List of Spanish films of 2025
References
External links Awakening Beauty at ICAA's Catálogo de Cinespañol