The Alcala de Henares Film Festival, Spain's top short film festival, closed its 30th edition Saturday night in a rousing awards ceremony at the Teatro Cervantes, so named for the town's best-known native son.

Luis Cervero's Taxidermia, a critical and post-modern take on the practice of stuffing animals, won the top prize as well as best editing and best sound nods. Pilar Garcia Elegido's short documentary on AIDS, Positivo, won the second prize, and Victor Fernandez's enigmatic children's short, Hormigas, took home third prize.

Winning films from the parallel feature film section included top prize for Juan Vicente Cordoba's Aunque Tu No Lo Sepas, best actress (Cristina Brondo) and the public's choice award for Lola, Vende Ca, and best script to Eugenia Kleber for Invocacion.

Alcala is considered a breeding ground for new talent in the Spanish film industry. Participants are overwhelmingly under 30, and most are recent film school graduates. Past short film winners include the likes of Mateo Gil, whose first feature Nobody Knows Anybody (Nadie Conoce A Nadie) was backed by Sogecine and Maestranza Films.