Elpidio Valdés has barely been in existence for 50 years and even though he is still saddened by the death of his creator, Cuban filmmaker Juan Padrón, he returns today perhaps as never before in Spain.

The mythical mambí fighter of 19th century Cuban wars of independence, precisely against Spanish colonialism, is a well-known figure along with the no less recognized Vampires in Havana and other beauties that were born from Padrón´s hallmark.

'It´s a very great emotion our family feels,' his daughter Silvia Padrón, who was a guest to the fourth edition of the Quirino Awards for Ibero-American Animation in Spain, told to Prensa Latina. She will receive tonight an honorary award in honor to his father (who passed away over a year ago) in San Cristóbal de Tenerife, Canary Islands, where the Quirino Awards event takes place.

The truth is that when they told us that the Quirino Awards were going to pay tribute to my father with an honorary award, it gave us great pleasure because in these hard times of his deaths receiving affection and admiration really give you some kind of comfort, Silvia said.

To another question from Prensa Latina, Silvia Padrón stressed that 'living within the festival itself in Tenerife' is a wonderful experience.

My whole family, my mother, my brother, we are very happy with this recognition and we really appreciate that many doors are opening to carry out new projects, she added.

'For us, it is very important that my father's work does not end with his physical disappearance. It has been so significant for the Cuban culture that we could not leave it in silence,' Silvia stressed.