Special Lost & Found segment featuring lost local and international film, television fragments, paintings, and photos.
WILLEMSTAD, February 4, 2025 – Preparations for the 11th edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF), which will take place from April 9 to 13 this year, are in full swing. This edition promises to be a special festival, in which the organization brings back “lost” local and international art to the big screen in the form of film, television fragments, photos, and paintings.
As part of the Lost & Found segment, a competition has been organized in collaboration with Landhuis Bloemhof among local painters to create their own interpretation of Rembrandt’s missing panel depicting the sense of taste. A documentary short about the winner will be made and screened during CIFF25.
Additionally, the Caribbean Focus program, introduced last year, will again be a permanent part of the festival. This year, a total of 26 submissions were received, from which a selection will be shown during the festival. “It’s remarkable to see that the small yet creative film industry in Curaçao and in the region continues to grow and develop each year,” says Michael Elias, director of CIFF. “The standard of both local and regional entries is high, and there are some real gems among the films that will shine at this year’s festival.”
One of this year’s highlights is a poignant and impressive documentary about the ferry boat—Isidel 1—that disappeared without a trace between Bonaire and Curaçao. Another highlight is the film Kombiná, which was well-attended in the Netherlands, about the renowned architect Lyongo Juliana; it will also be part of this year’s program.
Once again, the festival is collaborating with the Curaçao Youth Orchestra, led by Dennis Aalse. They will perform film music that seamlessly matches world-famous films and international composers.
During CIFF 2025, the Yellow Robin Award will be presented once more. In cooperation with the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico, the organization is currently selecting five films by promising filmmakers from Latin America and the Caribbean, all vying for this prestigious distinction. The winner will have the opportunity to show their film at the 2025 Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and at Film by the Sea 2025 in the Netherlands, and will also receive a cash prize for an educational program or as a contribution toward a new production. Notably, this year Daniela Michel, director of the Morelia Film Festival, will serve on the jury and be present during the 11th edition of CIFF.
Jan Doense, director of the Film by the Sea festival and a specialist in the horror genre, will screen two acclaimed films, accompanied by a masterclass.
As in previous years, the entire production of the festival is in the hands of a local team in Curaçao. The organization and coordination of the various program components is led by Sulin Passial, and local marketing agency Factory360 Marketing handles festival promotion. The final program for the 11th edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival will be announced in mid-March.
For more information about this press release, please contact:
Annet Kooistra – annet@factory360-marketing.com
