Calling Filmmakers residing in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Suriname or those living or working in the diaspora.
The 12th Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF) is now accepting submissions for the Caribbean Focus section for short and feature films for our 2026 edition, taking place April 14-19 2026.
With your short film submission you are automatically entered to be nominated for the Watapana Award Competition. Following the success of the Caribbean Focus section during CIFF 2025,organizers decided to create a new competition: The Watapana Award Competition is limited to 5 selected participants and accessible only to filmmakers as defined above.
The winner of the Watapana Award Competition will be rewarded with:
● A screening at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico.
● A screening at Film by the Sea Festival in the Netherlands.
● Xcg 5.000,-(First prize).
● Xcg 1.500,-(Runner-up).
Submit your film for FREE.Deadline: December 30th, 2025, 6pm Curaçao time!
Eligibility:
- Short Films: Up to 45 minutes.
- Feature Films:All entries longer than 45 minutes.
- Production Date: Between January 2024 and December 2025
- Subtitles: English and/or Dutch required.
- Genres: Both fiction and non-fiction accepted.
How to Submit:
Simply email us at CIFF2026.submissions@gmail.com with:
- An online viewing link to your film.
- A short synopsis of the film.
- A bio of the filmmaker stating residency and/or family ties with islands/countries
indicated above. - No entry or submission forms needed!
Our selection committee will review all submissions, and you will be notified about the
outcome by February 1, 2026.
There will be no correspondence on the decisions of the selection committee. Preference is given to films premiering at CIFF 2026.
Got Questions?
Feel free to email us at CIFF2026.submissions@gmail.com.
