Call for entry for the first edition of Impact - a project for Caribbean filmmakers with works-in-progress to receive creative and constructive feedback from a group of specially-selected film professionals from the international industry.
The Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF) – April 14-19, 2026 – in collaboration with the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM), announces the first edition of Impact, a project that offers a unique and privileged space for Caribbean filmmakers with works-in-progress to receive creative and constructive feedback on their projects from a group of specially-selected film professionals from the international industry.
Impact is looking for feature films (fiction or documentary) in any stage of post-production. Projects will be presented in private screenings to participating film professionals with the filmmaker present, thereby offering a unique opportunity for positive feedback and reflection on the projects, their completion, promotion and circulation. CIFF and FICM will invite an international panel of experts – composed of international programmers, film professionals and filmmakers – to analyze each project and establish constructive feedback in dialogue with the filmmakers.
The winning film will be awarded a cash prize of $5,000 USD and an in-kind prize for post-production services. Impact is open to filmmakers from or working in the Caribbean and the Caribbean basin (including coastal Mexico, Central and South America), as well as filmmakers from those countries living or working in the diaspora. Selected films will be presented in-person in Curaçao during the Curaçao International Film Festival, on April 16 and 17, 2026.
PARTICIPATION GUIDELINES
1. Impact is open to filmmakers from or working in the Caribbean and the Caribbean basin (including coastal Mexico, Central and South America), as well as filmmakers from those countries living or working in the diaspora.
2. The duration of the cut should be between 60 and 120 minutes. Works that have been produced exclusively for television, or whose final estimated duration is less than 60 minutes, will not be accepted.
3. The call for entries will close at 00:00 AST (22:00 CST) on February 10, 2026
4. Applicants must complete the submission form* with the complete and correct information about the project. This information will be used for the Festival catalogue, in case the film is selected to participate.
* to request a submission form please write to impactciff@gmail.com
5. A viewing link to the film, along with a correct password (if applicable), must be included in the submission form.
6.Submitted films must have subtitles in English or Spanish, if their spoken language is not English or Spanish.
7. Submitting and participating are free. If the film is selected the filmmaker must be available to travel to Curaçao and present the film on April 16 or 17, 2026. The Festival will cover round-trip travel and 4 nights accommodation in Curaçao.
8. Selected films must include the corresponding mention and logo of the CIFF in their final credits.
9. The selection committee´s decision is final and cannot be appealed. Results will be announced on February 20, 2026.
10. For its presentation during the Curaçao International Film Festival the film must be subtitled in English.
11. Any information not covered by this call for entries will be resolved on a case-by-case basis by the organizing committee.
For more information or to receive the submission form please write to: impactciff@gmail.com
Deadline for sending submission form including viewing link for pre-selection: 00:00 AST (22:00 CST) on February 10, 2026 Results will be announced on: February 20, 2026
Questions? Please send by email to impactciff@gmail.com
