WILLEMSTAD: Preparations for the twelfth edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival are well underway. In mid December, the call for entries for the Caribbean Focus segment of CIFF 2026 closed. With nearly double the number of submissions compared to the previous edition, the festival describes this as an important and promising development for the local and regional film sector.

The increase is driven by a doubling of submissions from filmmakers living and working in Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Sint Maarten and Suriname, as well as filmmakers from the Caribbean diaspora. According to the organization, this growth shows that more and more creators are finding their way to CIFF as a platform to showcase their work both locally and internationally.

A key factor contributing to the higher number of submissions is the introduction of the Watapana Award. Following the success of Caribbean Focus during CIFF 2025, the organization decided to launch a new competition specifically aimed at local and regional filmmakers and those from the diaspora. With this award, CIFF underscores its ambition to actively support and further develop these filmmakers and emerging talents.

All film submissions within Caribbean Focus are eligible for nomination in the Watapana Award Competition. From these entries, five filmmakers will be selected to participate in the competition. The award offers not only financial support but also international exposure. The winner will receive a cash prize of XCG 5,000 and a screening at the Morelia Film Festival in Mexico and the Film by the Sea Festival in the Netherlands. The special mention will receive a cash prize of XCG 1,500.

According to CIFF, this development aligns seamlessly with the festival’s vision. Caribbean Focus was created to provide a platform for stories from the region and to encourage filmmakers to make their voices heard within an international film landscape. The strong growth in submissions confirms that this approach is effective and that Caribbean film culture is very much in motion. The twelfth edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival will take place from April 14 to April 19, 2026. The selection for Caribbean Focus and the Watapana Award Competition will be announced in the lead up to the festival.