Listen to the Voices wins Yellow Robin Award 2025 at the Curaçao International Film Festival

Director Maxime Jean-Baptiste (French Guiana) impresses the jury with a powerful and poetic film

WILLEMSTAD, April 13, 2025 — The Curaçao International Film Festival is proud to announce that Listen to the Voices (French Guiana, 2024), directed by Maxime Jean-Baptiste, has been awarded the Yellow Robin Award 2025. This powerful and poetic film stood out for its fluid blend of documentary and fiction, telling a deeply moving story about memory, community, and healing.

The jury praised the film for its sensitive cinematic language and emotional depth. Without ever explicitly showing violence, Listen to the Voices makes the impact of the past tangible through carefully composed visuals, sound, and the central role of music. The result is a work of remarkable artistic cohesion and emotional power.

The Yellow Robin Award comes with a cash prize of USD 6,500, and Listen to the Voices will also be screened at two internationally renowned film festivals: the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico and Film by the Sea in the Netherlands.

A Special Mention was awarded to Lázaro and the Shark (Cuba, 2023) by William Sabourin O’Reilly, which receives a cash prize of USD 1,000. The jury praised the film for its honest portrayal of daily life amid socio-economic challenges, and its heartfelt tribute to resilience, community, and music.

The Yellow Robin Award Competition was launched in 2013 and marked its ninth edition this year. The competition focuses on debut and sophomore feature films by emerging filmmakers from the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the broader diaspora.

The 2025 jury was chaired by Daniela Michel, founder of the Morelia International Film Festival, and also included Ailsa Anastatia and Sinuhe Oomen, both respected figures in Curaçao’s arts and culture sector