New ‘Watapana Award’ to Honor Caribbean Filmmakers, Spotlight on Local Volunteer Organizations 

WILLEMSTAD – The 12th edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF) will take place from Tuesday, April 14 to Sunday, April 19, 2026 at The Movies Otrobanda. Due to growing interest in regional film talent and the expansion of its programming, the festival is adding an extra day and introducing a new award that will give Caribbean stories and filmmakers a powerful platform. 

The newly launched Watapana Award, part of the Caribbean Focus segment, is intended for filmmakers from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Suriname. The award is named in honor of Curaçaoan filmmaker Wilbert Tecla, who addressed urgent environmental themes in his 1970s short film Lanta Para Watapana, inspired by the poem of the same name by Henri Habibe. The Watapana tree, a symbol of strength and resilience, serves as the inspiration for the award’s name. 

The Watapana Award includes a cash prize and international exposure through participation in both the Morelia International Film Festival (Mexico) and Film by the Sea (Netherlands), similar to the well-known Yellow Robin Award. Competition guidelines and submission details will be published in late August or early September on the official website: www.curacaoiff.com. 

As part of its local impact, CIFF’26 will also pair young filmmakers with selected Curaçao-based volunteer organizations working in Health, Education, Nature, and Sports, in collaboration with Curaçao Cares. Cultural organizations will also be involved, with festivalgoers and partners invited to help select one organization in this category to be placed in the spotlight. All short films resulting from these collaborations will be screened during the festival. 

With the expansion of the Yellow Robin Award—increasing the number of nominees from the Caribbean, Central, and South America from five to seven—and the launch of the Watapana Award, CIFF’26 reinforces its mission to amplify regional voices and connect people through film.