With Several New Films and a “Nostalgia” Section
WILLEMSTAD - Everything is set for Monday, October 27, 2025, when Curaçao will experience the second edition of the Krioyo Film Festival, an event dedicated to promoting the island’s culture, language, and history.
On Thursday, October 16, the Board of the Krioyo Film Foundation, in the presence of the Film Commissioner of Curaçao, Mrs. Eloise van Wickeren, held a press conference to highlight the importance of films in Papiamentu.
Foundation President Giovanni Atalita stated that the Krioyo Film Festival is “a manifestation of who we are — our culture, our language, our life, and our history.” He emphasized that the festival provides an important platform for local filmmakers to showcase their work and share their stories with the community.
Atalita explained that this year, the festival places special emphasis on the intrinsic value of each film.
“It’s not just entertainment — it’s identity. Every story, every character, every landscape that appears on the screen reflects our Krioyo soul,” he said, noting that no one can tell the island’s story better than its own people.
According to Atalita, “We are a small people with a great spirit. Our culture doesn’t need to be imported — it already exists here, in our words, our rhythm, our colors, our soul. The Krioyo Film Festival 2025 is a celebration of that — a celebration of pride, passion, and creativity.”
He reaffirmed the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that the Krioyo Film Festival continues to grow each year, calling it “a festival here to stay.”
The foundation extended its gratitude to its many partners and sponsors, including:
The Office of the Film Commissioner of Curaçao, Vigilante i Kontentu, Crown Automotives, Flow, Infocus, CPost, Central Bank of Curaçao and St. Maarten, Bon Bini Supermarket, Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports (OWCS), Caribbean Cinemas, Murray Law Office, Cursoft, Curaçao International Airport, Regulatory Authority of Curaçao, All Signs, Aiuto, TeleCuraçao Multi Media, Royal Rentals, Orco Bank, Sambil, and The One and Only.
Chance to Watch All the Films
The Krioyo Film Festival is also giving the public a chance to win two tickets to see all the films. Participants simply need to visit the festival’s social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, or TikTok), like, share, and comment on why they love films in Papiamentu. One lucky winner will receive two passes to watch every film in the festival.
Festival Treasurer and Technical Director Orlando Martina shared that this year’s edition features 18 films, most of which are new releases from 2025, promising an exciting lineup of premieres and local productions.
Film Commissioner Eloise van Wickeren highlighted the growing importance of the Papiamentu film industry and the efforts of the Government of Curaçao to support and strengthen it.
In the coming days, more information will be shared about the featured films that will be screened during the Krioyo Film Festival 2025, taking place at Caribbean Cinemas in Sambil.
