WILLEMSTAD – The 11th edition of the Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF), held from Wednesday to Sunday at The Movies Otrobanda, drew a record number of visitors and featured multiple sold-out screenings. Organizers are calling this year’s festival a resounding success and have announced several exciting changes for the 2026 edition.
Particularly popular with audiences were the Caribbean Focus Selection and the newly introduced Lost & Found segment, which included multiple screenings of Lanta Para Watapana, a rediscovered 1974 Curaçaoan film by Wilbert Tecla. The film explores topics like deforestation and soil erosion—issues that remain highly relevant today.
Extra Festival Day and New Award
Nearly 70 films were screened over the course of five days. In response to the high turnout, the festival will add an extra day in 2026 to allow for more screenings and better-spaced showtimes.
A new competition will also be introduced, specifically for filmmakers from the Caribbean parts of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Suriname. The Watapana Award, named after the resilient native divi-divi tree, will honor Wilbert Tecla, considered one of Curaçao’s pioneering environmental filmmakers.
The new award, like the existing Yellow Robin Award, will include a cash prize and participation in international festivals in Mexico and the Netherlands. The Yellow Robin Award will also expand its reach, increasing the number of nominees from five to seven, with entries from across the Caribbean, Central, and South America.
Lost & Found Returns in 2026
The much-acclaimed Lost & Found segment will return in 2026. Organizers are inviting the public to help uncover forgotten films and artistic works deserving of a renewed spotlight.
Details about submission guidelines and selection criteria for the new competition will be announced in late August or early September.