The Curaçao International Film Festival (CIFF) announces the nominees for the Yellow Robin Award 2026. Established in 2013, this competition provides a platform for emerging filmmakers from the Caribbean and the wider region, including coastal areas of Central and South America, as well as filmmakers from these regions living and working in the diaspora.
For over a decade, the Yellow Robin Award has highlighted new voices in cinema and supported the development and international visibility of promising filmmakers. The 2026 edition marks the 10th time the award is presented, featuring a strong selection of first and second feature films.
The nominees for the Yellow Robin Award 2026 are:
If We Don’t Burn, How Do We Light Up the Night – Kim Torres (Costa Rica)
The Last Meal – Maryse Legagneur (Haiti)
Mad Bills to Pay – Joel Alfonso Vargas (USA)
Monikondee – Tolin Alexander, Lonnie van Brummelen & Siebren de Haan (Suriname)
Olivia and the Clouds – Tomás Pichardo Espaillat (Dominican Republic)
Soul of the Desert – Monica Taboada Tapia (Colombia)
Zion – Nelson Foix (Guadeloupe)
The winner of the Yellow Robin Award will receive a cash prize of USD 8,000. In addition, the winning film will be screened at the Morelia International Film Festival in Mexico and at Film by the Sea in Vlissingen, the Netherlands, further expanding its international reach.
This year’s Yellow Robin Jury is chaired by acclaimed Dutch film director and screenwriter Maria Peters and includes Ailsa Anastatia and Bert Aengenendt, both active in Curaçao’s education, arts, and cultural sectors.
The winner will be announced during the Curaçao International Film Festival, taking place from April 14 to 19, 2026 at The Movies Otrobanda. The award ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 18 at 18:30. Tickets are available at The Movies Otrobanda box office and via www.curacaoiff.com, where the full program can also be found. (CIFF website)
