Five years accompanying and celebrating the female voices transforming the cinema of Central America and the Caribbean.
The IFF Panama Foundation’s fund that uplifts, connects, and celebrates the female perspectives reshaping the region’s cinematic landscape.
For five years, Su Mirada has accompanied women filmmakers from Central America and the Caribbean who are redefining the way our stories are told.
More than a fund, it is a community that amplifies women’s voices in the film industry, offering a creative exchange of ideas, and visibility to both established directors and emerging voices finding their path.
Up to 15 projects in development will be selected to take part in the fifth edition of Su Mirada. These projects will be evaluated by a jury composed of distinguished women from the film industry and related disciplines.
The selection will be announced in March, and the winning director will be invited to receive her award during the closing ceremony of the 14th edition of the Panama International Film Festival.
Additionally, the films in post-production will be chosen to be presented during the festival in private screenings before a separate jury of women film professionals.
The selected directors will receive direct feedback, and the winning project will be announced at the festival’s closing ceremony.
The fund provides both financial, reaffirming the IFF Panama Foundation’s commitment to empowering women’s participation across every stage of cinematic creation and production.
GUIDELINES AND TERMS
Su Mirada supports feature films from Central America and the Caribbean in both development and post-production, two key stages where stories take shape and find their way to audiences.
Eligible Countries:
Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and Trinidad & Tobago.
Award:
The fund will grant a total of $15,000, distributed between both categories, aimed at strengthening the presence of women in the industry and projecting new voices to the world.
DEVELOPMENT CATEGORY
Supporting the earliest stages of storytelling that are shaping the new cinema of the region.
Requirements:
Applicants must be women, 25 years or older, and residents of one of the eligible countries.
- Must have directed at least one short film.
- Must complete the online submission form within the application period.
- Must attach a digital dossier (PDF format) in both Spanish and English, including:
- Short biography and photo of the director
- Personal identification document
- Copyright registration of the idea or project
- Short synopsis (max. 100 words)
- Treatment (10–15 pages)
- Director’s statement / letter of intent
- Work plan
The dossier must be submitted in both languages (Spanish and English). Incomplete submissions or those that do not meet the requirements will not be considered.
Terms and Conditions:
The Development Fund winner will have 18 months to complete the script and must provide proof of copyright registration in her country of residence.
Failure to deliver within the established timeframe will result in reimbursement of the awarded funds to the IFF Panama Foundation.
The Latin American premiere of the final work must take place at the Panama International Film Festival, unless pre-existing commitments have been documented.
By submitting, the applicant authorizes the participation of her project in the Su Mirada Fund and guarantees full ownership of the corresponding rights.
POST-PRODUCTION CATEGORY
Supporting the final stretch of films that are finding their definitive voice.
Requirements:
- Applicants must be women, 25 years or older, and residents of one of the eligible countries.
- Must have directed at least one short film.
- Must complete the online submission form within the application period.
- The film must be subtitled in English or Spanish (depending on its original language).
Submissions that do not meet the requirements will not be considered.
Terms and Conditions:
- The Latin American premiere of the winning film must take place at the Panama International Film Festival, unless pre-existing commitments have been documented.
- The project that receives the Post-Production Award cannot apply to Primera Mirada.
- If post-production is not completed within 18 months, the funds must be reimbursed to the IFF Panama Foundation.
- By submitting, the applicant confirms that she has read and accepted these guidelines, requirements, and terms, and authorizes the participation of her film in the Su Mirada Fund.
All films will be evaluated by an international jury composed of three professional women from the film and audiovisual industries.
The jury’s decision will be final and not subject to appeal.
Films may be submitted from November 7, 2025 to January 7, 2026 (11:59 p.m., Panama time).
More Information
For details about eligibility, key dates, and the submission process, please contact:
Follow official updates and announcements on:
@iffpanama
A Gaze with Purpose
The cinema of our region is evolving, and so are the voices that tell its stories.
From Panama, Su Mirada remains a space of empowerment, community, and representation, where stories told by women become an essential part of the cinematic legacy of Central America and the Caribbean.
