International Film Festival of Panama (IFF Panama)

Overview

The International Film Festival of Panama (IFF Panama) is Panama's premier film festival and one of Central America's most important cinematic events. Founded in 2012 and operated by the IFF Panama Foundation, the festival held its 14th edition from April 9 to 12, 2026, screening approximately 40 films from across Latin America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. The festival is led by Pituka Ortega-Heilbron (President of the Board) and Karla Quintero (Executive Director).

The 14th edition opened with Runa Simi, a documentary from Peruvian director Augusto Zegarra that won the Albert Maysles Award for documentary director at Tribeca. The film follows Fernando Valencia, a radio host from Cusco who dubs The Lion King into Quechua alongside his son. The closing film was Milly, the Queen of Merengue, a bio-musical from the Dominican Republic's Leticia Tonos. The festival screened a post-pandemic record of seven Panamanian films in competition, led by Abner Benaim's Tropical Paradise, a psychological documentary-thriller about a 1994 attack in Panama.

IFF Panama introduced a new international documentary competition in its 14th edition, reflecting the wealth of documentary filmmaking across the region. The festival also presented the Central American premiere of Cannes Un Certain Regard winner The Mysterious Gaze of the Flamingo from Chile, and hosted Guatemala's Jayro Bustamante with his latest film Mountains of Fire, which delves into indigenous issues.

Screening venues include the Teatro Nacional (National Theatre), the Ciudad de las Artes (City of Arts complex, inaugurated in 2025 by Panama's Ministry of Culture), the Museo del Canal (Canal Museum), the Frank Gehry-designed Bio Museum on the Amador Causeway, and the San Miguelito neighborhood for community screenings. The festival plans to celebrate its 15th anniversary in 2027.

Key Sections

• Iberoamerican Portal - competitive section featuring films from Latin America, Spain, and Portugal
• International Portal - international films beyond the Iberoamerican scope
• Perspectiva Panama - Panamanian films in competition. The 2026 edition featured a post-pandemic record of 7 Panamanian films
• Documentary Competition - new international non-fiction competition introduced in the 14th edition (2026)
• Historias de Centroamerica y el Caribe - films from Central America and the Caribbean
• Primera Mirada - post-production fund for Central American and Caribbean feature films, with up to 5 projects selected and up to $15,000 in cash prizes
• Su Mirada - development and post-production fund for women filmmakers from Central America and the Caribbean, with $15,000 total in cash prizes
• Documental Panama - Panamanian documentary competition, celebrating its 6th edition in 2026
• Open-Air Screenings - free community screenings at the Bio Museum and in San Miguelito

Industry Programs and Funds

IFF Panama operates two industry funds that provide direct financial support to filmmakers from Central America and the Caribbean:

Primera Mirada (First Look):

• Supports feature films from Central America and the Caribbean in post-production
• Up to 5 projects selected per edition
• Cash prize: up to $15,000, distributed at the jury's discretion
• Eligible countries: Antigua, Aruba, Barbados, Belize, Costa Rica, Cuba, El Salvador, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago
• Requirements: minimum 60-minute first cut, subtitled in English or Spanish
• Latin American premiere of the winning film must take place at IFF Panama
• Submissions for the 14th edition were accepted October 22 to December 22, 2025
• 2026 winner: Jeissy Trompiz Albornoz (Dominican Republic) for The Language of Water
• Contact: industria@iffpanama.org

Su Mirada (Her Gaze):

• Supports feature films from Central America and the Caribbean by women filmmakers, in both development and post-production
• Up to 15 projects selected for the development category
• Cash prize: $15,000 total, split between development ($5,000) and post-production ($10,000)
• Supported by the Inter-American Development Bank (BID)
• Requirements: women filmmakers aged 25+, residents of eligible countries, must have directed at least one short film
• Submissions for the 5th edition were accepted November 7, 2025 to January 7, 2026
• 2026 winners: Sofia Quiros Ubeda (Costa Rica) for Madre Pajaro (post-production), Laura Garcia Cordon (Guatemala) for Torre de Papel (development)

What Filmmakers Should Know

IFF Panama is the most important festival platform for Central American and Caribbean filmmakers seeking both exposure and financial support. The Primera Mirada and Su Mirada funds provide direct cash awards that can complete a film's post-production. Past Primera Mirada recipients have gone on to screen at Berlinale, Rotterdam, Guadalajara, and IDFA Amsterdam, including Ana Elena Tejera (Panama), Ariel Escalante (Costa Rica), Johanné Gómez Terrero (Dominican Republic), and Nelson Carlo De Los Santos (Dominican Republic).

For international filmmakers, IFF Panama offers access to the Central American market and networking with Latin American industry professionals. The festival's 4-day format is compact but densely programmed, with screenings, industry events, and the Primera Mirada and Su Mirada pitch sessions taking place concurrently. The festival's location in Panama City, a major international banking and commerce hub connecting North and South America, gives it a crossroads character that attracts attendees from both hemispheres.

The Audience Award, sponsored by Copa Airlines, is the festival's most visible prize. The 2026 winner was Tropical Paradise by Abner Benaim, a Panamanian filmmaker who previously represented Panama three times at the Oscars, including the shortlisted Plaza Catedral. The new Best Documentary Award was introduced in 2026, with the inaugural winner being Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Sepideh Farsi.

The IFF Panama Foundation aims to function as a kind of Sundance Institute for the region, nurturing new projects and filmmakers. The foundation's long-term goal includes contributing to Panama's cultural development through year-round programming, not just the annual festival.

Major Awards

• Copa Airlines Audience Award for Best Film - voted by festival audiences. 2026 winner: Tropical Paradise by Abner Benaim (Panama)
• Best Documentary - new award introduced in the 14th edition (2026). 2026 winner: Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk by Sepideh Farsi
• Primera Mirada Award - up to $15,000 cash prize for post-production. 2026 winner: Jeissy Trompiz Albornoz (Dominican Republic) for The Language of Water
• Su Mirada Post-Production Award - $10,000 cash prize. 2026 winner: Sofia Quiros Ubeda (Costa Rica) for Madre Pajaro
• Su Mirada Development Award - $5,000 cash prize. 2026 winner: Laura Garcia Cordon (Guatemala) for Torre de Papel
• Documental Panama Awards - 6th edition in 2026. Winners: El Arrabal by Luis Trujillo, Gloria Herrera, and Maria Neyla Santamaria; Que suenen los timbales! by Jaime Abrahams and Harry Oglivie; San Antonio by Xochitl Vergara and Omar Calvo

Festival History

IFF Panama was founded in 2012 by Pituka Ortega-Heilbron, who continues to lead the festival's foundation as President of the Board. The festival was established to provide Panama with a dedicated international cinema platform, leveraging the country's unique geographic position as the crossroads of the Americas.

Over 14 editions, the festival has grown from a small regional event to a recognized platform in the Latin American festival circuit. The introduction of the Primera Mirada fund seven years ago marked a shift from purely exhibition-based programming to active industry support. The fund has helped launch careers that now shine at major international festivals.

The 2026 edition marked several milestones: the introduction of the international documentary competition, a post-pandemic record of 7 Panamanian films in competition, and the move to the new Ciudad de las Artes complex as a primary venue. The festival's 15th anniversary in 2027 is positioned as a major milestone, with the foundation planning expanded programming and an enhanced visual identity developed by graphic artist Mariana Nuñez.

IFF Panama has survived significant challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in government cultural policy. Ortega-Heilbron stated at the 2026 opening: "We're here to stay, thanks to the strong support we've received from local and international filmmakers, the festival is no longer optional; it's essential."

See Also

To calculate the return on your festival submission spending, use the Festival ROI Calculator. For Central American cinema markets, see International Film Markets. For festival circuit planning, see Film Festival Strategy. For Primera Mirada and Su Mirada fund details and eligibility, visit iffpanama.ong/en/your-industry.