In 2017 the Ministry of Economic Development (MEO) appointed the first Film Commissioner for Curaçao. This development was a result of pressures from the film sector itself, after the successful production of the feature films ‘Tula: The Revolt’ and ‘Double Play’.

The Curaçao Film Office (CFO) was tasked with the development of a film policy for Curaçao that would spearhead the growth and development of the film infrastructure in Curaçao.

2025 marks the 8th year of operations for the CFO and since then there has been a significant growth in the number of audiovisual productions on the Island. Some of the significant accomplishments are:

• Access to the Dutch Film Fund for local filmmakers
• A special Studio Caribe program under the Dutch Film Fund
• The winning of a Golden Calf (The Dutch Oscar) for ‘Bulado’, a film produced in Curaçao.
• The attraction of Programs like ‘Top Chef’ and ‘House Hunters’ from the US, ‘Caldeirao Com Mion’ from Brazil and ‘Das Traumschiff’ from Germany
• The birth of a new local film festival called ‘Krioyo Film Festival’
• The partnership with Paramount Pictures Storytellers Lab who adopted 2 ambassadors from Curaçao this year
• The success of the 48 Hour Film Project
• The confirmation that the Co-production Treaty between Canada and the Netherlands applies to Curaçao territory as well

Other than that, the CFO is working on a Film Incentive which is an al spend incentive of 26% of locally incurred costs. This incentive is a must to be able to attract the larger US and Canadian productions that rely on this incentive for location shoots. This incentive is currently at the Judicial Department of the government for a legal check, after that the policy will be ready to be presented in Parliament with the goal to have the incentive approved and implemented by January 2026.

Next to the film incentive that focusses on the attraction of foreign production, the CFO is also working on a local film fund to stimulate the production of local short films. This will be a small fund for the development, production and distribution of local short films.

Miss Eloise van Wickeren was born and raised on the Island of Curaçao and after receiving her Master of Arts from the University of Amsterdam, she moved back to her Island to apply her skills there. She has had extensive experience in filmmaking on the Island, writing and directing several documentaries and short films, but also doing location management for both feature films shot on the Island,’ Tula: The Revolt’ and ‘Double Play’. She speaks 4 languages like many people in Curaçao and knows the Island by heart.

Her experience makes her the right person for this job and she is determined to make a difference for her community.