The II Curta Pico Prize has attracted notable international interest, receiving 27 original film proposals from creators in the Azores, mainland Portugal, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and Spain.
Organized by MiratecArts, the competition is a way to strengthen the Azorean audiovisual industry while promoting Pico internationally. The winning project, to be announced during the 13th Montanha Pico Festival in January 2027, will receive up to €10,000 in production support and be co-produced locally.
The competion encourages audiovisual projects inspired by Pico Island’s volcanic landscapes, culture, and heritage. According to Artistic Director Terry Costa, nearly 70% of submissions came from outside the Azores, reflecting Pico’s growing recognition as an international source of cinematic inspiration.
Following an anonymous evaluation by a local jury, 19 projects advanced to the second phase, where participants have 70 days to develop complete production proposals, including scripts, budgets, casting, and production plans.
MiratecArts‘ signature initiative, the Curta Pico initiative, is an annual short-film project and competition that encourages filmmakers to tell stories inspired by Pico Island. It builds on the success of the inaugural winner, First Date (2025), directed by Luís Filipe Borges, which has been selected by more than 70 international film festivals in 20 countries and has won 25 awards, demonstrating the global appeal of stories created on Pico Island.
Mirateca is both the name of a small locality in the parish of Candelária on Pico Island, Azores, and the cultural home of MiratecArts, a nonprofit arts association founded by Azorean-Canadian cultural producer Terry Costa.
Established in Canada in 2002 and formally based in Mirateca, Pico, in 2012, MiratecArts has become one of the Azores’ most active independent cultural organizations, promoting literature, music, theater, visual arts, film, and international artistic exchanges. Its mission is to create educational and cultural opportunities while showcasing Azorean talent to global audiences.
The II Curta Pico Prize highlights the expanding international profile of both the competition and Pico Island as a cultural destination. The strong response demonstrates growing interest among filmmakers in exploring the island’s volcanic scenery, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
PAJ/Staff
