Scheduled for launch in 2026, the Belize International Film Festival (BIFF) has opened an exciting new search to uncover hidden screenwriting talent from the Belizean community, both within the country and among diaspora creators around the globe. The initiative aims to elevate authentic Belizean storytelling that centers the nation’s one-of-a-kind landscapes, rich cultural heritage, and diverse local voices that have long defined life across the country.
Unlike generic screenwriting competitions that accept all story themes and origins, this search specifically calls for short screenplays rooted in Belizean experience. Creators are invited to craft narratives set against any of the nation’s iconic backdrops – from the rolling, forested slopes of Sleeping Giant near The Banks Resort to the sun-warmed, palm-lined coasts of Jaguar Reef in the seaside village of Hopkins. BIFF organizers emphasize they are open to all genres and bold, original creative visions, encouraging storytellers to take risks and share perspectives that have not often been centered in mainstream film.
Beyond the opportunity to showcase Belizean creativity to a global audience, the competition comes with tangible rewards to help creators turn their written ideas into finished screen projects. The grand prize winner will receive an immediate cash award of $500 USD, with an additional option for a $500 USD film rights buyout that puts further financial support in the creator’s pocket. As an extra perk to support production, the winner will also receive a complimentary one-night stay at a local resort during their film shoot, removing a small but meaningful barrier for creators working to bring their stories to life on screen.
This search marks BIFF’s ongoing commitment to nurturing emerging local creative talent and building a sustainable, homegrown film industry in Belize. By investing directly in screenwriters – the foundational creators of any film project – the festival aims to build a pipeline of original Belizean stories that can reach audiences far beyond the nation’s borders.