Filmmakers from the Azores, mainland Portugal, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and Spain competed for the second Curta Pico Award, with the winner to be announced on January 9, 2027.
Three award-winning Portuguese filmmakers are evaluating the finalists for the second Curta Pico Award, an initiative organized by MiratecArts to encourage audiovisual production on the Azorean island of Pico. The competition attracted 27 creative projects from several countries, of which 19 qualified for consideration. Following an initial selection by a local jury, the shortlisted concepts have advanced to the final stage, with the winning project to be announced during the Azorean Audiovisual Awards in January 2027.
The competition attracted producers, directors, and writers from across the Azores, mainland Portugal, Argentina, Canada, the United States, and Spain. Their creative approaches ranged from poetic storytelling and romance to fantasy and horror, drawing inspiration from Pico’s landscapes and cultural identity. All the finalists are Portuguese producers, including Azorean artists who have previously collaborated with MiratecArts.
The professional jury brings together three distinguished figures in Portuguese cinema and audiovisual production. Augusto Fraga is best known for producing and directing the internationally successful Netflix series Rabo de Peixe (Turn of the Tide), which has received multiple awards. Catarina Mourão, an established documentary filmmaker, founded AporDOC and co-founded the independent production company Laranja Azul. Rui Vieira, a director and creative director at Playground/AKQA, is recognized for his distinctive visual approach across cinema, advertising, and photography.
Terry Costa, artistic director of MiratecArts, acknowledged the challenge of selecting a single project from a group of compelling ideas. “It is not easy to choose the most interesting idea to turn into a film, especially when so many are excellent and inspire curiosity,” he said. Costa also emphasized the importance of understanding Pico’s particular characteristics when developing a film rooted in the island’s environment and identity.
He expressed appreciation to the participating artists and jury members, whose voluntary contributions have supported the different stages of the competition. Their involvement, he noted, is essential to an initiative that seeks to transform creative concepts into cinematic productions while encouraging new perspectives on the island.
The winning project will be announced on January 9, 2027, at the Madalena Library Auditorium during the PAA — Azorean Audiovisual Awards. Luís Filipe Borges, winner of the inaugural Curta Pico Award, will reveal the selection onstage. The ceremony will coincide with the 15th anniversary of MiratecArts, celebrating the organization’s sustained contribution to artistic and cultural development in the Azores.
The Curta Pico Award is made possible through the support and cooperation of Pico’s three municipal governments: Lajes do Pico, Madalena, and São Roque do Pico. Their partnership reflects a commitment to promoting audiovisual creation and strengthening the island’s cultural presence.
By connecting emerging creative talent with established film professionals, the initiative contributes to the development of audiovisual production in the Azores while encouraging stories that explore Pico’s landscapes, communities, and distinctive Atlantic identity. As MiratecArts prepares to celebrate 15 years of cultural activity, the competition offers another opportunity to bring the island’s stories to audiences beyond the archipelago.
Based on a Press Release from MiratecArts, Terry Costa, director.