PH project “Daughters of the Sea” bags Eurimages Award at Rotterdam Fest

The development-stage project received €20,000 in support for its bold, experimental approach to storytelling.

“Daughters of the Sea,” directed by Martika Ramirez Escobar and produced by Monster Jimenez with Rajiv Idnan, scored an international win after bagging the Eurimages New Lab Award–Innovation at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2026.

Accepting the award on Wednesday night (Manila time), Escobar spoke of the rare warmth the project found at the festival’s industry platforms. “It just feels like a friendly environment,” she said. “So, we’re so happy to go home with something that will help our film happen.” For filmmakers deep in the trenches of development, that help is no small thing—and neither is the vote of confidence.

In its citation, the jury praised “Daughters of the Sea” “for daring to rethink the conventions of filmmaking for the sake of artistic integrity and authentic cross-cultural storytelling.” The jury was composed of Stefan Prohorov of the Bulgarian National Film Center, Tribeca Festival’s Frederic Boyer, and Klaudia Smieja-Rostworowska of Madants—three industry voices clearly aligned in championing bold, forward-leaning work.

The Eurimages New Lab Award—Innovation is a development-stage prize given to projects that push beyond traditional modes of storytelling, whether through form, technology, or approach. It is one of two awards handed out by Eurimages, the cultural fund of the Council of Europe, which supports independent and international cinema. The other is the Outreach Award, focused on works-in-progress under the Darkroom and Lightroom sections.

Specifically, the Innovation Award supports CineMart and Lightroom projects still in development that show a willingness to experiment—think non-conventional narratives, cross-genre play, or entirely new audiovisual languages. In short: films that aren’t afraid to color outside the lines.

Along with the recognition comes €20,000 in development support, designed to help filmmakers continue shaping ambitious ideas before they reach the screen. For “Daughters of the Sea,” the prize doesn’t just mark a milestone—it helps ensure the journey continues, waves and all.

 

 

It just feels like a friendly environment. So, we’re so happy to go home with something that will help our film happen.

Martika Ramirez Escobar

 

 

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