Blog: Film festivals

About the Festival

The Wawas al Cine Children’s and Youth Film Festival is a cultural and educational initiative that promotes inclusive access to cinema as a tool for learning, reflection, and the holistic development of children, adolescents, and young people, particularly those in vulnerable situations. Through cinema, the Festival contributes to strengthening inclusive, equitable, and quality education by creating spaces for meaningful and lifelong learning.

Since its creation in 2015, Wawas al Cine has reached 46,151 people over 11 editions through in-person and virtual activities carried out in different regions of the country. The Festival works through a collaborative network with cultural and educational institutions such as INCINE, the University of the Americas (UDLA), the University of the Arts (UARTES), and the Ecuadorian Network of Film Clubs, enhancing its impact and long-term sustainability.

The project is supported by public institutions and international cooperation entities, including the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sports of Ecuador, embassies, local councils, the Municipal Government of Riobamba, and the Delegation of the European Union in Ecuador. This support has positioned the Festival as a national reference in the development of young audiences for cinema.

In addition, the Festival offers audiovisual production workshops for children and adolescents, who actively participate in collective short film creation processes. These activities encourage self-expression, critical thinking, and the exercise of cultural rights from an early age.

Screenings and activities take place in educational institutions, Indigenous communities, and public spaces, fostering dialogue and reflection on relevant social issues such as environmental care, gender equality, and the appreciation of cultural diversity.

The Twelfth Edition of the Wawas al Cine Festival will take place from May 21 to June 1, 2026, in the provinces of Bolívar, Pastaza, and Chimborazo, reaffirming its commitment to cultural decentralization and equitable access to cinema in historically underserved territories.