Latest news with #LocarnoPro
Broadcast Pro
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Locarno Film Festival unveils Africa-focused line-up for Open Doors programme
On August 12, a panel of professional jury members will grant awards to the selected winning projects. The Locarno Film Festival has revealed the line-up for the 23rd edition of its Open Doors programme, with a renewed focus on the African continent. After completing a three-year cycle centred on Latin America and the Caribbean, the initiative shifts its attention to Africa for the next four editions, aiming to spotlight emerging filmmaking talent across the region. The 2025 edition, running from August 7 to 12 during Locarno Pro, will offer a blend of industry training, mentorship, networking and public events. Six film projects from across Africa have been selected for Open Doors Projects, the co-production platform. The line-up includes Les Bilokos, a documentary from the Democratic Republic of the Congo by director Erickey Bahati and producer Giresse Kassonga; the Ivorian-Burkinabé hybrid documentary-animation Diary of a Goat Woman by Azata Soro and Nameita Lica Toure; The Fortunate, a dark comedy from Ethiopia by Habtamu Gebrehiwot and Nahusenay Dereje; the Nigerian reincarnation-themed romance Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes) by Dika Ofoma and producer Blessing Uzzi; the Senegalese family drama Lutteurs (Fighters) from director Alassane Sy and producer Jules Dieng; and Black Snake, a supernatural mystery from Zimbabwe directed by Naishe Nyamubaya and produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya. In parallel, the Open Doors Producers initiative has selected six producers from Angola, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe. The programme aims to strengthen creative production networks across Africa and support sustainable collaborative models. The chosen participants include Kamy Lara, Moustapha Sawadogo, Leul Shoaferaw, June Wairegi, Yannick Mizero Kabano and Kudakwashe Miss Maradzika. Yanis Gaye, the new Head of Studies at Open Doors said: 'The inception of the new cycle of Open Doors is an exciting marker of the role African film industries will play within the global independent film landscape in years to come. The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom. With our programme, we aim to strengthen both the creative vision and business acumen necessary to navigate selective markets while maintaining distinctive narrative voices. Participants will acquire the frameworks to develop their production companies into sustainable creative enterprises, while exploring ways to foster more equitable international co-production partnerships.' Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Head of Open Doors, added: 'As we enter a new cycle focused on the African continent, Open Doors reaffirms its commitment to supporting filmmakers working in contexts where artistic freedom is often challenged. We are excited to welcome a strong slate of predominantly first and second-time filmmakers whose inventive approaches and formal experimentation signal a bold evolution in global cinematic storytelling. The range of perspectives represented is striking — each project brings a distinct voice that challenges narrative conventions. We aim to contribute to a stronger regional and international film ecosystem by supporting a generation of filmmakers whose diverse ideas and ways of working foster a more sustainable and collaborative film community.' The programme will culminate in a professional jury session on August 12, where financial and in-kind prizes will be awarded. These include the CHF 50,000 Open Doors Grant supported by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, the EUR 8,000 CNC Development Prize, and the EUR 6,000 Arte Kino International Prize. Additional industry support will come from partners such as the International Culture Center Tabakalera, the San Sebastian Film Festival, Sørfond, the World Cinema Fund, OIF, IFFR Pro, and the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. Meanwhile, directors of selected short films will participate in the Open Doors Directors programme, gaining access to talks, workshops, and networking opportunities. Details of the short film selections will be announced on July 8, alongside the festival's official line-up. This expanded African focus marks a significant step in Locarno's commitment to fostering underrepresented cinematic voices on a global stage.
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Locarno Unveils Open Doors Program Projects, Producers for First Edition of Africa Focus
Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival's Locarno Pro-organized co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from regions where artistic expression is at risk, is gearing up for its 23rd edition this year with a focus on the African continent. On Thursday, six projects in development and six producers selected to participate were unveiled. Following a three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, the program is now offering a platform for emerging voices from Africa through its Projects, Producers, and Directors programs. It provides training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, along public screenings and events during the 2025 edition of Locarno Pro, taking place in the Swiss town Aug. 7-12 during the festival. More from The Hollywood Reporter Idris Elba on His Dyslexia, His African Cinema Vision and Doing "a Little Bit of Everything" 'Maxton Hall' Season 2 to Premiere in November, First Teaser Revealed ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus on Writing a Musical Assisted by AI and Those Kiss Avatars: SXSW London Here is a look at the six projects in development selected to participate in the co-production track: Congolese veteran documentary Les Bilokos (Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati and produced by Giresse Kassonga for Gikas Films; documentary-animation hybrid Journal Intime d'une Femme-Chèvre (Diary of a Goat Woman), a co-production between the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, represented by director Azata Soro and producer Nameita Lica Toure (TSK Films); Ethiopian project The Fortunate, a dark comedy by director Habtamu Gebrehiwot and producer Nahusenay Dereje (MTF Multimedia); Nigerian reincarnation romance Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes) by director Dika Ofoma and producer Blessing Uzzi (Bluhouse Studios); Lutteurs (Fighters), a Senegalese wrestling family drama by director Alassane Sy and producer Jules Dieng (Thiely Films); Zimbabwean supernatural mystery Black Snake by director Naishe Nyamubaya and producer Sue-Ellen Chitunya (263 Reels Productions). The participants of the Open Doors Producers program, a career-building initiative for creative producers, are Kamy Lara (Angola), Moustapha Sawadogo (Burkina Faso), Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia), June Wairegi (Kenya), Yannick Mizero Kabano (Rwanda), and Kudakwashe Miss Maradzika (Zimbabwe). Said Yanis Gaye, the new head of studies at Open Doors: 'The inception of the new cycle of Open Doors is an exciting marker of the role African film industries will play within the global independent film landscape in years to come. The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom. With our program, we aim to strengthen both the creative vision and business acumen necessary to navigate selective markets while maintaining distinctive narrative voices.' Open Doors head Zsuzsi Bánkuti added: 'As we enter a new cycle focused on the African continent, Open Doors reaffirms its commitment to supporting filmmakers working in contexts where artistic freedom is often challenged. We are excited to welcome a strong slate of predominantly first and second-time filmmakers whose inventive approaches and formal experimentation signal a bold evolution in global cinematic storytelling. The range of perspectives represented is striking — each project brings a distinct voice that challenges narrative conventions.' On Aug. 12, a panel of professional jury members will grant financial and in-kind awards to selected winning projects. Best of The Hollywood Reporter 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Hollywood Stars Who Are One Award Away From an EGOT 'The Goonies' Cast, Then and Now
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Canada Focus Unveiled for Locarno Pro's First Look Initiative
First Look, the works-in-progress initiative of the Locarno Film Festival's Locarno Pro program, will put the spotlight on Canadian cinema this year. First Look has emerged as a key post-production platform for international arthouse projects. Over the years, it has supported films from such countries as Spain, the U.K., Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Israel, Poland, the Baltic states, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, and Germany. Its 14th edition, in collaboration with Telefilm Canada, will take place during the 78th Locarno Film Festival, which runs Aug. 6-16. Taking place Aug. 8-10, First Look will showcase six Canadian films currently in post-production. The selected projects will be presented by their producers to an audience of global industry professionals, including sales agents, buyers, festival programmers, and representatives from post-production funding organizations. Producers will also have the opportunity to feature their projects in the festival's Online Digital Library, accessible exclusively for accredited industry participants. More from The Hollywood Reporter Wild, Weird and Bloody: The Berlinale Shines a Light on Forgotten German Genre Films of the '70s Berlin: Shark-Meets-Serial Killer Movie 'Dangerous Animals' Sells Wide (Exclusive) Kahlil Joseph Brings 'BLKNWS' to Berlin: "It's Always Been in Flux - It Was Never Meant to Be Static" 'This year's focus highlights Canada's rich tradition of cinematic excellence and its long-standing connection with the Locarno Film Festival,' organizers said. 'Last year alone featured three Canadian productions in the festival's Pardi di Domani strand. They were Gender Reveal by Mo Matton, Like What Would Sorrow Look (Chou He Zhuang) by Hao Zhou, and Days Before the Death of Nicky (Jours avant la mort de Nicky) by Denis Côté. In 2023, Quebec screenwriter, actor and director Eric K. Boulianne received the Pardi di Domani best direction award for Making Babies (Faire un enfant), plus the festival welcomed Canadian filmmaker Matthew Rankin as part of the Pardi di Domani jury. 'It is absolutely thrilling to dedicate this year's First Look to Canadian film productions,' said Giona A. Nazzaro, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival. 'This is something we have been working on for quite some time now; more and more Canadian filmmakers are on the cutting edge in their formal explorations of the possibilities of media. Locarno has always been close to Canadian artists and I'm sure that this First Look will open the doors to a whole new generation and perception of Canadian filmmaking in all its rich diversity of tradition and languages and forms.' Markus Duffner, director of Locarno Pro, added: 'This initiative remains a cornerstone of our mission to support the final stages of promising films and help propel the international careers of emerging filmmakers forward. Our enduring collaboration with Telefilm Canada reinforces our commitment to helping Canadian production companies make a meaningful impact on the global stage.' Julie Roy, executive director and CEO of Telefilm Canada, said about the First Look focus on Canada: 'Our country has a prime opportunity to showcase and export its bold storytelling and artistic innovation on the global stage at Locarno Film Festival. We rely on the strength of our relationships with film festivals like Locarno to spotlight Canadian talent and their films for international advantages while expanding collaborations and creating new opportunities.' Producers can apply through Locarno Pro until April 19. To be eligible for selection, they must provide a rough cut of at least 60 minutes at any stage in the post-production process. The principal production company for the film must be Canadian. As is tradition, a jury of international festival directors and curators will award several prizes. The selection, along with the jury members, will be unveiled in July. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The Best Anti-Fascist Films of All Time Dinosaurs, Zombies and More 'Wicked': The Most Anticipated Movies of 2025 From 'A Complete Unknown' to 'Selena' to 'Ray': 33 Notable Music Biopics
