Locarno Open Doors Program Announces Winners, Shifts Focus to Africa

Open Doors, a component of the Locarno Film Festival designed to support artists from underrepresented communities, announced its 2024 winners on Tuesday. This initiative is part of the Locarno Pro industry strand.

Eight projects in development were chosen for the co-production platform known as Projects Hub, making them eligible for the three main cash prizes. Additionally, nine producers took part in the Producers Lab, an incubator program for new talent. The Directors Club, consisting of directors involved in the Open Doors Screenings, rounded out the program’s participants.

The top prize, the Open Doors Grant, was shared among four projects: Salvación by Ernesto Bautista, and El único tiempo by Paz Encina, each receiving larger grants, as well as La levedad de ella by Rosa María Rodriguez, and Huaco retrato by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar.

The Projects Hub jury featured key industry figures including Lasse Skagen, head of programming at Films From the South; Rémi Burah, president of the ARTEKino Foundation and delegate managing director of ARTE France Cinéma; Sophie Loyrette, project manager for co-production and international cooperation at CNC; Meret Ruggle, co-director of Trigon-film; and Madeline Robert, project manager of Visions Sud Est.

The awards ceremony marked the conclusion of a three-year focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Patricia Danzi, director general of the event’s primary partner—the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FDFA)—revealed that the program will now focus on the African continent for the next four editions.

Danzi emphasized, “Arts and culture are engines for social change and creativity and contribute to social cohesion and peace. Hence, they are indispensable for societal progress.”

Open Doors head Zsuzsi Bánkuti added, “After three successful years focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean, our attention will now shift to the African continent for the next four years. This transition is aimed at fostering strong collaborations between Latin America, the Caribbean, and Africa, ensuring the continuation and establishment of valuable connections.” She continued, “Our goal is to create a connected and thriving network that benefits all regions.”

Here are the full winners for Open Doors 2024:

Open Doors Grant
A total of CHF 50,000 ($57,710), sponsored by Visions Sud Est with support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the City of Bellinzona, and the Open Doors initiative.

CHF 20,000 ($23,088) went to Salvación by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador/Mexico. The film portrays a key figure in the Salvadoran civil war in the final moments of his life, staging a dream trial that re-examines his role as either a hero or villain.

Another CHF 20,000 ($23,088) was awarded to El único tiempo by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany. This film explores themes of exile and freedom following the overthrow of Paraguayan dictator Alfredo Stroessner.

CHF 5,000 ($5,772) went to La levedad de ella by Rosa María Rodriguez, produced by Armando Capó Ramos (GatoRosafilms), Martha Orozco (Martfilms), and Cristina Gallego (Ciudad Lunar), Cuba/Mexico/Colombia. The story centers on Nora, who, after learning her cancer has returned, decides to tell everyone she’s pregnant and moves to an impoverished neighborhood, forsaking medical treatment.

CHF 5,000 ($5,772) was also awarded to Huaco retrato by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, produced by Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine), Peru. Set in a small Peruvian town, it follows 16-year-old rebellious Renzo, who dreams of becoming a professional gamer against his father’s wishes.

CNC Development Grant
€8,000 ($8,742) for development provided by CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée went to Ovnis en el Trópico by Rob Mendoza, produced by Isabel Carrasco (Cinema Verano), Ecuador. The film describes Ecuador in 1999, where Raul Castillo experiences a UFO encounter, bringing forth a warning of a cancer pandemic due to mining pollution.

ARTEKino International Award
€6,000 ($6,557) for development provided by ARTEKino was awarded to El único tiempo by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany.

Partner Awards:

Sørfond Award
Participation at the Sørfond pitching event in November, including travel and accommodation, was awarded to El único tiempo by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany.

Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award
A residency in Tabakalera and participation in the industry activities of the San Sebastian Film Festival, given in collaboration with the International Culture Center Tabakalera and San Sebastian Film Festival, was awarded to Luis Flores Alvarenga (Thau Honduras), participant Producers Lab, Honduras.

Open Doors – BR Lab Award
Participation at the project development workshop BR Lab in São Paulo in October 2024 with travel and accommodation covered was provided to Salvación by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador/Mexico.

Open Doors – Moulin d’Andé-CECI Award
A writing residency for the director of a feature film project in development, with accommodation covered and a contribution to travel costs, was provided to Rob Mendoza (director of Ovnis en el Trópico), Ecuador.

Rotterdam Lab Award
Provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR), one of the Producers’ Lab participants will have the opportunity to take part in the next Rotterdam Lab, including accommodation covered by IFFR and a contribution to travel costs by the Locarno Film Festival. This was awarded to Yamila Marrero (CRISÁLIDA Producciones), participant at Producers Lab, Cuba.

Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award
This award, provided by the World Cinema Fund, offers a tailored program for developing an audience engagement strategy and was awarded to Huaco retrato by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, produced by Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine), Peru.

Open Doors – OIF – ACP – EU Award
This collaboration provides consultancy for up to 18 months for a project or participant from an ACP country of the focus region, covering script/treatment analysis, story editing, and film dossier polishing. This was awarded to Un funeral para Lola by Iván de Lara, produced by José María Pimentel (Mostly Productions), Dominican Republic.

Source: Variety