Open Doors, Locarno Pro’s co-production and talent development program for artists from underrepresented communities worldwide, has announced its 2024 winners. Scroll down for the full list.
Eight projects in development were selected and made eligible for the three main cash prizes.
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The initiative’s biggest award for the Projects Hub, the Open Doors Grant with a total value of CHF 50,000 sponsored by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, was divided among four projects: Salvación by Ernesto Bautista (CHF 20,000), El único tiempo by Paz Encina (CHF 20,000), which also won the ARTEKino International Award (€ 6,000), La levedad de ella by Rosa María Rodriguez (CHF 5,000), and Huaco retrato by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar (CHF 5,000). Elsewhere, Ovnis en el Trópico by Rob Mendoza scooped the CNC Development Grant endowed with € 8,000.
The Projects Hub jury featured Lasse Skagen, Head of Programming Films at the South Festival, Cinéma Rémi, President of the ARTEKino Foundation, 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.
This morning’s award ceremony marked the end of a three-year focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. While speaking on Locarno’s Piazza Grande the night before, Patricia Danzi, Director General of Open Doors’ main partner, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), announced the program will focus on the African continent for the next four editions.
“The African continent is a focus region for international cooperation of SDC and for the next four years we will continue to develop synergies between the SDC programmes and Locarno Open Doors,” Danzi said. “Arts and culture are engines for social change and creativity and contribute to social cohesion and peace. Hence, they are indispensable for societal progress.”
Winners Open Doors 2024
Open Doors Grant
A total of CHF 50,000 sponsored by visions sud est (with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), the City of Bellinzona and the Open Doors initiative.
CHF 20,000 to Salvación by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador / Mexico
Jury statement: “For a proposal that portrays often overlooked post-war processes, with a very strong artistic approach, a non-chronological storytelling and with a poetic and intimate vision that renews the idea of genre. A project about a situation from the past of one of the small countries of Latin America that we never hear from that resonates today all around the world.”
CHF 20,000 to El único tiempo by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
Jury statement: “For a very convincing project and a filmmaker with a clear voice and dedication we would like to give an award to a film that delicately explores themes of exile and the longing for the return of the disappeared.”
CHF 5,000 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
Jury statement: “For a sensitive, intimate approach to the question of freedom of choice in the face of life and death, from a woman’s point of view, in a raw, realistic film.”
CHF 5,000 to Huaco retrato by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, produced by Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine), Peru
Jury statement: “This film particularly convinced the Jury for its innovative blend of cultural heritage, history and modern video games, set in a region often overlooked within the country.”
CNC Development Grant
€ 8,000 for development provided by CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée
Ovnis en el Trópico by Rob Mendoza, produced by Isabel Carrasco (Cinema Verano), Ecuador
ARTEKino International Award
€ 6,000 for development provided by ARTEKino
El único tiempo by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
Partner Awards
Sørfond Award
Participation in the project to the Sørfond pitching event in November including travel and accommodation.
El único tiempo, by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Juliio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award
A residency in Tabakalera and taking part in the industry activities of the San Sebastian Film Festival, given in collaboration with the International Culture Center Tabakalera and San Sebastian Film Festival.
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, provided by BR Lab.
Salvación by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador / Mexico
Open Doors – Moulin d’Andé-CECI Award
Writing residency for the director of a first or second feature film project in development, with accommodation covered and a contribution to travel costs, provided by the Moulin d’Andé-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival.
Rob Mendoza, director Ovnis en el Trópico, Ecuador
Rotterdam Lab Award
Provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One of the Producers’ Lab participants is offered the opportunity to take part in the next Rotterdam Lab, including accommodation covered by the International Film Festival Rotterdam along with a contribution to the travel’s costs by the Locarno Film Festival.
Yamila Marrero (CRISÁLIDA Producciones), participant Producers Lab, Cuba
Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award
The award provided by World Cinema Fund offers a specific program tailored and geared to closely follow the development of an audience engagement strategy.
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 a project or participant from an ACP country of the focus region with a consultancy for up to 18 months, script/treatment analysis, story editing and polishing of the film dossier based on the specific needs of the awarded project. Provided by the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
Un funeral para Lola by Iván de Lara, produced by José María Pimentel (Mostly Productions), Dominican Republic
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