The Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors initiative has announced the winners of its 2025 co-production platform and talent development programme, spotlighting filmmakers from equity-seeking communities and regions where artistic expression is at risk. Now in its 23rd edition, Open Doors focused on 42 African nations.
Six projects in development were selected for the Open Doors Projects strand, with CHF 50,000 in grants awarded by visions sud est (supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and the City of Bellinzona. The main prize went to Black Snake (CHF 25,000), directed by Zimbabwe’s Naishe Nyamubaya and produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya. Nigeria’s Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma and produced by Blessing Uzzi, received CHF 20,000, plus the €6,000 ARTEKino International Award and the Sørfond Award, granting entry to the Sørfond pitching event in November. Journal Intime d’une Femme Chèvre (Diary of a Goat Woman), directed by Azata Soro and produced by Nameïta Lica Touré (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso), received CHF 5,000.
The €8,000 CNC Development Grant was awarded to Les Bilokos (The Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati and produced by Giresse Kassonga (DR Congo, France).
Additional partner awards included:
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Tabakalera–San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award – Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana Productions, Rwanda)
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MECAS Award – June Wairegi (Giza Visuals, Kenya)
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Open Doors–OIF–ACP–EU Award – Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana Productions, Rwanda)
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Rotterdam Lab Award – Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola)
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Open Doors–World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award – Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola)
The jury for the main awards included Madeline Robert (visions sud est), John Canciani (Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur), Lucie Garnier (CNC), Julie Savary (ARTE France) and Ana-Marija Grøndahl (Films from the South).
In partnership for the first time with MECAS – the International Market for Almost-Finished Films – Open Doors provided one producer with travel, accommodation, and networking opportunities at the 2026 Gran Canaria edition.
The Open Doors Screenings, a curated, non-competitive showcase of feature and short films from this year’s focus region, continue until 15 August. On 16 August, the Junior Jury will present a CHF 2,000 award to the short film that best illustrates the theme “Environment is quality of life.”
Launched in 2003, Open Doors is organised by the Locarno Film Festival with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation to foster sustainable industry practices and amplify underrepresented cinematic voices worldwide.
