Open Doors, part of the Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Professional chain, a co-production and talent development program for artists from underrepresented communities around the world, announced its 2024 winners on Tuesday.
Eight projects in development have been selected for its co-production platform Project Hub and are eligible for three major cash prizes. In addition, nine producers participated in the program’s talent incubator, The Producer Lab, while directors who make up the Directors’ Club of Open Doors screening films make up the remainder of this year’s program.
The program’s largest awards for project centers, so-called “Open Door” grants, are divided into four categories: salvation Author: Ernesto Bautista, and the only time Author: Paz Encina, both received larger grants, and its lightness Author: Rosa Maria Rodriguez, and Hua Ke Portrait Author: Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar. Encina, Paraguay known for 2022 documentary Jiang Mei It’s about an indigenous community in Paraguay whose homes were invaded by settlers, while the other winners were first-time feature filmmakers.
The Jury of the Project Center includes Lasse Skagen, Head of Programming at Films From the South, President of the ARTEKino Foundation, Sophie Loyrette, Representative Managing Director of ARTE France Cinéma Rémi Burah, Co-Production and International Cooperation Project Manager at CNC Trigon Films Meret Ruggle. Director, Project Manager for Visions Sud Est Madeline Robert.
Tuesday’s ceremony marked the end of a three-year focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Patricia Danzi, Director General of the Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Swiss Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Open Doors’ main partner, also revealed that the project will focus on the African continent in the next four editions.
“Arts and culture are engines of social change and creativity, contributing to social cohesion and peace,” she said. “As such, they are integral to social progress.”
Zsuzsi Bánkuti, Head of Open Doors, added: “After three years of success focusing on Latin America and the Caribbean, we are pleased to announce that our focus will shift to the African continent over the next four years. This shift will not only To change our focus, but also to expand our work, we plan to promote strong collaboration between Latin America, the Caribbean and the African continent, ensuring that connections from previous years are sustained while new ones are formed, she added. “Our aim is to create a connected and prosperous network that benefits all regions. ”
See the full list of Open Doors 2024 winners below.
Open Doors Grant
The total amount is CHF 50,000 (USD 57,710) and is 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 (USD 23,088) to salvation Created by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador/Mexico.
Synopsis: A key figure in El Salvador’s civil war lies in an unnamed hospital bed. On television, the moral judgment of this man as a hero or villain was debated. In the last 12 minutes of his life, the old man faced another major test in his dream.
The jury stated: “The proposal depicts the often overlooked post-war process, using a very strong artistic approach, non-chronological storytelling and a poetic and intimate vision that renews the concept of the genre. This project tells the story of Latin America The story of a small country’s past that we have never heard of resonates around the world today.
‘salvation’
Professionally provided by Locarno
CHF 20,000 (USD 23,088) to the only time Created by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany.
Synopsis: After Paraguay’s dictator Alfredo Stroessner is overthrown, a family must decide what to do when freedom arrives.
The jury stated: “For a very convincing project and a filmmaker with a clear voice and commitment, we would like to award the prize to a film that subtly explores themes of exile and the longing for the return of the missing.”
CHF 5,000 (USD 5,772) to its lightness Directed by Rosa María Rodriguez, produced by Armando Capó Ramos (GatoRosafilms), Martha Orozco (Martfilms) and Cristina Gallego (Ciudad Lunar), Cuba/Mexico/Colombia.
Synopsis: Nora, 42, decides to tell everyone she’s pregnant after learning her cancer has returned and seeing a growing lump in her abdomen. She stopped treatment because the country’s deteriorating health care system offered options that brought only pain, poor quality of life, and suffering for her loved ones. She left her fifteen-year marriage and moved into a poor neighborhood.
The jury stated: “The issue of freedom of choice in the face of life and death is explored with sensitivity and intimacy in a raw, realistic film from a female perspective.”
CHF 5,000 (USD 5,772) to Hua Ke Portrait Directed by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar and produced by Peruvian Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine).
Synopsis: In a small town in Peru, rebellious 16-year-old Renzo dreams of becoming a professional gamer. But his father, a former tomb robber, disagreed. Lonzo ran away from home and holed up in a game center in the city, where he was trained to make it to the major leagues.
The jury stated: “The film particularly convinced the jury because of its innovative blend of cultural heritage, history and modern video games, set in an area of the country that is often overlooked.”
CNC Development Grant
CNC National Center for Film and Animated Images provides €8,000 ($8,742) development fee
UFOs in the tropics Directed by Rob Mendoza and produced by Ecuadorian Isabel Carrasco (Cinema Verano).
Description: Ecuador, 1999. A luminary warns him of a cancer epidemic due to mining pollution.
ARTEKino International Award
ARTEKino provides €6,000 ($6,557) for development.
the only time Created by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany
Partner Awards
Sophon Prize
Attend the Sørfond netball event in November, including travel and accommodation.
the only timecomposed by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Juliio Chavezmontes (Piano), Paraguay/Mexico/Germany.
Tabacalera-San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award
Be based in Tabacalera and attend industry events at the San Sebastian Film Festival, organized in partnership with the International Cultural Center of Tabacalera and the San Sebastian Film Festival.
Luis Flores Alvarenga (Thau Honduras), participant Producers Lab, Honduras
Open Doors – BR Lab Awards
Participate in the BR Lab project development workshop in São Paulo in October 2024, with travel and accommodation expenses provided by BR Lab.
salvation Author: Ernesto Bautista, Producer: Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador/Mexico
Open Doors – Moulin d’Andé-CECI Award
Script writing residency for directors with first or second feature film projects in development, funded by accommodation and travel funding from Ender Moulin-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival.
Rob Mendoza, director of UFOs in the Ecuadorian tropics
Rotterdam Laboratory Prize
Provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One Producer Lab participant has the opportunity to attend the next edition of the Rotterdam Lab, which includes accommodation provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam and travel expenses to the Locarno Film Festival.
Yamila Marrero (CRISÁLIDA Producciones), Cuban Producers Lab participant
Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award
The awards offered by the World Cinema Foundation offer a specially tailored program designed to closely follow the development of audience engagement strategies.
Hua Ke Portrait Directed by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (CyberCine ) made in Peru
Open Doors – OIF – ACP – EU Awards
The collaboration provides projects or participants from key regional ACP countries with up to 18 months of consultation, script/process analysis, story editing and polishing of film archives based on the specific needs of the winning project. Provided by the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
Lola’s funeral Created by Iván de Lara and produced by José María Pimentel (Mostly Productions), Dominican Republic.
