Open Doors, Locarno Pro’s co-production and talent development programme for artists from underrepresented communities worldwide, has announced its 2024 winners. Scroll down for the full list.
Eight projects still in development were selected and qualified for the three main cash prizes.
The initiative’s largest grant for the Projects Hub, the Open Doors Grant totalling CHF 50,000, sponsored by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, was divided between four projects: rescue by Ernesto Bautista (CHF 20,000), The only time by Paz Encina (CHF 20,000), who also won the ARTEKino International Award (€ 6,000), Your love by Rosa María Rodriguez (CHF 5,000) and Huaco Portrait by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar (CHF 5,000). Elsewhere Ovnis in the Tropics by Rob Mendoza won the CNC Development Grant worth €8,000.
The Projects Hub jury included Lasse Skagen, Head of Film Programming at the South Festival, Cinéma Rémi, President of the ARTEKino Foundation, Sophie Loyrette, Project Manager for Co-Production and International Cooperation at the CNC, Meret Ruggle, Co-Director of trigon-film and Madeline Robert, Project Manager of visions sud est.
This morning’s awards ceremony marked the end of a three-year focus on Latin America and the Caribbean. Speaking the previous evening in Locarno’s Piazza Grande, Patricia Danzi, Director General of Open Doors’ main partner, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), announced that the programme would focus on the African continent for the next four editions.
“The African continent is a priority region for SDC’s international cooperation and over the next four years we will continue to develop synergies between SDC programs and Locarno Open Doors,” said Danzi. “Art and culture are engines for social change and creativity and contribute to social cohesion and peace. They are therefore indispensable for social progress.”
Winners open doors 2024
Open Doors Scholarship
A total of 50,000 francs sponsored by visions sud est (with the support of the Federal Agency for Development and Cooperation), the city of Bellinzona and the Open Doors initiative.
CHF 20,000 to rescue by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador / Mexico
Jury statement: “For a proposal that represents often overlooked post-war processes with a very strong artistic approach, a non-chronological narrative and a poetic and intimate vision that renews the idea of the genre. A project about a situation from the past of one of the small countries of Latin America that we never hear about but that today resonates all over the world.”
CHF 20,000 to The only time by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
The jury’s statement: “For a very convincing project and a filmmaker with a clear voice and dedication, we would like to award a film that deals sensitively with the themes of exile and the longing for the return of the disappeared.”
CHF 5’000 to Your love 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 perspective in a raw, realistic film.”
CHF 5’000 to Huaco Portrait by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, produced by Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine), Peru
Jury statement: “This film particularly impressed the jury with its innovative mix of cultural heritage, history and modern video games, set in a region that is often overlooked in the country.”
CNC development scholarship
8,000 € for development provided by CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l’image animée
Ovnis in the Tropics by Rob Mendoza, produced by Isabel Carrasco (Cinema Verano), Ecuador
International ARTE Cinema Prize
6,000 € for development by ARTE Kino
The only time by Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Julio Chavezmontes (piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
Partner Awards
Sørfond Prize
Participation in the project at the Sørfond Pitching Event in November including travel and accommodation.
The only timeby Paz Encina, produced by Gabriela Sabaté (Sabaté Films) and Juliio Chavezmontes (piano), Paraguay / Mexico / Germany
Residence Prize of the Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival
A stay in Tabakalera and participation in the sector activities of the San Sebastian Film Festival, in collaboration with the Tabakalera International Cultural Center and the San Sebastian Film Festival.
Luis Flores Alvarenga (Thau Honduras), participant Producers Lab, Honduras
Open Doors – BR Lab Award
Participation in the BR Lab project development workshop in São Paulo in October 2024 with travel and accommodation costs covered by BR Lab.
rescue by Ernesto Bautista, produced by Melissa Guevara (Burn and Die Films), El Salvador / Mexico
Open Doors – Moulin d’Andé-CECI Prize
Writing residency for the director of a first or second feature film project in development, with accommodation and a contribution to travel expenses, provided by the Moulin d’Andé-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival.
Rob Mendoza, Director Ovnis in the TropicsEcuador
Rotterdam Lab Award
Offered by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One of the participants of the Producers’ Lab will be offered the opportunity to participate in the next Rotterdam Lab, including accommodation paid for by the International Film Festival Rotterdam and a subsidy for travel expenses to the Locarno Film Festival.
Yamila Marrero (CRISÁLIDA Producciones), participant Producers Lab, Cuba
Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award
The award, sponsored by the World Cinema Fund, offers a special, tailor-made programme that closely supports the development of an audience engagement strategy.
Huaco Portrait by Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar, produced by Silvia Eisleen Arellano Rojas (Cybermuchik Cine), Peru
Open Doors – OIF – ACP – EU Award
This collaboration offers a project or participant from an ACP country in the focus region a consultancy for up to 18 months, a script/treatment analysis, story editing and fine-tuning of the film dossier based on the specific requirements of the winning project. Offered by the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF).
A funeral for Lola by Iván de Lara, produced by José María Pimentel (Mostly Productions), Dominican Republic
