Locarno Unveils Bold 2026 Open Doors Africa Projects Exploring Motherhood, Colonialism, and Surrealist Love Stories
Open Doors, the co-production platform and talent development initiative of the Locarno Film Festival, is set to launch its second edition, focusing on African cinema. The program, which supports filmmakers from marginalized communities and regions where artistic expression faces challenges, has announced its selected projects and producers for 2026.
Diverse Voices from the African Continent
The organizers of Open Doors promise a vibrant and varied lineup of voices from across Africa. This edition will feature filmmakers whose works encompass fiction, documentary, and animation from over ten countries. Scheduled to run from August 5 to 10, the Open Doors program will provide hands-on training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, alongside public screenings and events during the Locarno Film Festival and its industry segment, Locarno Pro.
Spotlight on Emerging Projects
The 2026 Open Doors Projects showcase includes six first and second features currently in development. These projects explore themes ranging from music and memory to womanhood, urban life, and the lingering effects of colonialism. The Open Doors Producers program will also support six participants in building sustainable careers and cross-border networks. Additionally, the Open Doors Directors selection will bring together five directors for a series of talks, workshops, and industry networking, with their short films featured in this year’s Open Doors Screenings.
Yanis Gaye, head of studies at Open Doors, emphasized the importance of affirming the richness of storytelling across the continent. He noted that the program aims to foster synergies among participants, alumni, and industry professionals in Locarno, allowing for meaningful interactions that could reshape co-production practices and audience engagement strategies.
Commitment to Gender Parity
Zsuzsi Bánkuti, head of Open Doors, highlighted the initiative’s commitment to amplifying female voices in the industry. She expressed a desire for this edition to continue promoting gender parity, stating that the future of cinema relies on who gets to create it and how. Bánkuti emphasized that gender equality should be reflected not only on screen but also in the operational aspects of the industry.
Bánkuti also expressed excitement about the filmmakers’ understanding of cinema as a collaborative art form. She noted that the industry should be built on horizontal collaboration and genuine equality, which would ultimately enrich and enhance the authenticity of African cinema.
Awards and Scholarships
On August 10, a jury of industry professionals will award financial and in-kind prizes to the winning projects. This year, the professional training organization EAVE, in collaboration with the Luxembourg Film Fund, will offer a scholarship for the EAVE Marketing Workshop valued at €4,000. Additionally, the African Film Press (AFP), a cross-regional publishing alliance, will present the AFP Critics Prize, which includes a $500 cash award, a certificate, and ongoing editorial coverage across its three founding publications.
Selected Projects and Participants
The 2026 Open Doors Projects feature a variety of innovative works. Ghana’s Aseye Fiagbe directs and produces Too Much Music, a documentary about Ghanaian keyboard prodigy Kiki Gyan. The urban surrealist love story Chapa 100, directed by Ique Langa from Mozambique and South Africa, will also be showcased, produced by Lara Sousa of Kulunga Filmes.
Nigerian director Ugochukwu Azuya and producer Olubunmi Ogunsola present I Live in V.I, a social satire addressing urban space and gentrification. From Somalia and Djibouti, filmmaker Mohammed Sheikh and producer Kadir Harbi Hassan bring Accept My Plea for Burial (Baryo Aas Iga Gudoon), which examines the tensions between tradition and justice in a rural community.
The program also features The Ones With the Tempered Flowers, an experimental documentary from Tanzania and Kenya, directed by Neema Ngelime and produced by Ivy Kiru of AQ Pictures. Finally, the Ugandan fiction project A Vineyard for A Lobster, directed by Talemwa Pius and produced by Gashumba Emmanuel of Gripmagic Uganda Limited, will explore the enduring shadows of colonialism through a snow-covered landscape.
Open Doors Producers and Directors
The Open Doors Producers program includes notable figures such as Mamounata Nikiema from Burkina Faso, a veteran of the continent’s film industry recognized for her contributions at the 2021 FESPACO festival. Natasha Craveiro from Cabo Verde, who produced Omi Nobu, and Adja Mariam Mahre Soro from the Ivory Coast, founder of an animation studio, are also part of this year’s cohort. Nigerian producer David Ikeata and Sudanese Rua Osman, known for their extensive production experience, further enrich the program.
The Open Doors Directors selection features emerging talents including Fagamou Fama Ndiaye from Senegal, Rediet Haddis Yalew from Ethiopia, Pocas Pascoal from Angola, Judith Nini Kibinge from Kenya, and Ariel Añez from Mozambique.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-06-01 14:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk