Open Doors Awards Three Feature Projects and Eight Producers at Locarno Film Festival

Paraguayan Director Paz Encina Wins Three Awards with Unique Time

Paraguayan director Paz Encina’s feature project Unique Time, about an elderly couple living in exile and awaiting news of their son who disappeared during Paraguay’s military dictatorship, won three major awards at the closing ceremony of the 22nd edition of Open Doors, the talent development programme of the Locarno Film Festival.

The co-production between Paraguay’s Sabaté Films, Mexico’s Piano and Germany’s Black Forest Films received one of the $23,000 (CHF 20,000) Open Doors grants as well as picking up the $6,600 Prix Arte Kino International for development and the Sørfond award which gives the project an opportunity to take part in the Norwegian pitching event this November.

A second $23,000 Open Doors grant went to El Salvadoran-born Ernesto Bautista’s debut feature Salvation.

Awards and Grants

The Open Doors initiative handed out a total of $66,200 (CHF 58,000) in grants and awards to feature projects and producers.

Other winners included Cuban director Rosa María Rodriguez’s feature debut Her Lightness and Peruvian filmmaker Fernando Luis Mendoza Salazar’s feature Return Of The Last Mochicha Warrior.

The CNC development grant was presented to Ecuadorian Rob Mendoza’s queer science fiction feature UFOs In The Tropics, which also received the writing residency offered by Moulin d’Andé-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival.

Locarno Residency Winners

Berlin-based South African filmmaker Nolitha Refilwe Mkulisi, Indonesian artist and filmmaker Timotheus Anggawan Kusno and Italian director Enea Zucchetti have been selected for the Locarno Residency 2024. They will benefit from a one-year mentoring course of online and in-person sessions to develop feature projects they will then pitch at Locarno Pro 2025.

Conclusion

The Open Doors awards recognize and support talented filmmakers and producers from around the world. This year’s winners have received grants and awards totaling $66,200 (CHF 58,000), as well as opportunities for further development and production.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the Open Doors initiative?
A: Open Doors is a talent development programme of the Locarno Film Festival that aims to support emerging filmmakers and producers from around the world.

Q: What are the awards and grants given by Open Doors?
A: Open Doors gives out a total of $66,200 (CHF 58,000) in grants and awards to feature projects and producers. The awards include the Open Doors grants, Prix Arte Kino International, Sørfond award, CNC development grant, and writing residency offered by Moulin d’Andé-CECI and the Locarno Film Festival.

Q: How can filmmakers and producers apply for the Open Doors initiative?
A: The application process for Open Doors is usually announced annually, and interested filmmakers and producers can submit their projects and proposals for consideration.

Q: What is the Locarno Residency?
A: The Locarno Residency is a one-year mentoring course of online and in-person sessions that provides emerging filmmakers with an opportunity to develop their feature projects and prepare them for pitching at the Locarno Pro market.