Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors programme launches a new four-year initiative to empower African filmmakers through co-productions, training, and international exposure from 2025 to 2028

African filmmakers are set to benefit from a transformative four-year initiative launched by the Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors programme, running from 2025 to 2028.

Also read: Nigeria to host inaugural Road Safety Film Festival, harnessing Nollywood for safer roads

This new cycle of support aims to boost creative industries across the continent through co-production schemes and specialised training for both producers and directors.

The 2025 edition of the Open Doors programme, scheduled from 7 to 12 August during the iconic Swiss festival, marks the beginning of a visionary commitment to developing cinema in underserved regions where artistic expression is often at risk.

“The new Open Doors cycle marks an exciting moment for African film industries in the global independent film landscape,” said Yanis Gaye, Head of Studies at Open Doors. “Our platform empowers talents to shape the tools, strategies, and community needed for their projects and careers to thrive.”

Six outstanding African producers will participate in this year’s Open Doors Producers Programme. These include June Wairegi (Kenya), Kamy Lara (Angola), Moustapha Sawadogo (Burkina Faso), Yannick Mizero Kabano (Rwanda), Kudi Maradzika (Zimbabwe), and Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia). Their selected works span fiction, documentary, and emerging cinema forms, reflecting the diversity and potential of African storytelling.

Also selected are six feature-length African projects for the Open Doors Projects co-production platform.

These include Black Snake (Zimbabwe), Firtuna (Ethiopia), Journal Intime d’une Femme-Chèvre (Ivory Coast–Burkina Faso), Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes) (Nigeria), Lutteurs (Senegal–France), and Les Bilokos (Democratic Republic of Congo).

Winners of the programme will be announced on 12 August in Locarno, with financial awards including the Open Doors Grant of CHF 50,000, the CNC Development Prize of EUR 8,000, and the Arte Kino International Prize worth EUR 6,000.

Founded in 1946, the Locarno Film Festival continues to be a beacon for innovation and freedom in cinema.

Also read: Asian film festival in Abuja strengthens Nigeria-China cultural ties

The Open Doors initiative builds on this legacy, positioning African filmmakers at the heart of a global conversation about diversity, equity, and creativity in the arts.