Locarno Unveils Open Doors Program Projects, Producers for First Edition of Africa Focus

Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro-organized co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from regions where artistic expression is at risk, is gearing up for its 23rd edition this year with a focus on the African continent. On Thursday, six projects in development and six producers selected to participate were unveiled.

Following a three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean, the program is now offering a platform for emerging voices from Africa through its Projects, Producers, and Directors programs. It provides training, mentoring, and networking opportunities, along public screenings and events during the 2025 edition of Locarno Pro, taking place in the Swiss town Aug. 7-12 during the festival.

Here is a look at the six projects in development selected to participate in the co-production track:

Congolese veteran documentary Les Bilokos (Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati and produced by Giresse Kassonga for Gikas Films;

documentary-animation hybrid Journal Intime d’une Femme-Chèvre (Diary of a Goat Woman), a co-production between the Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso, represented by director Azata Soro and producer Nameita Lica Toure (TSK Films);

Ethiopian project The Fortunate, a dark comedy by director Habtamu Gebrehiwot and producer Nahusenay Dereje (MTF Multimedia);

Nigerian reincarnation romance Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes) by director Dika Ofoma and producer Blessing Uzzi (Bluhouse Studios);

Lutteurs (Fighters), a Senegalese wrestling family drama by director Alassane Sy and producer Jules Dieng (Thiely Films);

Zimbabwean supernatural mystery Black Snake by director Naishe Nyamubaya and producer Sue-Ellen Chitunya (263 Reels Productions).

The participants of the Open Doors Producers program, a career-building initiative for creative producers, are Kamy Lara (Angola), Moustapha Sawadogo (Burkina Faso), Leul Shoaferaw (Ethiopia), June Wairegi (Kenya), Yannick Mizero Kabano (Rwanda), and Kudakwashe Miss Maradzika (Zimbabwe).

Said Yanis Gaye, the new head of studies at Open Doors: “The inception of the new cycle of Open Doors is an exciting marker of the role African film industries will play within the global independent film landscape in years to come. The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom. With our program, we aim to strengthen both the creative vision and business acumen necessary to navigate selective markets while maintaining distinctive narrative voices.”

Open Doors head Zsuzsi Bánkuti added: “As we enter a new cycle focused on the African continent, Open Doors reaffirms its commitment to supporting filmmakers working in contexts where artistic freedom is often challenged. We are excited to welcome a strong slate of predominantly first and second-time filmmakers whose inventive approaches and formal experimentation signal a bold evolution in global cinematic storytelling. The range of perspectives represented is striking — each project brings a distinct voice that challenges narrative conventions.”

On Aug. 12, a panel of professional jury members will grant financial and in-kind awards to selected winning projects.