The Locarno Film Festival has announced a call for entries for its Open Doors programme from the African continent. The call is open to filmmakers from 42 eligible countries in Africa, including Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
According to the organisers, filmmakers from the countries of Algeria, Botswana, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Libya, Mauritius, Morocco, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, and Tunisia, are not eligible.
The Open Doors programme, part of the Locarno Film Festival’s professional activities, provides a platform for filmmakers to develop through its three main programmes: Open Doors Projects, Open Doors Producers, and Open Doors Directors. These programmes will take place online in June and July 2025, and onsite during the 78th Locarno Film Festival, between August 7 to 12 in 2025.
Open Doors Projects
Open Doors Projects is a training and co-production platform that connects teams of directors and producers with potential international partners for their projects. At the end of the program, a jury will decree the winners of the prizes. Apply for the programme through the online application form.
Open Doors Producers
Open Doors Producers is a training workshop selecting producers to participate in a program focused on career development of the creative producer. It combines group discussions, screenings, individual counselling meetings, and networking opportunities to offer a professional platform for the participants. A jury will convene at the conclusion of the programme to announce the winners of the prizes. Submit applications through the online application portal.
Open Doors Directors
Open Doors Directors welcomes directors whose films have been selected for the Open Doors Screenings, which is a part of the official selection of the Locarno Festival. These films will be screened at the festival and the chosen filmmakers will be offered the opportunity to participate in conferences and workshops. Apply through the application form.
Deadline
The deadline for applications is January 16, 2025. Applications must be submitted in English. And all three programmes will be conducted in the same language.
Since its inception in 2003, Open Doors has been championing filmmaking from regions where independent cinema is especially challenging.
According to the organisers: “Through Open Doors’ public and professional programs, we aim to provide a space where talents find support in every step of their creative and professional journey and where discussion and reinvention of today’s cinema can happen among free voices.”
