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Locarno Open Doors: Nigerian, Zimbabwean & Ivorian Projects Among Winners
The main award of the Open Doors initiative at this year's Locarno Film Festival was shared by three projects: Black Snake, directed by Naishe Nyamubaya (Zimbabwe); Kachifo, directed by Dika Ofoma; and Diary of a Goat Woman, directed by Azata Soro (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso). The award is traditionally a CHF 50,000 grant sponsored by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona. Black Snake received CHF 25,000, Kachifo landed CHF 20,000, and Diary of a Goat Woman was handed CHF 5,000. More from Deadline Mohammad Rasoulof On Why He Isn't In A Rush To Follow Up 'The Seed Of The Sacred Fig' & His Plans To Return To Iran - Locarno Locarno Pro Awards: 'Nina Roza' By Canadian Filmmaker Geneviève Dulude-De Celles Leads Winners Jackie Chan Says New Hollywood Movies Lack Quality Because Studios Focus Too Much On Money: "They're Not Filmmakers, They're Business Guys" - Locarno Kachifo also won the ARTEKino International Award, worth € 6,000, and the Sørfond Award, which includes an invitation to participate in the Sørfond pitching event in November. Les Bilokos (The Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati (DR Congo, France), won the € 8,000 CNC Development Grant. The four prizes above were selected by the Open Doors Projects Jury. The jury consisted of Madeline Robert (Manager, visions sud est), John Canciani (Artistic Director, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur), Lucie Garnier (CNC Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, DEENTAL-ACP Programme Manager), Julie Savary (ARTE France, Head of Projects) and Ana-Marija Grøndahl (Films from the South, Head of Production). Scroll down for the full list of Doors Grant A total of CHF 50,000 sponsored by visions sud est (with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), the City of Bellinzona and the Open Doors initiative. CHF 25,000 to , directed by Naishe Nyamubaya, produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Zimbabwe) Jury statement: 'A captivating story that explores identity, secrecy, and spiritual legacy through a sensitive and powerful creative vision. Anchored in landscapes and a cultural world rarely seen on screen, and driven by compelling characters, this project holds immense promise. The jury is proud to honor this bold and singular work from Zimbabwe: 'Black Snake' by Naishe Nyamubaya' CHF 20,000 to , directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria) Jury statement: 'The award goes to a film with an original narrative structure, where two layers are closely connected. Through a parallel storyline, we gradually approach the revelation of a connection that will unfold over time. We are excited by the complex and challenging approach taken, which will require further work to fully realize. We look forward to seeing this film about love on the big screen soon.' CHF 5,000 to , directed by Azata Soro, produced by Nameïta Lica Touré (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso) Jury statement: 'This powerful and poetic project confronts silence, tradition, and trauma. Through the journey of a woman who refuses submission, it gives voice to what is often left unsaid. The jury is proud to support a deeply personal reflection on transmission and resistance.' CNC Development Grant € 8,000 for development provided by CNC – Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée , directed by Erickey Bahati, produced by Giresse Kassonga (DR Congo, France) Statement: 'By awarding the CNC grant to the documentary project 'Les Bilokos', directed by Erickey Bahati, the jury aims to support the development of a unique project driven by a strong narrative and human ambition. In a context where representations of the war in the DRC are rare, the film offers a new perspective on this conflict, shedding light on the resilience of former combatants who are now rebuilding their lives in Goma, a city still scarred and shaken by war. The artistic potential of the project also lies in the director's constant concern to consider the ethical issues that his cinematic approach may raise and how they may impact the direction.' ARTEKino International Award € 6,000 for development provided by ARTEKino , directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria) Statement: 'The Arte Kino International Award goes to a bold and poetic first feature by a promising film director: a plaidoyer for true love – the quintessential subject of cinema – across time and above all borders.' Sørfond Award Participation in the project to the Sørfond pitching event in November including travel and accommodation. , directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria) Statement: ''Kachifo' is a poetic, visually and narratively ambitious project. It impresses us through the director's passionate commitment to tell the story about undying love that holds through lifetimes despite cultural and religious opposition, as homosexual relationships are still taboo and widely rejected in Nigeria.' Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award A residency in Tabakalera and taking part in the industry activities of the San Sebastian Film Festival, given in collaboration with the International Culture Center Tabakalera and San Sebastian Film Festival. Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana productions, Rwanda), participant Open Doors Producers Statement: 'For producing film projects rooted in their territory but with a universal vocation; for fostering the creation of a national film industry through mentoring and training programs; and for proposing complete cycles of film support from creation to exhibition, the award goes to Yannick Mizero Kabano.' MECAS Award Participation in the International Market for Almost-Finished Films (MECAS), with the opportunity for personalized meetings and networking, including travel and accommodation costs. The next edition of MECAS will take place in Gran Canaria in April 2026. June Wairegi (Giza Visuals, Kenia) Statement: 'Our chosen producer is developing a line of independent projects that we find courageous and inspiring. She conveys creativity, sense of initiative and a vision that connects with us. We hope that June Wairegi finds in MECAS a beautiful and useful space.' Open Doors – OIF – ACP – EU Award A development grant for the value of 2'500 Euros. Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana productions, Rwanda), participant Open Doors Producers Statement: 'The prize is for a production company handled by a dynamic and talented new generation of Rwandan producers: Imitana productions represented today in Open Doors by Yannick Mizero Kabano' Rotterdam Lab Award Provided by the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR). One of the Open Doors Producers participants is offered the opportunity to take part in the next Rotterdam Lab, including accommodation covered by the International Film Festival Rotterdam along with a contribution to the travel's costs by the Locarno Film Festival. Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola) Statement: 'With a career that spans documentaries, commercial films, and her own work as a director, Kamy Lara brings a rare combination of creative vision and production expertise to this new cohort. Her dedication for building bridges through international co-productions and championing female filmmakers in Angola and beyond makes her an inspiring choice for next year's lab in Rotterdam.' Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award The award provided by World Cinema Fund offers a specific program tailored and geared to closely follow the development of an audience engagement strategy. Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola) Statement: 'We were struck by Kamy Lara's artistic and socio-cultural interests, and her desire to address complex issues, particularly those relating to a society in flux. Kamy Lara's work demonstrates her ambition to transform these issues into authentic cinema.' Best of Deadline Everything We Know About 'Only Murders In The Building' Season 5 So Far Everything We Know About 'The Love Hypothesis' Movie So Far The Best 7 New Movies On Netflix In August Solve the daily Crossword
Broadcast Pro
13-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Broadcast Pro
Nigeria and Zimbabwe win top honours at Locarno's Open Doors Awards
This year's Open Doors highlighted a new wave of African filmmakers building industry structures, like pan-regional co-productions, genre films and works for Arab or Indian audiences, to reduce reliance on European funding. Open Doors, Locarno's co-production platform and talent development program for filmmakers from equity-seeking communities and regions where artistic expression is at risk, has announced its 2025 winners. In 2025, Open Doors entered its 23rd edition with a renewed focus on 42 countries from the African continent. Six projects in development were selected for their co-production platform, Open Doors Projects, and were eligible for the three main cash prizes. Along with six creative producers who participated in the programme's career-building initiative, Open Doors Producers, and the directors of the short films of the Open Doors Screenings, who form the Open Doors Directors, they make up the full selection of this year's programme. The initiative's main award for the Open Doors Projects, the Open Doors Grant with a total value of CHF 50,000 sponsored by visions sud est (supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) and the City of Bellinzona, was divided among three projects: Black Snake, directed by Naishe Nyamubaya, produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Zimbabwe) (CHF 25,000), Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria) (CHF 20,000) and Journal intime d'une femme chèvre (Diary of a Goat Woman), directed by Azata Soro, produced by Nameïta Lica Touré (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso) (CHF 5,000). Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes) by Dika Ofoma spawned two more awards: the ARTEKino International Award, worth € 6,000, and the Sørfond Award, granting the project to participate in the Sørfond pitching event in November. Les Bilokos (The Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati, produced by Giresse Kassonga (DR Congo, France) scooped the CNC Development Grant endowed with € 8,000. The four prizes above were selected by the Open Doors Projects Jury. The jury consisted of Madeline Robert (Manager, visions sud est), John Canciani (Artistic Director, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur), Lucie Garnier (CNC Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée, DEENTAL-ACP Programme Manager), Julie Savary (ARTE France, Head of Projects) and Ana-Marija Grøndahl (Films from the South, Head of Production). Additionally, the Open Doors partners – Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Rotterdam International Film Festival and World Cinema Fund – provided awards to participants across the three program strands. In 2025, Open Doors partnered up for the first time with MECAS, the International Market for Almost-Finished Films. MECAS gave out an award to June Wairegi (Giza Visuals, Kenya), one of the Open Doors Producers. The prize consists of participation in the market, with the opportunity for personalised meetings and networking, including travel and accommodation costs. The next edition of MECAS will take place in Gran Canaria in April 2026.
