Locarno Film Festival Open Doors

Overview

Open Doors is the professional program of the Locarno Film Festival dedicated to supporting filmmakers from regions where the filmmaking infrastructure is emerging or fragile. Each year, Open Doors focuses on a specific geographic region and invites filmmakers from that area to participate in a co-production lab, pitch their projects to European producers and financiers, and compete for development and production grants.

The Locarno Film Festival is one of the oldest and most respected film festivals in the world, and Open Doors leverages its international reputation and industry connections to create opportunities for filmmakers who might otherwise lack access to the European co-production ecosystem. The program has supported projects from across Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East.

Projects selected for Open Doors receive intensive preparation before the festival, including script consultancy and pitch training. During the festival, filmmakers present their projects to a curated audience of European co-producers, distributors, and fund representatives. The program concludes with the awarding of development and production grants to the strongest projects.

What It Covers

• Co-production lab with pitch preparation, script consultancy, and project development support
• Development and production grants of up to 50,000 CHF
• Industry networking at one of the world's most prestigious film festivals
• Pitch sessions with European co-producers, distributors, and fund representatives
• Travel and accommodation for selected filmmakers during the festival

Eligibility

The program's geographic focus changes annually. Filmmakers must be from the currently featured region or from a region covered in previous years. Projects must be feature-length fiction or creative documentary films. Filmmakers should have at least one prior completed work (a short film or feature). The project must be in the development or early production stage.

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the Locarno Film Festival's professional portal. The deadline is typically in March for the festival's August edition. Submissions include a project description, screenplay or treatment, director's statement, budget, and filmmaker CV.

Who Should Apply

Filmmakers from the program's target regions who have feature projects in development and are seeking European co-production partners and financing. The program is designed for filmmakers with some experience who are ready to take their projects to the international market.

See Also

For understanding international co-production, see International Film Markets. To plan your feature film budget, use the Production Budget Calculator.