Overview
Open Doors is the talent development and co-production platform of the Locarno Film Festival, launched in 2003 in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). The program supports filmmakers from regions where independent cinema is especially challenging, building bridges for collaboration across regions and continents.
For the 2025-2028 cycle, Open Doors is focused on 42 countries across the African continent. This four-year commitment follows a previous three-year cycle dedicated to Latin America and the Caribbean. The 2026 edition (August 5-10, 2026) is the second year of the Africa focus.
Open Doors runs three main programs:
- Open Doors Projects: A co-production platform selecting 6 feature film projects in development, with preparatory coaching and meetings with potential international partners
- Open Doors Producers: A career workshop for 6 creative producers from the focus region
- Open Doors Directors: A program for 5 directors whose short films are selected for the Open Doors Screenings
The program takes place in two phases: online preparation between June and July, then onsite during the Locarno Film Festival in August. At the end of the onsite program, a jury awards financial and in-kind prizes to the winning projects.
What It Covers
Open Doors provides a combination of cash grants, in-kind awards, training, and industry access:
Cash Awards
| Award | Amount | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|
| Open Doors Grant | CHF 50,000 | visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona |
| CNC Development Prize | EUR 8,000 | Centre national du cinema et de l'image animee (France) |
| Arte Kino International Prize | EUR 6,000 | Arte |
| EAVE Marketing Workshop Scholarship | EUR 4,000 | EAVE and Luxembourg Film Fund (new for 2026) |
| AFP Critics Prize | $500 USD + certificate + editorial coverage | African Film Press (new for 2026) |
In-Kind Awards and Program Benefits
Additional in-kind prizes are offered by partner organizations including Tabakalera and San Sebastian Film Festival, Sørfond, World Cinema Fund (Berlinale), OIF, IFFR Pro, and Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. All selected participants receive preparatory coaching (script consultancy and pitch training), scheduled co-production meetings with European producers and fund representatives, Locarno Pro accreditation, and covered travel and accommodation during the onsite program. Prizes can stack, meaning a single project could receive over CHF 70,000 in cash awards plus in-kind support.
Eligibility
Open Doors 2025-2028 is open to film professionals from 42 eligible countries across the African continent (excluding the northern Maghreb, Egypt, and South Africa). The full list is available on the Open Doors website.
Program-Specific Requirements
Open Doors Projects (co-production platform):
- Filmmakers must be from one of the 42 eligible African countries
- Projects must be feature-length fiction or creative documentary films in development or early production
- Filmmakers should have at least one prior completed work (a short film or feature)
- 6 projects are selected annually; applications require a project description, screenplay or treatment, director's statement, budget, and filmmaker CV
Open Doors Producers (career workshop): 6 creative producers from eligible countries, focused on building sustainable careers and cross-border networks.
Open Doors Directors (networking program): 5 directors whose short films are selected for the Open Doors Screenings, with access to talks, workshops, and industry networking.
How to Apply
Applications are submitted through the Locarno Film Festival professional portal. The call for entries typically opens in early spring with a deadline in March or April for the August edition. Selected filmmakers are notified in June, followed by online preparation in June-July and the onsite program August 5-10, 2026. The awards ceremony takes place August 10, 2026.
Application Requirements for Open Doors Projects
- Project description, screenplay or treatment, director's statement
- Production budget, filmmaker CV and filmography
- Proof of nationality or residency in an eligible country
Who Should Apply
Open Doors targets filmmakers from the 42 eligible African countries with feature-length projects in development who are seeking European co-production partners. The program is designed for filmmakers with some experience ready to take their projects to the international market. The program accepts projects across fiction, documentary, and animation.
Filmmakers from regions outside the current Africa focus should check the Open Doors website, as the geographic focus changes every 3-4 years.
Program History
Open Doors was launched by the Locarno Film Festival in 2003 in partnership with the SDC. For over 20 years, the program has supported artists from underrepresented communities and regions where independent cinema faces structural challenges. Previous focus regions have included Southeast Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America and the Caribbean (2022-2024 cycle).
The 2025-2028 Africa focus represents the program's second engagement with the African continent. The 2025 edition (23rd overall) selected 6 projects from DR Congo, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Senegal, and Zimbabwe. The 2026 edition (24th) selected 6 projects from Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Somalia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Common Confusions
Open Doors is not a general film fund. The program is a co-production lab tied to the Locarno Film Festival. Selected filmmakers must participate in the online preparation phase and the onsite program in Locarno in August. Travel and accommodation are covered.
The geographic focus changes every 3-4 years. For 2025-2028, the focus is on 42 African countries. Filmmakers from previous focus regions are not eligible during the current cycle.
The Open Doors Grant is awarded to projects, not filmmakers. The CHF 50,000 grant goes to the selected project for development and production expenses, not to the filmmaker as an unrestricted award.
Past Recipients
2025 (23rd Edition, First Year of Africa Focus)
Six projects were selected for the Open Doors Projects co-production platform:
| Project | Director | Country | Discipline | Awards Won |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes) | Dika Ofoma | Nigeria | Feature fiction (debut) | CHF 20,000 Open Doors Grant, EUR 6,000 Arte Kino Prize, Sørfond Award |
| Black Snake | Naishe Nyamubaya | Zimbabwe | Feature fiction (second feature) | CHF 25,000 Open Doors Grant |
| Diary of a Goat Woman | Azata Soro | Ivory Coast / Burkina Faso | Documentary-animation hybrid | CHF 5,000 Open Doors Grant |
| The Bilokos | Erickey Bahati | DR Congo | Documentary | EUR 8,000 CNC Development Prize |
| The Fortunate | Habtamu Gebrehiwot | Ethiopia | Feature fiction (dark comedy) | - |
| Lutteurs (Fighters) | Alassane Sy | Senegal | Feature fiction (family drama) | - |
The Open Doors Directors program featured Ema Edosio Deelen (Nigeria), whose film When Nigeria Happens opened the Open Doors program to a sold-out screening. The film is Nigeria's first contemporary dance drama.
2026 (24th Edition, Second Year of Africa Focus)
Six projects were selected for the Open Doors Projects co-production platform:
| Project | Director | Country | Discipline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Too Much Music | Aseye Fiagbe | Ghana | Documentary (music) |
| Chapa 100 | Ique Langa | Mozambique | Feature fiction (urban romance) |
| I Live in V.I. | Ugochukwu Azuya | Nigeria | Feature fiction (debut) |
| Accept My Plea for Burial | Mohammed Sheikh | Somalia | Feature fiction (moral drama) |
| The Ones With the Tempered Flowers | Neema Ngelime | Tanzania | Experimental documentary |
| A Vineyard for a Lobster | Talemwa Pius | Uganda | Feature fiction (debut, colonial allegory) |
The 2026 cohort includes filmmakers whose prior work has screened at IFFR, Venice, and La Fabrique Cinéma at Cannes. Several projects have already secured support from the Doha Film Institute and Aflamuna Connection.
Notable Alumni from Previous Cycles
- Mati Diop (Senegal/France): Participated in the 2012 edition. Her debut feature Atlantics won the Grand Prix at Cannes 2019.
- Rungano Nyoni (Zambia/UK): Participated in the 2014 edition. Her debut feature I Am Not a Witch premiered at Cannes 2017.
- JT Trinidad (Philippines): Received Open Doors support before premiering Honey, My Love, So Sweet at Locarno 2025.
What Made Their Application Stand Out
Open Doors selects projects based on criteria assessed by a jury of industry professionals. Based on jury statements and the 2025 winners, competitive applications share these qualities:
- Original narrative structure: The 2025 jury praised Kachifo for "an original narrative structure, where two layers are closely connected." Projects that experiment with form while remaining accessible are favored.
- Cultural specificity with universal resonance: Black Snake uses magical realism rooted in Zimbabwean spiritual traditions. The jury cited its "landscapes and a cultural world rarely seen on screen." Projects that bring unfamiliar perspectives to international audiences score highly.
- Clear creative vision in the application: Filmmakers who can articulate their vision precisely in the director's statement, treatment, and budget stand out. Dika Ofoma credited an Open Doors workshop in Lagos with helping him understand "what was required."
- Evidence of prior work: Applicants should have at least one completed short film or feature. Ofoma's path ran through short films screened at IFFR, Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, and the New York African Film Festival.
- Readiness for international co-production: Projects that are developmentally ready to present to European producers and fund representatives are more competitive. A clear budget and production timeline strengthen the application.
Renewal Requirements
Open Doors is not a renewable scholarship or fellowship. Key points:
- One-time, project-based selection: Each project is selected for a single edition. The CHF 50,000 grant goes to the selected project for development and production expenses, not to the filmmaker as an unrestricted award.
- Stackable prizes: A single project can win multiple awards. In 2025, Kachifo won the Open Doors Grant, the Arte Kino Prize, and the Sørfond Award. These are separate one-time prizes.
- Multi-year structure: The Africa focus runs from 2025 to 2028, but each edition is a separate competition. Filmmakers can apply in subsequent years with different projects.
- Mandatory participation: Selected filmmakers must participate in the online preparation phase (June-July) and the onsite program in Locarno (August).
Watch
See Also
For understanding international co-production, see International Film Markets. To plan your feature film budget, use the Production Budget Calculator. For other international funding opportunities, browse the full Film Scholarships Directory.
