Locarno Open Doors names 2026 winners from Mozambique, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania

The Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors program has named four projects as winners of its 2026 co-production and talent development awards, marking the second year of its Africa-focused initiative. The selected films—“A Vineyard for a Lobster,” “Accept My Plea for Burial,” “Too Much Music,” and “Chapa 100”—will receive funding, mentorship, and industry access to advance their production and international reach. The announcement was made during the festival’s ongoing events in Locarno, Switzerland.

Open Doors was launched in 2018 to support filmmakers from underrepresented regions, particularly in Africa, by connecting them with European co-production partners and investors. This year’s focus continues that mission, aiming to amplify African voices in global cinema amid rising demand for diverse stories. The program has grown since its inception, now including workshops, pitch sessions, and networking opportunities designed to bridge gaps between African talent and the international film industry.

Each winning project represents a different country and genre. “A Vineyard for a Lobster,” a Mozambican-Portuguese co-production, blends surrealism with social commentary. “Accept My Plea for Burial,” from Kenya, is a dark comedy exploring postcolonial tensions. “Too Much Music,” a Nigerian film, delves into the pressures of fame, while “Chapa 100,” from Tanzania, examines economic resilience through the lens of a microfinance worker. The four teams will now work with mentors, including producers, sales agents, and distributors, ahead of potential world premieres.

The winners will be formally recognized at a ceremony during the Locarno Film Festival in August. Past Open Doors participants have gone on to secure festival screenings and distribution deals, signaling the program’s role in launching careers and fostering cross-continental collaborations. For African filmmakers, the initiative offers a rare pathway to global visibility in an industry often dominated by Western narratives. The 2026 awards underscore Locarno’s commitment to reshaping who gets to tell stories—and who gets to see them.