10/08/2026 - The Tanzanian-Kenyan project has secured both the ARTEKino International Award and the Sørfond Award, whilst three African projects shared the CHF 50,000 Open Doors Grant

The winners of this year's edition (© Locarno Film Festival/Ti-Press)

The 79th Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors initiative (5-10 August) has unveiled its 2026 winners, marking the second year of its current four-edition cycle dedicated to 42 countries across Africa. The programme, Locarno’s co-production platform and talent-development initiative for filmmakers from equity-seeking communities and regions where artistic expression is at risk, selected six projects in development for its Open Doors Projects strand this year (see the report).

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The flagship Open Doors Grant, totalling CHF 50,000 and sponsored by visions sud est, with the support of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, the City of Bellinzona and Open Doors, was divided among three projects. Uganda’s A Vineyard for a Lobster, directed by Talemwa Pius and produced by Emmanuel Gashumba for Gripmagic Uganda Limited, received CHF 20,000. The same amount went to Accept My Plea for Burial, a Somalian-Djiboutian project directed by Mohammed Sheikh and produced by Kadir Harbi for Aleel Films. Ghanaian filmmaker Aseye Fiagbe secured the remaining CHF 10,000 for Too Much Music, which she is both directing and producing through Aseye Fiagbe Creative Studio.

Meanwhile, The Ones with the Tempered Flowers, helmed by Neema Ngelime and staged by Ivy Kiru for LBxAfrica, emerged as the edition’s double prizewinner. The Tanzanian-Kenyan project picked up the ARTEKino International Award, endowed with €6,000, as well as the Sørfond Award, which will enable the project to take part in the Sørfond pitching event in Norway this November.

The Mozambican project Chapa 100, directed by Ique Langa and produced by Lara Sousa for Kulunga Filmes, received the CNC Development Grant, worth €8,000. The jury highlighted the project’s portrayal of a love story between two elderly characters against the backdrop of Maputo, as well as the team’s ambitions for an international distribution strategy.

Beyond the main Open Doors Projects prizes, a series of partner awards were presented across the different strands. New partners for 2026 include EAVE, together with Film Fund Luxembourg and African Film Press. The EAVE Award, consisting of a €4,000 scholarship for the EAVE Marketing Workshop, went to Burkinabé producer Mamounata Nikiema, of Pilumpiku Production.

The Tabakalera-San Sebastián Film Festival Residency Award was bestowed upon the Nigerian project I Live in V.I., directed by Ugochukwu Azuya and produced by Olubunmi Ogunsola for Ensemble. The prize comprises a residency at Tabakalera and participation in the industry activities of the San Sebastián Film Festival. IFFR Pro’s Rotterdam Lab Award, meanwhile, went to Ivorian producer Adja Mariam Mahre Soro, of Studio KÄ, who will join the Rotterdam Lab in January 2027.

The Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie awarded its Consultancy Prize to Sarah by Angolan filmmaker Pocas Pascoal, while the inaugural AFP Critics’ Prize went to Submergido by Ariel Añez, produced by Joseph Mata and co-produced by Añez through Maochas Filmes. Presented by African Film Press, the latter combines a $500 cash prize with a certificate and ongoing editorial coverage across Akoroko, Sinema Focus and What Kept Me Up.

This year also saw Open Doors introduce Open Doors Connect, a new strand designed to bring producers from around the world into contact with one another, encouraging South-South exchange, new financing models and collaborations beyond the initiative’s usual geographical focus.

The Open Doors Screenings, Locarno’s curated non-competitive showcase of features and shorts from the initiative’s focus region, will continue until 15 August. On the same day, the junior jury will award a further CHF 2,000 prize, offered by the Department of Territory of the Republic and Canton of Ticino, to the short film that best illustrates the concept: “The environment is quality of life.”

Here is the complete list of this year’s winners:

Open Doors Grant

CHF 20,000
A Vineyard for a Lobster – Talemwa Pius (Uganda)
Producer: Emmanuel Gashumba (Gripmagic Uganda Limited)

CHF 20,000
Accept My Plea for Burial – Mohammed Sheikh (Somalia/Djibouti)
Producer: Kadir Harbi (Aleel Films)

CHF 10,000
Too Much Music – Aseye Fiagbe (Ghana)
Producer: Aseye Fiagbe (Aseye Fiagbe Creative Studio)

CNC Development Grant
Chapa 100 – Ique Langa (Mozambique)
Producer: Lara Sousa (Kulunga Filmes)

ARTEKino International Award
The Ones with the Tempered Flowers – Neema Ngelime (Tanzania/Kenya)
Producer: Ivy Kiru (LBxAfrica)

Sørfond Award
The Ones with the Tempered Flowers – Neema Ngelime

EAVE Award
Mamounata Nikiema (Pilumpiku Production, Burkina Faso)

Tabakalera-San Sebastián Film Festival Residency Award
I Live in V.I. – Ugochukwu Azuya (Nigeria)
Producer: Olubunmi Ogunsola (ENSEMBLE)

Rotterdam Lab Award
Adja Mariam Mahre Soro (Studio KÄ, Ivory Coast)

Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF)
Sarah – Pocas Pascoal (Angola)

AFP Critics’ Prize
Submergido – Ariel Añez (Mozambique)
Producer: Joseph Mata
Co-producer: Ariel Añez (Maochas Filmes)