From 7 to 12 August, Locarno Pro will once again transform the Swiss lakeside town into one of the key European platforms for film professionals, fostering conversations around financing, diversity, sustainability, and innovation. With a programme rich in panels, think tanks, industry networking, and project showcases, this year’s edition builds on the success of past years whilst introducing fresh voices and perspectives that speak directly to the challenges facing today’s global film community.

The 2025 edition opens with StepIn, Locarno Pro’s flagship think tank. US comedian, disability advocate and bestselling author Maysoon Zayid will kick off proceedings with a talk entitled Somewhere Over the Rainbow: Making Movies That Save Lives. Framing storytelling as a tool for social change, Zayid’s keynote will take aim at exclusionary practices within the film industry, making a case for inclusion as both an ethical imperative and a smart business strategy.

Following Zayid’s address, AC Coppens of The Catalysts will moderate a high-level opening panel featuring Stuart Ford (AGC Studios), Ed Guiney (Element Pictures), and Berlinale head Tricia Tuttle. Together, they will reflect on leadership, institutional change, and cross-Atlantic production dynamics. The day will wrap with a conclusive discussion involving speakers such as Claudia Bluemhuber (Silver Reel), Sami Arpa (Largo AI), and Allison Gardner (Glasgow Film), again moderated by Coppens.

A key theme this year is sustainability —both environmental and economic— with a particular emphasis on emerging markets. On Saturday 9 August, the panel Building Sustainable Film Ecosystems in Africa: Financing the Future will bring together leading voices from the continent such as Yannick Mizero Kabano, Neigeme Glasgow-Maeda, Ema Edosio-Deelen, and Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri. Moderated by Mitchell Harper, the session positions African cinema not as a nascent industry, but as a globally relevant and increasingly self-sufficient sector.

That same day, Guiney will return to the stage for an intimate conversation with Romanian director Radu Jude. Their discussion, moderated by Gardner, will unpack the often-complex producer-director relationship—a dynamic which can either nourish or derail a project.

Meanwhile, a panel entitled Public Meets Private will see the likes of Paolo Moretti (Prada Film Fund), Alexandra Lebret (AXIO), and Julie-Jeanne Regnault (European Producers Club) reflecting on how hybrid financing models can reinvigorate the European indie scene. Moderated by Caroline von Kühn of Oxbelly, the session aims to break new ground on collaboration between public institutions and private investors.

Locarno Pro also continues to prioritise heritage cinema, with Heritage Monday (11 August) serving as a space to explore how classic films can find new audiences in the digital age. Featuring insights from experts such as Jacques Jagou (MK2), Pip Chodorov (Re:Voir), Elodie Mellado (Filmin), and Leo Van Hee (Eye Filmmuseum), the roundtable will delve into promotional strategies leveraging on streaming platforms and social media tools. Now in its fifth year, the Heritage programme also includes the Restoration Contest, developed in collaboration with Cinegrell, which enables the restoration of selected films through industry partnerships.

In parallel, Open Doors is pursuing its longstanding mission to champion filmmaking from underrepresented regions. 2025 is the first of the initiative’s three-year focuses on African content. The co-production workshop and platform will present a selection of six feature projects in development seeking out international collaborations. Having kicked off in June, the programme will culminate with onsite activities and an awards ceremony on 12 August. The initiative includes public screenings and a Directors Club, with a strong delegation of African filmmakers in tow.

Match Me!, for its part, will once again offer emerging producers a platform for connecting with potential collaborators, while Alliance 4 Development is set to return as a key co-development forum for projects from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland.

Canada is the 2025 focus country of First Look, Locarno’s showcase for films in post-production. Selected projects will be presented to sales agents, distributors, and festival programmers during dedicated industry screenings. Swiss Films Previews, meanwhile, will present several promising Swiss titles through pitches and Q&A sessions.

Throughout the event, the Locarno Industry Academy (6–16 August) will host its 11th edition, providing participants with insights into distribution, sales, programming, and marketing. The programme fosters an international network for young professionals looking to scale up their careers in the audiovisual sector.

Finally, Locarno Pro will also host the StepIn and U30 think tanks behind closed doors, offering newcomers and established professional participants a chance to deep-dive into pressing industry issues, favouring interdisciplinary exchange.