Open Doors, the Locarno Film Festival’s long-running talent development initiative, has officially opened applications for its 2026 programme cycle, targeting director–producer teams, creative producers and directors from 42 African countries. The call marks the next phase of the initiative’s four-year focus on Africa, aimed at strengthening talent pipelines and deepening co-production links across the continent.
Open Doors Programme Structure and Key Dates
The 2026 programmes will begin with an online phase in June and July 2026, followed by an on-site residency during the 79th Locarno Film Festival from 5 to 15 August 2026 in Switzerland. All selected participants are required to attend both phases
Applications close on 15 January 2026 at 11:59 pm CET, and submissions must be completed in English.
To support applicants, Open Doors will host an information webinar on 26 November 2025 at 10:00 am CET, covering eligibility, application preparation and programme expectations.
Committee Expansion: Angèle Diabang Joins as Selector
The selection committee for the 2026 cycle now includes Senegalese producer Angèle Diabang, founder of Karoninka and Institut Mousso. Her addition brings both regional grounding and extensive experience across African production ecosystems.
What the Initiative Prioritises
Open Doors has emphasised that its focus remains on producers and teams who demonstrate clarity about their next steps, along with the ability to make immediate use of the programme’s support. During the previous cycle, selection trends showed a preference for teams with prior development exposure, including participation in African and international labs and markets.
The programme also places value on sustainability. According to its curators, Open Doors aims to support filmmakers “figuring out how to stay in the field,” not those developing a single isolated project. In 2025, one of the most impactful sessions involved selected producers analysing and responding to each other’s work, a shift that encouraged peer-driven growth rather than top-down mentorship.
Eligibility Across the Continent
The Open Doors Projects programme requires director–producer teams with a feature film in development. Directors must be citizens of one of the 42 eligible African countries and, where the director and producer are the same person, the production company must also be registered in an eligible country.
The Producers programme is open to producers seeking to expand their company’s capacity, while the Directors programme focuses on filmmakers developing their first or second feature. All applicants must hold citizenship in one of the eligible territories.
How to Apply
Full guidelines, required documents and the application portal are available on the official Open Doors page on the Locarno Festival website.
Applicants are advised to prepare early, as the process requires a detailed dossier, project overview, development strategy and supporting materials.
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