Ph.: Samuel Golay © Locarno Film Festival | Ti-Press

Taking place August 7-9 during Locarno Pro, the programme offers selected filmmakers a three-day schedule of one-on-one meetings, pitching sessions, workshops, and networking, connecting them with international co-production partners and industry professionals. 

This year’s eleven selected projects span 3 debut features, 4 sophomore features, and 4 works from more established directors.

Among the selected projects is the latest work by cult filmmaker and Queercore pioneer Bruce LaBruce, and sees several Locarno regulars return to the festival: Azerbaijani Hilal Baydarov (Sermon to the Fish, Concorso Internazionale 2022), German director Claudia Rorarius (Touched, Concorso Cineasti del Presente 2023), Swiss-Egyptian director Tamer Ruggli (Back to Alexandria, Panorama Suisse 2023), and Italian director duo Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino (Luce, Concorso Internazionale 2024).

• Cuore Matto – dir. Tamer Ruggli, prod. Francine Lusser, Gérard Monier (Tipimages Productions, Switzerland). 
• Dyspnoe – dir. Henning Beckhoff, prod. Frauke Kolbmüller (Oma Inge Film, Germany).
• Humanoid – dir. Claudia Rorarius, prod. Claudia Rorarius (Soquiet Filmproduktion, Germany).
• Le Règne des Silures – dir. Jessica Puppo, prod. Alexis Perrin (Rumble Fish Productions, France)
• Les Orages Magnétiques – dir. Wendy Pillonel, prod. Flavia Zanon (Close Up Films, Switzerland).
• Sparare alle angurie – dir. Antonio Donato, prod. Santiago Fondevila Sancet (Cinedora, Italy).
• Stone Over Stone – dir. Hilal Baydarov, prod. Georg Tiller (Subobscura Films, Austria), Marta Krzeptowska (Asterfilm, Poland)
• Third Take – dir. Bruce LaBruce, prod. Nicolas Brevière (Local Films, France).
• Wrecking Ball – dir. Clara Stern, prod. Michael Kitzberger (Nikolaus Geyrhalter Filmproduktion GmbH, Austria).
• Yazz – dir. Florian Hoffmann, prod. Katrin Renz (tellfilm GmbH, Switzerland), Nicole Gerhards (NiKo Film, Germany), Xénia Maingot (Eaux Vives Productions, France).
• Yumi – dir. Silvia Luzi & Luca Bellino, prod. Donatella Palermo (Stemal Entertainment), Bokeh Film (Italy).

The projects will also be considered for several awards:

• Alphapanda Market Breakout Award – consultancy services valued at €3,500
• MIDPOINT Consulting Award – online script consultancy with a MIDPOINT Institute expert
• Ticino Film Commission Residence Award – two-day location scout (CHF 4,000) plus a Letter of Intent for financial support up to CHF 12,000 if the project films in Ticino
• Masé Studio Award – CHF 3,000 in cash
• Masé Studio Post-production Award – CHF 25,000 in post-production services
• NEBEL Studios Award – estimated value of CHF 30,500 for 3 days of studio use and 5 days of camera equipment
• Studio13/Valais Film Commission Award – estimated value of CHF 12,000 for 5 days of studio use at Studio13

The selection was made with the support of an international pre-selection committee, composed of Eve Gabereau, founder and chair of Modern Films and Director of Distribution at Vue Lumière, Tatjana Kozar, Producer – Head of International Coproductions at Versus Production, and Thorsten Ritter, producer at Weydemann Bros.