Locarno Open Doors: Projects From Zimbabwe & Nigeria Take Top Prizes

The main prize in this year’s Open Doors co-production platform at Locarno film festival, which focused on projects and producers from the African continent, was split between three projects.

The Open Doors Grant with a total value of $62,000 (CHF50,000) went to Zimbabwe’s Black Snake, directed by Naishe Nyamubaya, which was awarded CHF25,000; Nigeria’s Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma, which received CHF20,000; and Diary Of A Goat Woman, a collaboration between Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso directed by Azata Soro, which received CHF5,000.

The grant is sponsored by Visions Sud Est through the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the City of Bellinzona.

Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes), produced by Blessing Uzzi, also received the ARTEKino International Award, worth €6,000, and the Sørfond Award, which enables the project to participate in the Sørfond pitching event in November.

Les Bilokos (The Bilokos), a collaboration beween DR Congo and France directed by Erickey Bahati, received the CNC Development Grant worth €8,000.

The Open Doors Projects jury consisted of Visions Sud Est manager Madeline Robert; John Canciani, artistic director of Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur; CNC’s Lucie Garnier; Julie Savary, head of projects at Arte France; and Ana-Marija Grøndahl, head of production at Films from the South.

In 2025, Open Doors also partnered for the first time with MECAS, the International Market for Almost-Finished Films, which gave out an award to June Wairegi, one of the Open Door producers. The prize involves participation in the next edition of the market, which will take place in Gran Canaria in April 2026, including travel and accommodation costs.

In addition, Open Doors parters San Sebastian Film Festival, Organisation internationale de la Francophonie (OIF), Rotterdam International Film Festival and World Cinema Fund also provided awards to participants. See full list of awards and jury statements below.

LOCARNO OPEN DOORS 2025 WINNERS:

Open Doors Grant:

Black Snake, directed by Naishe Nyamubaya, produced by Sue-Ellen Chitunya (Zimbabwe)
Jury statement: “A captivating story that explores identity, secrecy, and spiritual legacy through a sensitive and powerful creative vision. Anchored in landscapes and a cultural world rarely seen on screen, and driven by compelling characters, this project holds immense promise.”

Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria)
Jury statement: “The award goes to a film with an original narrative structure, where two layers are closely connected. Through a parallel storyline, we gradually approach the revelation of a connection that will unfold over time. We are excited by the complex and challenging approach taken, which will require further work to fully realise. We look forward to seeing this film about love on the big screen soon.”

Diary Of A Goat Woman, directed by Azata Soro, produced by Nameïta Lica Touré (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso)
Jury statement: “This powerful and poetic project confronts silence, tradition, and trauma. Through the journey of a woman who refuses submission, it gives voice to what is often left unsaid. The jury is proud to support a deeply personal reflection on transmission and resistance.”

CNC Development Grant: Les Bilokos (The Bilokos), directed by Erickey Bahati, produced by Giresse Kassonga (DR Congo, France)
Statement: “By awarding the CNC grant to the documentary project Les Bilokos, directed by Erickey Bahati, the jury aims to support the development of a unique project driven by a strong narrative and human ambition. In a context where representations of the war in the DRC are rare, the film offers a new perspective on this conflict, shedding light on the resilience of former combatants who are now rebuilding their lives in Goma, a city still scarred and shaken by war. The artistic potential of the project also lies in the director's constant concern to consider the ethical issues that his cinematic approach may raise and how they may impact the direction.”

ARTEKino International Award: Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria)
Statement: “The Arte Kino International Award goes to a bold and poetic first feature by a promising film director: a plaidoyer for true love – the quintessential subject of cinema – across time and above all borders.”

Sørfond Award: Kachifo (Till The Morning Comes), directed by Dika Ofoma, produced by Blessing Uzzi (Nigeria)
Statement: “Kachifo is a poetic, visually and narratively ambitious project. It impresses us through the director's passionate commitment to tell the story about undying love that holds through lifetimes despite cultural and religious opposition, as homosexual relationships are still taboo and widely rejected in Nigeria.”

The following awards were presented to producers participating in Open Doors Producers:

Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival Residency Award: Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana Productions, Rwanda)
Statement: “For producing film projects rooted in their territory but with a universal vocation; for fostering the creation of a national film industry through mentoring and training programs; and for proposing complete cycles of film support from creation to exhibition, the award goes to Yannick Mizero Kabano.”

MECAS Award: June Wairegi (Giza Visuals, Kenya)
Statement: “Our chosen producer is developing a line of independent projects that we find courageous and inspiring. She conveys creativity, sense of initiative and a vision that connects with us. We hope that June Wairegi finds in MECAS a beautiful and useful space.”

Open Doors – OIF – ACP – EU Award (Euros2,000 development grant): Yannick Mizero Kabano (Imitana Productions, Rwanda)
Statement: “The prize is for a production company handled by a dynamic and talented new generation of Rwandan producers: Imitana Productions represented today in Open Doors by Yannick Mizero Kabano.”

Rotterdam Lab Award: Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola)
Statement: “With a career that spans documentaries, commercial films, and her own work as a director, Kamy Lara brings a rare combination of creative vision and production expertise to this new cohort. Her dedication for building bridges through international co-productions and championing female filmmakers in Angola and beyond makes her an inspiring choice for next year's lab in Rotterdam.”

Open Doors – World Cinema Fund Audience Strategy Award: Kamy Lara (Uika Filmes, Angola)
Statement: “We were struck by Kamy Lara’s artistic and socio-cultural interests, and her desire to address complex issues, particularly those relating to a society in flux. Kamy Lara’s work demonstrates her ambition to transform these issues into authentic cinema.”