Festival del Film Locarno 2022-2024


As part of sustainable development, the promotion of cultural diversity is rooted in the Swiss Constitution. Switzerland’s support for artists from Africa, Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe is promoting the diversity of analysis of social issues, thereby ensuring the fundamental values ​​of the democratic system. The partnership between SDC and the Locarno Film Festival supports independent film production through the special section Open Doors. Participants from Latin America gain visibility, network, knowledge and opportunities for filmmaking.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Global
Culture / development awareness
nothemedefined
Development awareness
01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024
CHF  1’995’000
Background Supporting the independent art scene also means strengthening freedom of speech and social debate. Film is an interesting carrier and art form, but at the same time, its production and distribution are also very complicated. SDC is committed to supporting art and culture as a contribution to the implementation of UNESCO’s 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions. This includes supporting the international movement of artists and the participation of artists from the south and east in the international art and culture.
Objectives

The overall goal is to contribute to the strengthening and development of an independent local and regional filmproduction in countries of the south and the east.

The regional focus for the upcoming three years 2022-2024 will be Latin America (Belize, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Montserrat, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Peru, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Venezuela).

Target groups

- Filmmakers (directors and producers) from Latin America and generally the South and the East

- Indirectly the independent film scene and their audience in SDC priority countries and countries receiving development assistance

Medium-term outcomes

- To connect filmmakers and –producers to the inter­national film industry network (European, North, South) in order to facilitate access to resources (rather than income) and opportunities.

- To increase filmmakers and –producers professional skills and know-how, their knowledge of the inter­natio­nal industry, but also to provide creative inspiration

- To foster a collaborative film community by connecting them to peers in the region

- Increasing visibility of talents within the international industry, increasing awareness and curiosity of the audience, contribute to the circulation of their works

Results

Expected results:  

- 24 Filmprojects presented and promoted

- 180 Filmmakers and (co-)producers given chances to network and find partners

- 60 Films shown at the festival and promoted

- Up to 18’000 spectators in the screenings of films from Latin America

- Online screenings

- 3 years of coaching for filmmakers through hotline and consultancy – approx. 50 teams

- 3 Open Doors Awards given

-OD Extended: online-consultancy all year long: online-Toolbox and -advice, Hotline 


Results from previous phases:  

- Being an A-Level Festival with high visibility the Locarno Festival is a demonstrated platform for success, securing funding for films and fostering international carreers

- Formats were adapted inlcuding producers

- Open Doors extended was successfully introduced, offering all year round advice to filmmakers in the south and east

- A three year regional focus is ideal for an in-depth knowledge of needs of filmmakers

- As consequence to COVID-19, Open Doors has expanded much of its activities to the virtuall space (screenings, lab and hub etc. 

- More than 700 practitioners benefitted in 19 years of Open Doors, promoting over 250 filmproduction projects and reaching audiences in Locarno and worldwide


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
Private sector
  • Swiss Private Sector


Other partners
Locarno Filmfestival
Coordination with other projects and actors

- SDC Culture Programmes in priority countries

- Federal Office of Culture in Switzerland

- Visions Sud Est, Fribourg International Film Festival, Visions du Réel, Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, Trigon-Film, SüdKulturFonds / artlink

- Arte, Centre National de Cinématographie (CNC), TorinoFilmLab, Marché du film du Festival de Cannes, Festivalscope and other Festivals

 

 

 

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’995’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    415’000 Total project since first phase Swiss budget CHF   6’602’630
Project phases Phase 5 01.01.2022 - 31.12.2024   (Current phase) Phase 4 01.01.2019 - 31.12.2021   (Completed) Phase 3 01.01.2016 - 31.12.2018   (Completed) Phase 2 01.01.2013 - 31.12.2015   (Completed) Phase 1 01.01.2010 - 30.06.2014   (Completed)