The Open Doors co-production lab at the Locarno Film Festival announced the 12 finalists vying for three prizes worth up to 50,000 Swiss francs ($54,000) each at this year’s edition of the Swiss festival, the Hollywood Reporter informs.
Open Doors this year, its 11th edition, focuses on the South Caucasus: Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, following previous focuses on French-speaking sub-Sahara Africa, India, Central Asia, and China.
The 66th edition of the picturesque lakeside festival will take place August 7-17, with Open Doors itself conducted August 10-13.
Among the selected projects is Long Gardens from Nika Shek and Sarik Hovsepyan, a rare co-production between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
The other 11 projects selected are Abysm from Oksana Mirzoyan (Armenia), Rusudan Glurjidze’s House of Others (Georgia/France), George Ovashvili’s Khibula (Georgia/France/Germany), Madona from Nino Gogua (Georgia), Naked in Baku from Arzu Gulijeva (Azerbaijan/Estonia), Pipeline from Asif Rustamov (Azerbaijan/Germany), Alexander Kvatashidze’s See you in Chechnya (Georgia/France/Estonia/Netherlands), Rusudan Pirveli’s Sleeping Lessons (Georgia), Territoria from Nora Martirosyan (Armenia/Switzerland/France), Levon Minasian’s The Second Journey (Armenia) and The Valley from Arsen Azatyan and Narine Mkrtchyan (Armenia).
In addition to a chance to compete for the 50,000 Swiss franc main prize and two smaller runner-up awards, the projects will be eligible for special training initiatives, meetings with industry professionals, and a chance to lock down distribution deals.
The 12 project presentations are available online, from the festival website.
