Among the selections for the 2026 edition of Open Doors at the Locarno Film Festival, Nigerian and Ghanaian projects are in the mix, following last year’s participation by Dika Ofoma and Blessing Uzzi, as well as the world premiere of Ema Edosio’s When Nigeria Happens as the opening film of the Open Doors Screenings.
In the co-production platform for projects in development, known as Open Doors Projects, six projects were selected from ten countries. Nigeria will be represented by I Live in V.I, directed by Ugochukwu Azuya and produced by Olubunmi Ogunsola under the ENSEMBLE production banner, whose short film Saint Simeon screened in the Orizzonti section at Venice 2025. I Live in V.I is described as a satire on urban space and gentrification.
Ghana’s Aseye Fiagbe will also be pitching and developing Too Much Music, a documentary about Ghanaian keyboard prodigy Kiki Gyan, which Fiagbe directs and produces.
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In the Open Doors Producers section, a career workshop for producers featuring six participants from six countries, Nigeria will be represented by David Ikeata of Vox Cinematic Films. Ikeata previously co-produced the Kazakh-Nigerian film Adam Bol (2024) and is currently developing a project with an Egyptian director.
There is no Nigerian participation in the Open Doors Directors programme this year. See the full list.
Commenting on the new iteration of Open Doors’ African focus, Yanis Gaye (Head of Studies) said the initiative aims to “affirm the richness of storytelling across the continent,” while supporting filmmakers and creative entrepreneurs committed to connecting with audiences locally, across the diaspora, and internationally. He added that the programme is designed to encourage practical collaborations between participants, alumni from other regions, and industry professionals attending Locarno.
Gaye also noted that African film ecosystems present “a chance for the industry” to rethink co-production models, audience-building strategies, and even the broader economics of cinema itself.
Meanwhile, Head of Open Doors Zsuzsi Bánkuti said this year’s selection reflects Open Doors’ belief that “the future of cinema depends on who gets to make it, and how.” She emphasised the importance of continuing to amplify female voices both behind the camera and in producing roles, while also highlighting collaboration as a central value of the programme.
According to Bánkuti, what stands out most about this year’s cohort is how many filmmakers understand that “cinema is never a solo act,” stressing that stronger collaboration, equality within creative communities, and greater diversity ultimately lead to richer and more honest cinema.
New this year, professional training organisation EAVE, together with the Luxembourg Film Fund, will offer a scholarship for the EAVE Marketing Workshop worth EUR 4,000. African Film Press, a continental alliance covering African cinema, also joins as an award partner and will present the AFP Critics Prize.
The already existing awards return, including the Open Doors Grant of CHF 50,000 from visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, the CNC Development Prize of EUR 8,000, and the ArteKino International Prize of EUR 6,000. Additional awards will come from IFFR Pro, the International Culture Center Tabakalera and the San Sebastián International Film Festival, the Internationale Kurzfilmtage Winterthur, the Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie, and Sørfond. A jury will award the prizes on 10 August.
Open Doors is currently in the second year of its four-year African cycle dedicated to 42 African countries. Launched by the Locarno Film Festival in 2003, the initiative supports artists from underrepresented communities and countries where cinema and artistic expression remain at risk. Its aim is to foster sustainable industry practices and strengthen film ecosystems within the selected regions.
The 2026 programme will take place over three months in two phases: first online between June and July, and then onsite from 5 to 10 August 2026.
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