Italian
Locarno Open Doors: Celebrating Latin American and Caribbean Cinema
A spotlight on emerging talent
In the picturesque setting of Locarno, Switzerland, the Locarno Open Doors initiative has once again shone a light on the vibrant and diverse cinematic voices emerging from Latin America and the Caribbean. This year, the spotlight was shared by Paraguay’s Paz Encina and three debut fiction feature directors: El Salvador’s Enrique Bautista, Cuba’s Rosa María Rodríguez Pupo, and Peru’s Fernando Mendoza. These filmmakers were honored with the prestigious CHF50,000 ($58,000) cash prize, sponsored by Visions Sud Est and the City of Bellinzona.
The winning projects
The unique time
Paz Encina’s The Unique Time is a poignant exploration of a family’s enduring hope and sorrow. Set in Argentina, just across the river from Paraguay, the film follows Lorenza, Pedro, and their children as they await news of their youngest son, Máximo, who disappeared at the age of 22. Encina’s deeply personal narrative resonates with themes of exile and the longing for the return of the disappeared. Watch the trailer.
Salvation
Enrique Bautista’s Salvation is a gripping thriller with a found-footage horror twist. The story centers on a hospital nurse who discovers that an elderly dying patient is the same man who raped her during El Salvador’s Civil War. This film, which also won a BR Lab Award, deftly navigates between past and present, capturing the protagonist’s trauma and resilience. Watch the trailer.
Her lightness
Rosa María Rodríguez Pupo’s Her Lightness tells the story of Nora, a woman battling terminal cancer and the oppressive patriarchy of her society. Determined to control her fate, Nora’s journey is a raw and realistic portrayal of freedom of choice in the face of life and death. Watch the trailer.
The return of the last Mochica warrior
Fernando Mendoza’s The Return of the Last Mochica Warrior is an innovative blend of cultural heritage and modern video game culture. The film follows a gamer who robs his ancestors’ tombs to fund his gaming addiction, only to be contacted by the spirit of an ancient Peruvian warrior. This unique narrative highlights the intersection of history and contemporary issues. Watch the trailer.
Genre-blending and social issues
The winners of this year’s Locarno Open Doors reflect a growing trend in Latin American cinema: the blending of genres to address social issues. Bautista’s Salvation is a prime example, combining thriller and horror elements to tackle the lingering trauma of war. Similarly, Mendoza’s The Return of the Last Mochica Warrior merges ancestral storytelling with video game culture, creating a narrative that is both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Personal reflections and heartfelt narratives
What sets these films apart is their directors’ ability to channel deeply personal experiences into their storytelling. Bautista describes Salvation as “a love letter to my homeland’s unacknowledged pain,” while Encina’s The Unique Time is shaped by her experiences growing up during a dictatorship in Paraguay. Rodríguez’s Her Lightness draws from her family’s history, portraying the scars and struggles of her female ancestors.
Looking ahead: Open Doors Africa
As the focus of Open Doors shifts to Africa for the next four years, there is a palpable sense of excitement. The initiative aims to foster strong collaborations between Latin American, Caribbean, and African filmmakers, building on the connections established in previous years. This transition promises to enrich the global cinematic landscape, bringing new voices and perspectives to the forefront.
Additional recognitions
Several other projects and filmmakers were also recognized at the festival:
- Luis Flores Alvarenga received a residency at the Tabakalera-San Sebastian Film Festival for his project The Lost Boys.
- Yamila Morrero was awarded the Rotterdam Lab Award for her work in Cuban documentary production.
- Ivan De Lara from the Dominican Republic won the OIF-ACP-EU Award for his film A Farewell to Lola, a tale of friendship and the deconstruction of success.
Embracing the future of cinema
The Locarno Open Doors initiative continues to be a beacon for emerging filmmakers, providing them with the support and recognition they need to bring their stories to life. As we look forward to the next chapter in Africa, the spirit of collaboration and innovation that defines Open Doors will undoubtedly lead to even more groundbreaking and resonant cinema.
For more information and to watch the trailers of the mentioned films, visit the following links:
