Locarno Pro, the industry platform of the Locarno Film Festival, has announced the winning projects for three of its landmark initiatives: work-in-progress section First Look with a focus on Spanish cinema this year, co-development program Alliance 4 Development, and the Heritage Restoration Contest.
"Dream of Another Summer" by Irene Bartolomé and produced by Pere Marzo (Colibrí Studio), Irene Bartolomé (I.B. Films) and Elie Kamal (The Attic Productions) won the Antaviana Films First Look Award, covering post-production services up to € 50,000. The Music Library &SFX/Acorde Award worth € 45,000 in music supervision services went to "Río abajo, un tigre" by Víctor Diago and produced by Montse Pujol Solà (Boogaloo Films), which also nabbed the award by Laserfilm cine y vídeo, worth € 5,000. The Jannuzzi Smith Award, covering the design of an international poster worth € 10,000 was given to "Mares" by Ariadna Seuba and produced by Carles Brugeras and Marieke van der Bersselaar (Polar Star Films) and María Nova López (Intactes Films), whereas Le Film Français Award, worth € 5,600 of advertising space, was awarded to "Bodegón con fantasmas" by Enrique Buleo and produced by Alejandra Mora (Quatre Films Audiovisuales SL), Alicia Yubero ("Cuidado con el perro"), Snezana van Houwelingen ("This and that") and Roberto Butragueño ("Sideral").
The First Look awards were handed out by an international jury, comprised of Beatrice Fiorentino (Artistic Director, Venice's International Film Critics’ Week), Kerem Ayan (Director, Istanbul Film Festival), and Mercedes Martínez-Abarca (Programmer, International Film Festival Rotterdam). During First Look, which ran 9 – 11 August, six upcoming Spanish titles were presented to industry professionals, thanks to a partnership with ICAA, the Spanish Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts, and ICEX Spain Trade & Investment.
Alliance 4 Development, the co-development program for projects in development from Austria, France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland, also drew to a close on Sunday, 11 August. "Bourgeois Paranoia" directed by Lukas Nathrath and produced by Linus Günther (Klinkerfilm Production, Germany) won the Alphapanda Market Breakout Award, whereas the Script Consultancy Residency at DreamAgo Offered by the Valais Film Commission went to "6 Mois 6 jours" ("6 Months 6 Days") by Michale Boganim, produced by Mathilde Leite (Vilanova Productions, France), co-produced by Dorothe Beinemeier (Red Balloon Film, Germany. "La Fin de l’été" ("Atlantic Mirage") by Hakim Mao, produced by Emma Binet and Charles Meresse (Furyo Films, France) received the MIDPOINT Consulting Award, and "Itaca" ("Ithaca") directed by Alessandro Grande and produced by Alessandro Amato and Luigi Chimienti (dispàrte, Italy) took home the Ticino Film Commission Residence Award.
Finally, "I cannibali" ("The Year of the Cannibals", 1969) by Liliana Cavani won the second edition of the Heritage Restoration Contest, following an open call in March. The film, represented by Minerva Pictures, will receive a full restoration progress by film lab Cinegrell and will be shown at the Locarno Film Festival 2025.