Locarno Open Doors 2026 showcases vibrant new African cinema from magic realism to genre thrillers

Locarno’s Open Doors 2026 program, held August 5-10, offered a curated look at contemporary African filmmaking, ranging from magical-realist narratives like Ique Langa’s Maputo love story to Talemwa Pius’s politically charged Ugandan allegory. The lineup included the queer drama "Hibiscus by the River," Sudan’s pioneering feature "Cotton Queen," and a documentary-fiction hybrid on Ghanaian keyboard prodigy Kiki Gyan. Awards-winning titles such as "Crocodile" and the TIFF centerpiece "Diya" were also screened.

Industry panels addressed the continent’s chronic funding shortages and explored international co-production routes, while the new Open Doors Connect initiative seeks to link African, Latin American and Asian producers. The event underscored the growing prominence of women creators and genre storytelling as pathways for African cinema to reach global audiences.