Locarno Pro 2025 First Look: Focus on Canada

First Look, the Works-in-Progress initiative of Locarno Pro, will spotlight Canadian cinema this year. Marking its 14th edition during the 78th Locarno Film Festival (August 6 to 16, 2025), First Look serves as a key post-production platform for international arthouse projects. Over the years, it has supported films from countries including Spain, the UK, Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Israel, Poland, the Baltic states, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland, and Germany.

In collaboration with Telefilm Canada, First Look (August 8 to 10) will showcase six Canadian films currently in post-production. The selected projects will be presented by their producers to an audience of global industry professionals, including sales agents, buyers, festival programmers, and representatives from post-production funding organizations. Alongside in-person presentations, producers will also have the opportunity to feature their projects in the Festival’s Online Digital Library, accessible exclusively for accredited industry participants.

This year’s focus highlights Canada’s rich tradition of cinematic excellence and its long-standing connection with the Locarno Film Festival. Last year alone featured three Canadian productions in the Festival’s Pardi di Domani strand: Gender Reveal by Mo Matton, Like What Would Sorrow Look (Chou He Zhuang) by Hao Zhou, and Days Before the Death of Nicky (Jours avant la mort de Nicky) by Denis Côté. In 2023, Quebec screenwriter, actor and director Eric K. Boulianne received the Pardi di Domani Best Direction Award for Making Babies (Faire un enfant) and the Festival welcomed Canadian filmmaker Matthew Rankin as part of the Pardi di Domani jury. Award-winning Canadian composer and conductor Howard Shore received the Vision Award in 2016. Canadian films have also long been a staple of the Locarno Film Festival’s competition lineup with recently selected titles including Before I Change Mind by Trevor Anderson (Concorso Cineasti del Presente 2022), Genesis (Genèse) by Philippe Lesage (Concorso Internazionale 2018) and Anne Emond’s Our Loved Ones (Concorso Cineasti del Presente 2015).

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival: “It is absolutely thrilling to dedicate this year’s First Look to Canadian film productions. This is something we have been working on for quite some time now; more and more Canadian filmmakers are on the cutting edge in their formal explorations of the possibilities of media. Locarno has always been close to Canadian artists and I’m sure that this First Look will open the doors to a whole new generation and perception of Canadian filmmaking in all its rich diversity of tradition and languages and forms.”

Markus Duffner, Director of Locarno Pro: “We are delighted to turn our attention to Canada for the 14th edition of First Look. This initiative remains a cornerstone of our mission to support the final stages of promising films and help propel the international careers of emerging filmmakers forward. Our enduring collaboration with Telefilm Canada reinforces our commitment to helping Canadian production companies make a meaningful impact on the global stage. We are confident that First Look will provide them with invaluable opportunities to connect with the international film community and advance their success.”

Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada: “As this year’s First Look focus on Canada, our country has a prime opportunity to showcase and export its bold storytelling and artistic innovation on the global stage at Locarno Film Festival. We rely on the strength of our relationships with film festivals like Locarno to spotlight Canadian talent and their films for international advantages while expanding collaborations and creating new opportunities. This recognition not only celebrates Canada’s cinematic excellence today but also paves the way for future storytellers to share their vision worldwide.”

Producers can apply through Locarno Pro from today until 19 April through this form. To be eligible for selection, producers need to provide a rough cut of at least 60 minutes at any stage in the post-production process. The principal production company for the film must be Canadian.   

A jury of international festival directors and curators will award several prizes, including the  Music Library &SFX/Acorde Award worth € 45,000, consisting in music supervision services at Music Library &SFX ’s labs, an award provided by leading industry magazine Le Film Français worth € 5,600 of advertising space, and the Jannuzzi Smith Award, which will provide the winning project with the design of an international poster worth € 10,000.    

The selection, along with the jury members, will be announced in July. The winners will be announced during the Locarno Pro Award Ceremony on Sunday, 10 August.