By Variety | Created at 2026-08-09 18:52:43 | Updated at 2026-08-09 23:39:51
6 hours ago
Florian Hoffmann’s “Yazz,” about a teenager growing up in a UN compound in the Central African Republic, celebrated two major wins at this year’s Locarno Pro Awards for the Alliance 4 Development co-development platform for projects from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland
Swiss-German-French co-production from Tellfilm, NiKo Film and Eaux Vives Productions beat out 10 other projects for top prizes. “Yazz” took home both the Nebel Studios Award, estimated at CHF 30,500 ($37,678) for three days of studio use and five days of camera equipment, and the Studio13/Valais Film Commission Award, estimated at close to $14,825 for five days of studio use at Studio13 in Valais, Switzerland.
“What really struck us about ‘Yazz’ is its unique and very personal perspective on a world we think we know, but rarely see from the inside,” the jury stated. “The project has also shown to be at incredibly advanced stage of development that has already received strong recognition, with experienced co-production partners on board, great talent attached and development funding secured in Switzerland — confirming our belief in the project’s artistic and production potential.”
The Masé Studios Post-Production Award, worth nearly $31,000 in post-production services, was shared by queer and feminist coming-of-age musical “Cuore Matto,” by Tamer Ruggli, produced by Francine Lusser and Gérard Monier of Switzerland’s Tipimages Productions, and “Les Orages Magnétiques” (“Magnetic Storms”) by Wendy Pillonel, produced by Flavia Zanon of Swiss shingle Close Up Films, a coming-of-age tale that explores the complexity of becoming a woman in a misogynistic environment. “Les Orages Magnétiques”also picked up the Midpoint Consulting Award, an online script consultancy with a Midpoint Institute expert.
“Sparare alle Angurie”(“Shooting Watermelons”) by Antonio Donato, produced by Santiago Fondevila Sancet at Italy’s Cinedora, received the Masé Studios Award, a cash voucher worth more than $3,706. The story centers on an authoritarian father and his two sons on vacation following a difficult separation and explores themes of power, masculinity and patriarchy.
Jessica Puppo’s “Le Règne des Silures”(“Reign of Silures”), produced by Alexis Perrin (Rumble Fish Productions, France), won the Ticino Film Commission Residence Award: a two-day location scout worth nearly $5,000 plus a letter of intent for financial support up to CHF 12,000 ($14,824) should the film shoot in Ticino.
Bruce LaBruce’s “Third Take,” produced by Nicolas Brevière (Local Films, France), took the Alphapanda Market Breakout Award consisting of consultancy services worth some $4,320.
Heritage Restoration Contest
Since 2022, in collaboration with the Zurich-based Cinegrell film lab, the Locarno Film Festival’s Heritage Restoration Contest has been dedicated to bringing cinematic heritage back to life.
This year’s prize went to 1997’s “Nous sommes tous encore ici” (“We’re All Still Here”) by Anne-Marie Miéville, a three-part meditation on philosophy and everyday life featuring Jean-Luc Godard in a rare on-screen role.
It was selected by an international jury composed of Amy Homma, director and president of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and Academy Collection; Leslie Vuchot, CEO and founder of The Festival Agency; and Nicole T. Allemann, head of film restoration and lab at Zurich-based post-production group Cinegrell.
As part of the award, the film will undergo a complete restoration at Cinegrell and then premiere at the 2027 edition of the festival.
“First presented at the festival in 1997, ‘Nous sommes tous encore ici’ is an essential work of Swiss cinema by one of the country’s leading female directors,” the jury said. “In the year of its 30th anniversary, this restoration offers a long-overdue opportunity to rediscover both the film and the work of a major filmmaker, whose contribution to Swiss cinema deserves renewed recognition, as Locarno approaches its 80th edition.”
Now in its fourth edition, the Heritage Restoration Contest previously honored “Letter From My Village” (1976) by Safi Faye; “The Cannibals”(1969) by Liliana Cavani; and Mulher de Verdade(1954) by Alberto Cavalcanti.
