Locarno Pro Winners 2025: ‘Nina Roza,’ ‘Lunar Sway’

Locarno Film Festival 2023: Industry Awards Winners Announced

The Locarno Film Festival’s industry segment, Locarno Pro, held its award ceremony on Sunday, unveiling the winners of several prestigious industry awards. These accolades included the First Look works-in-progress section, the Alliance 4 Development co-development program, the Antaviana Spanish Previews Award, and the third Heritage Restoration Contest.

This year’s First Look awards spotlighted promising feature film projects from Canada, the festival’s focus country. An esteemed international jury, featuring Franck Finance-Madureira, film critic and founder of the Queer Palm, Kim Yutani, director of programming at the Sundance Film Festival, and Jacqueline Lyanga, co-director of film programming at the Berlin International Film Festival, evaluated the entries.

The 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival continues until August 16. Below is a comprehensive list of the winners from Locarno Pro.

First Look Awards

• Urban Post First Look Award (€50,000 or $58,220 in post-production services)

  • Winner: Nina Roza by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles
  • Production: Colonelle Films (Canada), co-produced with Umi Films (Italy), Echo Bravo (Belgium), Ginger Light (Bulgaria), and Premier Studio (Bulgaria).
  • Synopsis: An 8-year-old Bulgarian artist’s viral video draws a major art collector’s attention, prompting Mihail to return to his homeland after 30 years, confronting his past along the way.
  • Jury Statement: "This film excels in its integration of music and art, compelling performances, and a captivating narrative that delves into themes of identity, exile, and the concept of home."

• Music Library & SFX/Acorde Award (€45,000 or $52,400 in music supervision services)

  • Winner: Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants by Bryce Hodgson
  • Production: Coukuma and Harrington Studio (Canada).
  • Synopsis: This queer love fantasy follows two teenage boys who escape an abusive center while under the influence of LSD, embarking on a road trip to start an alternative youth commune.

• Cineground Award (CHF 15,000 or $18,533 in image finishing services)

  • Winner: Lunar Sway by Nick Butler
  • Production: Cloudy Pictures (Canada).
  • Synopsis: A quirky young man named Cliff seeks love in a small desert town, only to have his life turned upside down by the arrival of his estranged mother, leading to unexpected adventures.

• Jannuzzi Smith Award (International poster design worth €10,000 or $11,645)

  • Winner: Nina Roza by Geneviève Dulude-De Celles.
• Le Film Français Award (€5,600 or $6,520 in advertising space)
  • Winner: Lunar Sway by Nick Butler.

Spanish Previews

• Antaviana Spanish Previews Award (€10,000 or $11,645 voucher for editing, color grading, sound mixing, and final deliveries)
  • Winner: Lóngquán: The Dragon Spring by Adrià Guxens
  • Production: La Charito Films (Spain), co-produced with Anna Moragriega Farrés (Pausa Dramática Films, Spain).
  • Synopsis: During Lunar New Year, a young Catalan of Chinese descent embarks on a journey to see his ill grandmother, challenging his sense of identity.

Alliance 4 Development

• Masé Studio Award (CHF 3,000 or $3,706 cash voucher)

  • Winner: Chocolat amer (Dark Chocolate) by Valentin Merz
  • Production: Andrea Film (Switzerland).
  • Synopsis: Set against the backdrop of a chocolate factory in Zurich, a young Tunisian’s life intertwines with a wealthy family as societal pressures mount.

• Masé Studio Post-Production Award (CHF 25,000 or $30,886 in post-production services)

  • Winner: Im Verborgenen (In the Hidden) by Goran Rebić
  • Production: Amour Fou Vienna and Amour Fou Luxembourg.
  • Synopsis: A woman’s struggles during civil war lead her to fight for her ideals while navigating her complex relationships.

• Masé Studio Post-Production Special Award (CHF 10,000 or $11,645 in post-production services)

  • Winner: Neige (Snow) by Jenna Hasse.
• Alphapanda Market Breakout Award (€3,500 or $4,075 in consultancy services)
  • Winner: Das Blühen einer Chimäre (The Flowering of a Chimera) by Simon Maria Kubiena.

Special Mentions and Other Awards

• Special Mention: Primo Viaggio by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman.

• Script Consultancy Residency at DreamAgo (CHF 5,000 or $6,177)

  • Winner: Najma et Salomé by Anne Zinn-Justin.

• MidPoint Consulting Award: Das Blühen einer Chimäre by Simon Maria Kubiena.

• Ticino Film Commission Residence Award (CHF 4,000 or $4,942 for a two-day location scout)
  • Winner: Solastalgia by Yosr Gasmi and Mauro Mazzocchi.

Heritage Restoration Contest

• Winner: Letter From My Village (1975) by Safi Faye.

These awards represent a celebration of creativity and innovation in the film industry, highlighting exceptional projects and talents. Stay tuned for more updates from the Locarno Film Festival!