Locarno Film Festival to focus on Poland

The 2016 Locarno Film Festival will focus on Polish cinema in First Look, its showcase devoted to works-in-progress.

The aim of the initiative, which selects between five and seven films in post-production, is to facilitate completion and potentially attract distribution by offering filmmakers the chance to present their works to sales agents, buyers and programmers.

The First Look prize will be awarded by a distinguished jury comprising Cameron Bailey (Artistic Director of Toronto International Film Festival), Bero Beyer (Director of Rotterdam International Film Festival) and Wieland Speck (Director of Panorama at the Berlinale).

“First Look has become one of the assets of the Industry Days thanks to the quality of the selected films in post-production, the high-profile industry attendance, the efficient collaboration with our partners and the professional input of Markus Duffner, Project Manager of the section,” said Nadia Dresti, Locarno’s Delegate of the Artistic Director and Head of International in a statement.

The Polish Film Institute will accept submissions for First Look until 1 May, and the festival will announce the final selection in July.

2016 will see the sixth edition of First Look take place. The countries previously represented were Israel (2015), Brazil (2014), Chile (2013), Mexico (2012) and Colombia (2011).

The Locarno Film Festival is an international film festival held annually in August in the city of Locarno, Switzerland since 1946. The 69th Locarno Film Festival will take place from 3 — 13 August 2016.

Source: Variety and Screen Daily