Locarno Open Doors 2026: Next Gen African Tales of Miraculous Snowfalls, Lost Dreams, an African Keyboard Prodigy and New Heroes 

The second year of Open Doors’ Africa focus takes in new projects and emerging directors and producers from fest and lab winners to new propositions  

By John Hopewell

John Hopewell

Chief International Correspondent

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Magic realist love story “Chapa 100,” absurdist political allegory “A Vineyard for a Lobster” and cross-continental queer drama “Hibiscus by the River” look like some of the potential standouts at Locarno’s talent-deep, wide-ranging 2026 Africa-focused Open Doors, unspooling on-site at Locarno over Aug. 5-10.

Winner of a 2025 Atlas Workshops Development Award no less, moving from observational social realism to – literally –  flowering magical realism, love story “Chapa 100” is set in Mozambique capital Maputo. It marks scribe-helmer Ique Langa’s follow-up to “The Prophet,” a 2026 IFF Rotterdam main competition entry.   

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