Locarno Film Festival Announces Key Awards & Restoration Winner – “Letter From My Village” to Receive Landmark Restoration
Locarno, Switzerland – May 16, 2024 – The Locarno Film Festival has announced the recipients of several key awards stemming from its industry initiatives, alongside the selection of Safi FayeS seminal 1975 film, Letter From My Village, as the winner of the Locarno Heritage Restoration Contest. The announcements signal a commitment to both emerging talent and the preservation of cinematic history.
Industry Awards Recognize Promising Projects
Several projects received meaningful support through Locarno’s industry programs. The Flowering of a Chimera by simon Maria Kubiena (Austria),produced by Elli Leeb & Fabian Leonhardt of Chimera Film,was a double winner,securing both the Alphapanda Market Breakout Award (valued at €3,500 in consultancy services) and the MIDPOINT Consulting Award. The Alphapanda jury also gave a Special mention to First Trip, directed by Alessandro Cassigoli and Casey Kauffman and produced by Nanni Moretti and Benedetta Barroero of Sacher Film (Italy).
Further bolstering project progress, Anne Zinn-Justin’s Najma and salome (France), produced by Clémentine Mourão-Ferreira of SO-CLE, earned the Script Consultancy Residency at DreamAgo Offered by the Valais Film Commission, a residency valued at CHF 5,000.
The Ticino Film Commission Residence Award – comprising a 2-day location scout (CHF 4,000) and a Letter of Intent for potential financial support (up to CHF 12,000) – was awarded to Solastalgia, directed by Yosr Gasmi and Mauro Mazzocchi, and produced by Ivan Casagrande conti and Tommaso Santambrogio (Chiotto Film, Italy) in collaboration with Ismaël (Utopia Films, Tunisia). This award is contingent on filming taking place, at least in part, within the Ticino region of Switzerland.
Landmark Restoration to Preserve Senegalese Cinema History
The Locarno Heritage Restoration Contest, launched with an open call in March, selected Letter From My Village (1975) for a full restoration. The film, represented by Arsenal – Institute for Film and Video Art in Berlin, Germany, was chosen from over 30 submissions globally. The restoration will be undertaken by the film lab Cinegrell,based in Switzerland,and the restored version is slated for a premiere at the Locarno Film Festival in 2026.
The jury – comprised of Bernardo Rondeau (Freelance Programmer), Nicole T. Allemann (Head of Film Restoration & lab, Cinegrell), and Leon van Hee (EYE Film Institute, Netherlands) – lauded the film as a groundbreaking work. In thier statement,they highlighted the film’s enduring relevance and the importance of celebrating the legacy of Safi faye,a pioneering figure in African cinema. They noted the 50th anniversary of the film’s release as a key factor in their decision.
letter From My Village is a documentary that explores the realities of rural life in Senegal, offering a critical perspective on modernization and tradition. Safi Faye (1934-2023) was a Senegalese filmmaker, director, screenwriter and actress, considered one of Africa’s most vital and influential filmmakers.
Previous Restoration Winners
The Locarno Heritage Restoration Contest has previously recognized:
Real Woman (1954) by Alberto Cavalcanti
The Cannibals (also known as The Year of the Cannibals) (1969) by Liliana Cavani
This initiative underscores Locarno’s dedication to not only supporting the future of cinema but also safeguarding its past, ensuring that vital works like Letter From My Village continue to inspire and resonate with audiences for generations to come.
