First Look, Locarno Pro’s ongoing program, will focus on Uruguay during the 79th Locarno Film Festival (August 5-15). Established as the premier post-production showcase for international arthouse films, the initiative provides producers with a strategic platform to present their projects to major sales agents, distributors and festival programmers at a crucial stage in a film’s financing and market trajectory.
Now in its 15th year, First Look, in partnership with the Uruguayan Film Association ACAU, will present six currently released Uruguayan feature films whose producers will screen them to international sales agents, buyers, festival programmers, and post-production fund representatives.
Apart from on-site presentations, certified professionals will be able to access the projects through the festival’s online digital library.
Markus Dufner, director of Locarno Pro, expressed his pleasure in spotlighting Uruguay in this edition, saying: “This initiative remains the cornerstone of our mission to support the final stages of great films and to help advance the international careers of emerging filmmakers. Our cooperation with ACAU will strengthen the international position of Uruguayan production companies.”
“Uruguay’s participation in the Locarno Film Festival as the protagonist of First Look 2026 marks a strategic moment for our cinema this year,” agreed ACAU President Gisela Pevitali.
“This award not only recognizes Uruguayan talent, but also highlights the continued evolution of Uruguayan public policy and the visibly growing international reputation for the quality, diversity and originality of Uruguayan film production.”
Previous editions of Locarno include “The Enemies of Pain” (“Los enemigos del dolor”, 2014) directed by Arauco Hernández and “Norberto’s Deadline” (“Norberto apenas”) directed by Daniel Hendler. We have featured Uruguayan works and co-produced works in several sidebars, such as “Tarde” (2010) (Concorso Cineasti del Presente category).
Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge’s The Guest Room (El Cuarto del Fondo, 2007) (Open Door Screening) and Manolo Nieto’s El Lugar del Hijo (Cinefondation, 2008) were also screened at the festival.
International co-productions with Uruguayan participation include Bill Condon’s Kiss of the Spider Woman (Piazza Grande) (2025), which attracted the most attention in Locarno last year with Diego Luna and Jennifer Lopez, and Severina (2017), directed by Felipe Hirsch (Concorso Cineasti del Presente).
Jonah A. Nazzaro, artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival, said: “At a time in history when the need for new voices is urgent and inevitable, turning to Uruguay means broadening our horizons once again. The six films in post-production evaluated by an international jury of experts represent a positive approach to the future of cinema, where creativity and vision intersect with new and sustainable ways of engaging with the industry.”
Applications are currently being accepted through Locarno Pro until May 6, 2026. To be eligible for consideration, producers must provide a rough cut of at least 60 minutes at some stage in the post-production process. The film’s main production company must be based in Uruguay.
The selection results and judges will be announced in July. The winners will be announced at the Locarno Pro Awards Ceremony on August 9th. Many valuable in-kind prizes are at stake.
