Locarno Film Festival and MUBI Join Forces to Recognize Promising First-Time Directors
In a move to champion the next generation of filmmaking talent, the prestigious Locarno Film Festival has joined forces with MUBI, the global film distributor, production company, and streaming service, to introduce a new award for debut features.
The MUBI Award - Debut Feature will be presented at the 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, running from August 7-17, 2024. The award, worth CHF 10,000 to be split equally between the director and producer, will recognize an exceptional first-time filmmaker whose work is selected for the festival's official program and receiving its world or international premiere.
"Elevating great cinema, and the filmmakers that create it, really is why MUBI exists," said Efe Çakarel, Founder and CEO of MUBI. "We truly hope that this prize helps a new generation of storytellers bring their visions and voices to life. We can't wait to see their future-masterpieces, and to share them with the world on MUBI."
The award will be judged by a distinguished jury comprised of Moroccan director-producer Khalil Benkirane, Finnish actor Alma Pöysti, and renowned make-up designer Esmé Sciaroni. This diverse panel will seek out films that demonstrate "boldly distinctive visions for storytelling and the aesthetic possibilities of the medium."
"A new and prestigious collaboration to support emerging cinema even more incisively and convincingly than before," said Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival. "We're very glad to be collaborating with MUBI on a new award capable of opening unprecedented avenues and potentialities for young and auteur cinema, thus defending artistic freedom and creativity."
The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, August 17th at 2:30 p.m. in the GranRex and will be livestreamed on the Locarno Film Festival website.
Some of the notable debut features previously released by MUBI include the BAFTA-winning "Aftersun" by Charlotte Wells, the multi-award-winning "How to Have Sex" by Molly Manning Walker, and "Medusa Deluxe" by Thomas Hardiman, which world premiered at Locarno in 2022.
With this new partnership, the Locarno Film Festival and MUBI aim to shine a spotlight on the cinematic talents of tomorrow, fostering the growth of bold, distinctive voices that will shape the future of filmmaking.