Spring Story, The Surubí, Yazz win Locarno Pro top awards

Locarno Film Festival’s industry strand on Monday named the winners of its co-production and pitching awards, with ‘Spring Story,’ ‘The Surubí’ and ‘Yazz’ taking top prizes.

The Locarno Pro segment is designed to help filmmakers secure financing and distribution by pairing projects with producers, funds and sales agents during the festival. This year’s awards highlight emerging talent from Europe, Africa and Latin America, reflecting Locarno’s push to spotlight under-represented voices. The lineup was chosen from 32 projects that took part in the co-production market, which ran alongside the main festival this month.

‘Spring Story,’ an Italian drama about a father and son reunited after decades apart, won the Open Doors co-production award, which comes with financing and mentorship. ‘The Surubí,’ a Paraguayan eco-thriller about illegal fishing on the Paraguay River, took the Cineworx award for best pitch, earning development support from the Swiss fund. ‘Yazz,’ a Ugandan coming-of-age film set during the 1990s AIDS crisis, received the Eurimages award, giving it access to additional funding and visibility.

These wins can unlock further financing and distribution deals, turning festival recognition into real production budgets. Locarno Pro’s network of industry professionals often follows the award announcements, which can lead to new partnerships. Past winners have gone on to premiere at major festivals or secure international sales, proving the value of early-stage recognition. For the filmmakers behind this year’s winners, the next step is likely to be finalizing budgets and attaching key cast and crew before principal photography begins.