Oasis of Now by Chee Sum Chia

Malaysia, Singapore, France・2023・90'・ov. Cantonese, Vietnamese, Malay, Mandarin

Malaysian director Chee Sum Chia presented his project at the Open Doors Hub in 2020, winning the ARTE award. After the Locarno experience the project managed to receive the Production support from the 2020 4th committee for the Aide aux cinémas du monde (CNC – Institut français).
The project went on to win several funds, such as the Talents Tokyo development fund 2020, the WCF Production Funding in 2021 and the IMDA's Southeast Asia Co-production Grant 2022.
In 2023 the completed film was screened at Busan International Film Festival.

Tro Tan Ruc Ro - Glorious Ashes by Bui Thac Chuyen

Vietnam・2022・116'・ov. Vietnamese

After being part of the Hub selection in 2019, Glorious Ashes has received fundings from France (Aide aux cinemas du monde 2019) and Singapore (Southeast Asia Co-Production Grant by Singapore Film Commission 2019). 
In 2021, approaching the last stages of production, the project participated in First Cut Lab Philippines.

The completed project was completed and premiered at the Tokyo International Film Festival in 2022.

Joyland by Saim Sadiq

Pakistan・2022・126'・ov. Urdu, Panjabi

Director Saim Sadiq completed the film in 2022 after having been part of the 2018 Hub selection. Sadiq, already featured in Cannes with his short film Darling in 2019 (Orizzonti), got to present Joyland as a world premiere at Cannes Film Festival in 2022 (Un Certain Regard).

Discount Workers by Ammar Aziz & Chris Patz

Pakistan, Germany・2020・80'・ov. Urdu, German, English

Discount Workers got premiered at the One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival. In 2012 a fire broke out in a cellar workshop in Karachi, Pakistan, where clothing was made for a German chain store. 258 people were buried under the ruins. The film tracks the persistent efforts of one of the victim’s parents to obtain not only justice for their son, but also dignified conditions for thousands of other workers in factories manufacturing cheap fashion.

Roqaia by Diana Saqeb Jamal

Afghanistan, Bangladesh・2019・11'・ov. Farsi, Dari

The short film "Roqaia" premiered at Venice's Orizzonti 2019. It is the first Afghanistan-Bangladesh co-production, born from the encounter of director Diana Saqeb (Afghanistan) with producers Arifur Rahman and Bijon Imtiaz Ahmed (Bangladesh) while attending the Open Doors Lab 2018. 

Made in Bangladesh by Rubaiyat Hossain

Bangladesh, France, Denmark, Portugal・2019・95'・ov. Bengali

Director Rubaiyat Hossaina attended the Open Doors Lab in 2016, where she trained as a creative producer. The following year, she presented her third feature film project at the Open Doors Hub, winning the Arte International Prize.

After gaining support of numerous European agencies, "Made in Bangladesh" premiered at TIFF 2019, followed by BFI and more festivals.
The film will be released in French cinemas on 4 December 2019. International sales are handled by Pyramide International. 

Atlantics: A Ghost Love Story by Mati Diop

Senegal, France, Belgium・2019・105'・ov. Wolof

Mati Diop attended Open Doors in 2012 with her debut feature project, first called "La prochaine fois, le feu". The film premiered then in Cannes' main competition in 2019 with the title "Atlantics", where it was awarded the Jury's Grand Prix, paving the way for festivals and theatrical releases worldwide.
International sales are handled by Mk2 films.

The Unknown Saint by Alaa Eddine Aljem

Morocco, France・2019・100'・ov. Darija

Allumni of Open Doors 2015, director Alaa Eddine Aljem debuted at the Semaine de la critique in Cannes with his "The Unknown Saint" - a burlesque modern fable set in a village of the Moroccan desert. 

The film is now on its festival run and is being sold by Match Factory. The film is being releasedn in Switzerland's German-speaking area, followed by the French-speaking in 2020 with Trigon Film. 

House of my Fathers by Suba Sivakumaran

Sri Lanka・2018・ 95'・ov. Tamil and Sinhala

"House of my Fathers" participated in Open Doors Hub in 2016 while ongoing post-production. After being completed with the support of co-producer Dominique Welinski (DW, France) it premiered at Busan IFF 2018, New Currents Competition.

The festival continues its festival run including screenings at BFI London Film Festival, Rotterdam IFF 2019. International sales by Asian Shadows.

The Red Phallus by Tashi Gyelthsen

Bhutan, Nepal, Germany・2018・85'・ov. Dzongkha

Winner of the main Open Doors Grant in 2016, "The Red Phallus" premiered at Busan IFF 2018 New Currents and at Berlinale 2019 Generation 14plus Section for its European premiere. 
"The Red Phallus" is co-produced by the Open Doors 2016 Alumni Ram Krishna Pokharel (Nepal). International sales by Asian Shadows. 

Etz Te'ena (Fig Tree) by Aalam-Warqe Davidian

Israel, Germany, France・2018・93’・ov. Amharic

Fig Tree participated in Open Doors in 2014 and premieres at Toronto International Film Festival in 2018, after being supported by several funds and institutions including World Cinema Fund, Aide aux Cinémas du Monde, Sam Spiegel Lab. 
International sales by Films Boutique.

Le Fort des fous by Narimane Mani

France, Qatar, Greece, Germany, Algeria · 2017 · 140' · ov. Algerian/French/Greek/English

Part of Open Doors in 2015, the second feature film by the Algerian-born Narimane Mari premiered 2 years later at the 70th Locarno Festival in the Concorso Cineasti del Presente section. 

I Am Not A Witch by Rungano Nyoni

UK, France, Zambia・2017・98’・Color・o.v. English

“I am not a witch” was introduced by director Rungano Nyoni to Open Doors in 2014. The project won the Open Doors grant as well as the ARTE Intl. Prize.

In 2017 the film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival at La Quinzaine des réalisateurs, and released in Switzerland in 2018.In 2018 the film won the BAFTA for Outstanding Debut.

En Attendant Les Hirondelles by Karim Moussaoui

Algeria, France, Germany・2017・Color・113’・o.v. Arabic, French

Algerian filmmaker Karim Moussaoui attended the 2015 edition of Open Doors dedicated to Maghreb with his project “En attendant les hirondelles” and won the CNC Prize. The film had his world premiere in the Un certain regard section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival.

In 2018 En Attendant Les Hirondelles won the Gold FIFOG prize of the Critics.

Comboio de Sal e Açucar by Licínio Azevedo

Portugal, Mozambique, France, South Africa, Brazil · 2016 · DCP · Color · 93'

Winner of both the Open Doors Grant and the CNC Prize in 2014, Comboio de Sal e Açucar premiered in 2016 on the Piazza Grande of Festival del film Locarno. Screenings rights for Switzerland were bought by Trigon-Film. 

Strange Love by Natasha Mendonca

India・2016・75’・Color・o.v. hindi, subt.english

Natasha Mendonca participated in the 2011 edition of Open Doors with her project “Strange Love”. The film was completed in 2016, had its world premiere at the 45th Rotterdam IFF and was nominated for the Bright Future Award. Since then it has been screened at several film festivals worldwide.

Coming of Age by Teboho Edkins

Lesotho, South Africa, Germany・2015・60'・Digital・Color・o.v. Sesotho

Winner of the Open Doors Grant 2014, the former "Faraway Friends" now "Coming of Age", had its International Premiere at Visions du réel (International Competition Moyen Métrage) and competed for the Crystal Bear of the 2015 edition of Berlin International Film Festival, besides screening at another dozen of festivals worldwide.

Halal Love (and Sex) by Assad Fouladkar

Lebanon, Germany, United Arab Emirates・2015・95'・DCP・Color・o.v. Arabic

After participating in the 2007 Open Doors edition as project named "Halal", Assad Fouladkar's film "Halal Love (and Sex)" has been premiered at the 2015 Arabic Night of Dubai International Film Festival. The film has then been selected by the prestigious American Sundance Film Festival (World Cinema Dramatic Competition, 2016) and for the competition of the Rotterdam Film Festival.

Necktie Youth by Sibs Shongwe-La Mer

South Africa, Netherlands・2015・91'・DCP・B&W・o.v. Afrikaans, English, Zulu

During his participation at Open Doors 2014 with the project called "Territorial Pissings", Sibs Shongwe-La Mer was awarded with the Open Doors Special Mention. The film was completed in time to be premiered at the Berlinale 2015, Panorama section, and since then it has been selected in numerous festivals all over the world including Tribeca Film Festival (World Narrative Competition). In its home country, it won the award of Best South African Feature Film and Best Director at Durban International Film Festival as well as the Critic's Prize at Black Movie International independent film Festival in Geneva, Switzerland.

La Sirène de Faso Fani by Michel K. Zongo

France, Burkina Faso, Qatar, Germany・2015・90'・DCP・Color・o.v. French, Malé

Introduced at Open Doors 2012 as a project called "Faso Fani, la fin du rêve", Michel K. Zongo's documentary "La Sirène de Faso Fani" caught the attention of professionals by receiving the Open Doors Grant. Once completed, the film was world premiered at the Berlinale 2015, in the Forum section, before being screened a few weeks later in Burkina Faso at FESPACO in the Documentary Competition.

La Tercera Orilla by Celina Murga

Argentina, Germany, Netherlands・2014・92'・DCP・Color・o.v. Spanish

Argentinean filmmaker Celina Murga participated in the 2008 edition of Open Doors dedicated to Latin America with her project “La Tercera Orilla”. The film was completed in 2013, with the support of Martin Scorsese among others, and it took part in the 2014 Berlinale Official Competition.

Tanta Agua (So Much Water) by Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge

Uruguay, Mexico, Netherlands, Germany・2013・102'・DCP・Color・o.v. Spanish

“Tanta Agua” (So Much Water) by Ana Guevara and Leticia Jorge took part in Open Doors in 2008 and several coproduction labs in South America. The film was completed in 2012 and premiered in the Panorama section of the Berlinale in 2013. After Berlin it had its North American Premiere in Miami, where it won the prize for best feature in the Ibero-American Competition and was selected, the same year, in Buenos Aires International Film Festival.

O Homem Das Multidões (The Man of The Crowd) by Cao Guimarães and Marcelo Gomes

Brazil・2013・95'・DCP・Color・o.v. Portuguese, subt. English

Brazilian directors Manuel Gomes and Cao Guimaraes presented their first feature project “O Homem Das Multidões” (The Man of The Crowd) in Open Doors in 2008. The film was completed in 2013 and it participated at the Berlinale in 2014 in the Panorama Section. 

Uroki Garmonii (Harmony Lessons) by Emir Baigazin

Kazakhstan, Germany, France・2013・115'・DCP・Color・o.v. Kazakh, Russian

Director Emir Baigazin presented “Harmony Lessons” during the 2010 edition of Open Doors dedicated to Central Asia. In 2013 the film premiered at the Berlinale with great success: it won the Silver Bear for an Outstanding Artistic Contribution. After Berlin the film participated in the Tribeca Film Festival (2013) where it won the Special Jury Mention, and in CPH PIX (2013).

El Verano de Los Peces Voladores by Marcela Said Cares

Chile, France・2013・95'・Color・o.v. Spanish

The chilean-french project El Verano de los Pesces Voladores by Marcela Said participated in 2008 edition of Open Doors, won the Chilean Audiovisual Fund in 2010, and was released in 2013. The same year took part to the Quinzaine des Réalisateur at the Cannes Film Festival where it had its World première.

CHAR...the No-Man's Island by Sourav Sarangi

India・2012・Documentary・110'・HD・Color・o.v. Bengali

In 2011 Sourav Sarangi attended Open Doors with « Char… the No-Man’s Island», where he won the ARTE Grant for development. After its premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in 2012 the film has participated in international film festivals such as the Dubai International Film Festival (2012) where it received the Special Mention of the Jury and the Forum section of the Berlin Film Festival (2013). In May 2013 the film won “best anthropological/ethnographic film” at the 60th National Film Award in India.

Jean Gentil by Laura A. Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas

Dominican Republic, Mexico, Germany・2010・Fiction・84'・Color・o.v. Spanish, haitian creole

Directors Laura A. Guzmán and Israel Cárdenas attended Open Door in 2008 with their project “Jean Gentil”. In 2010 the project was completed and participated at the Venice International Film Festival where it won the Jury’s Special mention in the section “Orizzonti”. The film has been later presented in more than 20 Festivals all around the world. 

Fix Me by Raed Andoni

Palestine, Suisse, France・2010・98'・Color・o.v. Arabic, subt. English, French

This films by Palestinian director Raedi Andoni was released in 2010, tree years after having participated in the Open Doors Co-production Lab dedicated to the Mashrek region (2007). After its premiere in Sundance (2010) it has been selected in many prestigious festivals like Cannes, the Dubai International Film Festival and the Carthage Film Festival 2010 where it won the Tanit d'Or for Best Documentary. In 2011 it received the prize for Best Film “Human Rights” at the Buenos Aires International Film Festival. 

Winter Vacation by Li Hongqi

Winter Vacation by Li Hongqi China・2010・91'・DCP・Color・o.v. Mandarin, subt. French, English

Li Hongqi participated in Open Doors with “Winter Vacation” in 2009; one year later the film was presented in the Concorso internazionale of the Festival del film Locarno where it won the first prize, the Golden Leopard. After Locarno the film was presented at the Viennale, the 4th Cinema Digital Seoul Film Festival, Korea, where it received the Red Chameleon Award; in 2010 it also won the Young Critic’s Award and Sound Award at the Festival 2morrow in Moscou, Russia. 

El Vuelco del Cangrejo (The Crab Trap) by Oscar Ruiz Navia

Colombia, France・2009・95'・35mm・Color・o.v. Spanish

El Vuelco del Cangrejo participated as a film project in the 2008 edition of Open Doors. A year later, in 2009, the film was released and premiered during the Toronto International Film Festival. In 2010 it was rewarded with the prize of the international film critics association FIPRESCI at the Berlinale and took part of the Guadalajara Film Festival as well as the Miami Film Festival.