First Look

First Look 2023

Locarno’s work in progress section, aiming to showcase films in any post-production stage from a different territory, every year. The focus country for the 2023 edition was UK.

First Look is the work in progress section of Locarno Film Festival, taking place during the Locarno Pro Days and selecting 6 feature films in post-production stage from a different focus country every year.  Since 2012, First Look was launchpad for new productions from Colombia, Mexico, Chile, Brazil, Israel, Poland, Baltic Countries, Portugal, Serbia, Switzerland and Germany.

For its 12th edition (4-6 August, 2023), the Locarno Film Festival’s First Look initiative focused on UK Film, thanks to a partnership with British Film Institute (BFI), using funds from the National Lottery. Work in Progress were presented to an audience of sales agents, buyers, programmers and representatives from post-production support funds, with a view to aiding their completion and enhancing both their sales prospects and international festival runs.

The international First Look jury, made up of Ava Cahen (Artistic Director, La Semaine de la Critique Cannes), Gaia Furrer (Artistic Director, Giornate degli Autori), Eugene Hernandez (Festival Director, Sundance) Institute awarded several prizes: Mother Vera directed by Cécile Embleton and Alys Tomlinson and produced by Laura Shacham, received the Creativity Media First Look Award, providing post-production services valued at €50,000.

Sarah Lewis's No Ifs Or Buts was recognized with both the Jannuzzi Smith Award, which includes a prize of €8,500 for the design of an international poster, and a prize from industry magazine Le Film Français, consisting of advertising page valued at €5,600.