Canada – the Focus Country at Locarno Film Festival’s First Look!
Canadian cinema will be in the spotlight at the 78th Locarno Film Festival with four feature-length films and three short films all world premiering at the festival. In addition, Joana Hadjithomas and Khalil Joreige’s Memory Box (France/Lebanon/Canada/Qatar coproduction) is featured in Histoire(s) du Cinéma and will receive the prestigious Raimondo Rezzonico Award. Alongside the films in selection, Canada is the focus country at the 14th edition of First Look, an industry initiative that serves as a key post-production platform for international arthouse projects.
In the Filmmakers of the Present competition, two narrative Canadian features were selected, first-time feature film director Sophy Romvari’s Blue Heron (Canada/Hungary coproduction which received funding in Telefilm’s Talent to Watch Program) and directorial debut of Éric K. Boulianne’s Folichonneries (his short Faire un enfant won the Best Director award at the 76th Locarno Film Festival in 2023). In the international competition is Ben Rivers’ Mare’s Nest (UK/France/Canada coproduction), and in the non-competitive section is Steven Kostanski’s Deathstalker, a genre film with executive producer Slash from Guns N’ Roses.
In the shorts competition, Ryan McKenna’s Solitudes (his second short selected at Locarno), Alexandre Dostie’s BOA (Canada/France coproduction), and Jean-Sébastien Hamel and Alexandra Myotte’s animated short Ce qu’on laisse derrière (What We Leave Behind) (their previous short film was shortlisted at the 2025 Oscars®) – were all produced in Quebec.
“Canada makes a powerful mark at Locarno with eight films in selection, one prestigious award and six promising teams in First Look — a record-breaking celebration of Canadian talent!” said Julie Roy, Executive Director and CEO of Telefilm Canada. “Locarno has long championed Canadian voices like Denis Côté, Trevor Anderson and Matthew Rankin, and this year reaffirms Canada’s growing impact on global cinema. Our expanding international collaborations and audience markets not only reflect the strength of our storytelling today but also lay a strong foundation for the next generation of storytellers to thrive on the world stage.”
Locarno’s First Look, in partnership with Telefilm Canada, is set to showcase six Canadian feature-length films that are currently in post-production with a goal to enhance their sales prospects and international festival runs. This industry-oriented initiative offers an international platform for Canadian producers to introduce their selected projects, followed by screenings with an audience of sales agents, buyers, festival programmers. With over 30 submissions, the following feature-length films are selected at Locarno’s First Look:
- Sophie Leblond’s Lhasa (Quebec)
- Nick Butler’s Lunar Sway (British Columbia)
- Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’s Nina Roza (Quebec)
- Bryce Hodgson’s Thanks to the Hard Work of the Elephants (British Columbia/Ontario/Quebec)
- Raymond St-Jean’s Veins (Quebec)
- Catherine Hébert and Elric Robichon’s We Will Not Be Silenced (Quebec)
Locarno’s First Look announcement can be found here.
About Telefilm Canada
As a Partner of Choice, Telefilm Canada is a Crown corporation dedicated to the success of Canada’s audiovisual industry, fostering access and excellence by delivering programs that support cultural resonance and audience engagement. With a lens of equity, inclusivity and sustainability, Telefilm bolsters dynamic companies and a range of creative talent at home and around the world. Telefilm also makes recommendations regarding the certification of audiovisual coproduction treaties to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, and administers the programs of the Canada Media Fund. Launched in 2012, the Talent Fund raises private donations which principally support emerging talent.
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Media contact:
Joyce Richards
Advisor, Strategic Communications
Joyce.Richards@telefilm.ca