11/08/2003

One of the novelties of the 56th edition of Locarno is "Open Doors - World Producers meet the World's Cinema", a three-year programme organised with the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), to support and promote the film industry in countries experiencing economic difficulties.
The "inaugural" choice fell on Cuba and this is what Camilo Vives, the executive producer of ICAIC (Cuban Art and Film Industry Institute), had to say: "In spite of the economic crisis we have been experiencing for the last decade, Cuba still prides itself on its vast panorama of talent and some fine technological infrastructure."
Following an introduction by Irene Bignardi, the artistic director of Locarno, and Nik Powell, MD of the European Film Academy and one of the United Kingdom's finest and most prolific film producers, Vives swiftly listed the various production and co-production schemes operating in Europe's leading territories - France, Italy, Germany, Scandinavia and the United Kingdom, without, or course, forgetting about the contribution of Eurimages and the MEDIA Programme.
As well as providing the audience with an all-important overview of the real potential for future international co-productions, this meeting also gave international producers an opportunity to meet and get to know young Cuban talent like Jumberto Padron, Arturo Sotto, as well as better-known artists like Fernando Perez Valdos and Humberto Solàs - both of whom presented their latest films.
"I believe that there is a growing need out there to create new opportunities for the representatives of the global film industry to meet and exchange ideas," said Bignardi. "Locarno prides itself on our longstanding tradition of welcoming the biggest variety possible of novelties in the film industry, so we could hardly miss out on this opportunity."