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The Locarno Film Festival’s industry side is launching a U.S.-European film financing initiative at the Swiss event in tandem with Oxbelly, the Greece-based nonprofit headed by former Sundance Institute director Caroline von Kühn.
The initiative, called the Locarno Investment Community, is hoping to attract both established U.S. film investors looking to expand their reach within the European film landscape and newcomers eager to support indie cinema. At Locarno, which has long been known as a global indie cinema hub, “financiers will have the opportunity to engage with emerging and established filmmakers, explore evolving funding models and contribute to the growth of independent cinema,” according to a statement.
Oxbelly already holds a year-round initiative for leading vetted U.S. film investors interested in engaging in financing within the European co-production market.
“The initiative’s long-term vision is to attract a cohort of film funders from the U.S., Europe, and Switzerland, ensuring sustained engagement and investment in independent filmmaking,” said Markus Duffner, head of Locarno Pro, which is the fest’s industry component.
The inaugural edition of the Locarno Investment Community initiative, running Aug. 7-10, will see U.S. film financiers attend key Locarno industry events and networking opportunities and give them access to the fest’s full program.
“In a time of global division, American film financiers and philanthropists recognize the importance of supporting diverse independent voices, as a way to collectively shift dominant narratives,” von Kühn said in a statement. “Their continued engagement in Europe brings valuable practices from the American independent film space into a rapidly evolving European landscape.”
The 78th edition of Locarno will take place Aug. 6-16 in the Swiss lakeside town.
