The African Film Press (AFP)—a cross-regional alliance of founding publications Akoroko, Sinema Focus, and What Kept Me Up—has been officially announced as an award partner for Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors 2026 edition.
As part of its new role within the prestigious industry programme, AFP will present the AFP Critics Prize to one selected project during the 2026 cycle. The prize includes a USD 500 cash award, an official certificate, and continued editorial coverage of the winning project and its future developments across AFP’s partner media networks.
The AFP Critics Prize is designed to spotlight emerging voices in African cinema while providing sustained visibility beyond the festival itself, reinforcing AFP’s commitment to critical engagement and long-term support for filmmakers from across the continent.
AFP first introduced the award on 5 December 2025 at the 5th edition of the S16 Film Festival in Lagos, where Nigerian filmmaker Dika Ofoma received the inaugural prize for his short film Obi Is a Boy. Ofoma was previously a participant in the Open Doors Africa programme, where his feature project Kachifo (Till the Morning Comes) was selected for the 2025 Open Doors Projects lineup and went on to win three awards during that edition.
The 2026 Open Doors edition marks the second year of a four-cycle initiative dedicated to supporting filmmakers from 42 African countries, in accordance with eligibility guidelines set by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. The programme will run from 5 to 10 August during the Locarno Film Festival and its industry platform, Locarno Pro, featuring workshops, mentorship sessions, networking opportunities, and public screenings.
Alongside AFP, a second new partner has been added to the awards roster: an EAVE and Luxembourg Film Fund scholarship valued at EUR 4,000, supporting participation in the EAVE Marketing Workshop.
The 2026 jury will announce all award recipients on 10 August, with Open Doors continuing its established prize structure. Existing awards include the Open Doors Grant (CHF 50,000) supported by visions sud est and the City of Bellinzona, the CNC Development Prize (EUR 8,000), and the Arte Kino International Prize (EUR 6,000), among others.
Through its inclusion in Open Doors 2026, African Film Press strengthens its role in amplifying African cinema within global industry spaces, while contributing to the visibility, development, and international reach of emerging filmmakers across the continent.