The 2010 session was devoted to cinema from Central Asia. Twelve projects, selected out of 114 applications from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, participated in the Open Doors Factory, organised with the collaboration of the Festival Industry Office. The objective of the 4-day workshop was to assist the selected directors and producers to find co-production partners and to complete their films.

The lucky award winners and cash prizes include:

- SUNNY DAYS by Nariman Turebayev produced by Limara Zheksembayeva (Kazakhstan): Grant for production Open Doors (50.000 CHF)

- ARAL by Ella Vakkasova (Uzbekistan): Grant for development CNC (Centre National du cinéma et de l’image animée) 7.000 Euros

- BARZAGH by Saodat Ismailova (Uzbekistan):
Grant for development ARTE 6.000 Euros

Aside from the workshop, the Open Doors Screenings, aimed at both festival goers and professional delegates, will run until the end of the Festival on Augut 15. The 2010 official program is also presenting a selection of 12 key films made in recent years in Central Asia.

The 2010 Open Doors Jury included Martina Malacrida and Joël Chapron for the Festival del film Locarno, Walter Ruggle and Martial Knaebel representing the Swiss support fund for production "visions sud est", and Annamaria Lodato and Remi Burah for ARTE. The development grants are financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

Sandy Mandelberger, Festival Circuit Editor