The Locarno Film Festival has revealed six new Uruguayan titles for its First Look work-in-progress section [1].
This selection highlights the growing international presence of Uruguayan cinema and strengthens the ties between European festival circuits and South American creators. By providing a platform for films still in production, the program helps directors secure essential distribution and finishing funds.
The initiative is a result of a partnership between Locarno Pro and the Uruguayan film institute, known as ACAU [1]. This year marks the 15th edition of the First Look program [1], which serves as a bridge for filmmakers to present their projects to industry professionals in Locarno, Switzerland [2].
The unveiled titles cover a wide range of contemporary themes, spanning from intimate family stories to dramas exploring desire that persists across oceans [3]. Among the featured filmmakers is director José Dell’Acqua Postiglione, whose work is included in this year's selection [1].
By focusing on work-in-progress titles, the festival allows a glimpse into the current creative trajectory of Uruguayan cinema in 2026 [1]. The program emphasizes the collaborative nature of film production, linking the technical needs of the creators with the strategic goals of the ACAU [2].
These six projects [1] will be presented to a curated group of producers, sales agents, and festival programmers. This process is designed to foster global collaborations and ensure that these regional stories reach a wider audience beyond their home borders [3].
“The First Look section unveiled six new Uruguayan titles for the festival’s work‑in‑progress program.”
The partnership between Locarno Pro and ACAU signals a strategic effort to institutionalize the pipeline for Uruguayan cinema on the global stage. By integrating these works into a specialized 'work-in-progress' section, the festival provides a critical safety net for independent filmmakers, transforming local artistic output into viable international commodities before the final cut is even completed.
