Locarno Pro First Look Showcases Six Uruguayan Films in 2026 Edition
5 verified3 unconfirmed
The Locarno Film Festival’s Locarno Pro program will feature six Uruguayan film projects in its First Look work-in-progress section during the 2026 edition. First Look, celebrating its 15th year, is organized in partnership with the Uruguayan film institute ACAU. The selection includes both fiction and documentary titles exploring themes such as family trauma, desire, and community transformation. An international jury will award multiple prizes, with winners announced on August 9. The projects range from a veterinarian’s descent into illegal operations to a documentary about a director confronting his father’s domestic violence. The festival’s industry segment runs from August 5 to 11.
What’s verified
First Look is the work-in-progress section of Locarno Pro, marking its 15th edition in 2026.
The section will spotlight six Uruguayan film titles in partnership with ACAU.
The films are: “Maltrato animal” (fiction, 81 min, dir. José Dell’Acqua Postiglione), “The Other Side of the Net” (documentary, 80 min, dir. Maximiliano Martínez), “Our Little Band of Justice” (fiction, 85 min, dir. Guillermo Casanova Arósteguy), “Perkal” (documentary, 75 min, dir. Paola Perkal), “Spring Story” (fiction, 62 min, dirs. Gabriela Guillermo and Irina Raffo), and “El surubí” (fiction, 95 min, dir. Lorenzo Tocco).
The international jury comprises Ana David (program advisor, Berlinale), Susana Santos Rodrigues (co-director, IndieLisboa), and Triin Tramberg (artistic director, Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival).
The winners will be announced during the Locarno Pro Award Ceremony on Sunday, August 9.
Not yet confirmed
The specific prize categories and monetary values (including the Music Library & SFX/Acorde Award at €45,000, the Le Film Français advertising space at €5,600, and the Jannuzzi Smith Award at €10,000) were reported by only one source.
Quotes from Markus Duffner, director of Locarno Pro, and ACAU president Gisella Pevitali appeared in only one source.
The overall festival dates: one source states the Locarno Film Festival runs August 5–15, while the other only specifies Locarno Pro runs August 5–11.
Key figures
José Dell’Acqua Postiglione – director, “Maltrato animal”
Maximiliano Martínez – director, “The Other Side of the Net”
Guillermo Casanova Arósteguy – director, “Our Little Band of Justice”
Paola Perkal – director, “Perkal”
Gabriela Guillermo – co-director, “Spring Story”
Irina Raffo – co-director, “Spring Story”
Lorenzo Tocco – director, “El surubí”
Ana David – jury member (Berlinale)
Susana Santos Rodrigues – jury member (IndieLisboa)
Triin Tramberg – jury member (Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival)
Markus Duffner – director of Locarno Pro
Gisella Pevitali – president of ACAU
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter
