Florian Hoffmann’s “Yazz,” about a teenager growing up in a UN compound in the Central African Republic, celebrated two major wins at this year’s Locarno Pro Awards for the Alliance 4 Development co-development platform for projects from Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland
Swiss-German-French co-production from Tellfilm, NiKo Film and Eaux Vives Productions beat out 10 other projects for top prizes. “Yazz” took home both the Nebel Studios Award, estimated at CHF 30,500 ($37,678) for three days of studio use and five days of camera equipment, and the Studio13/Valais Film Commission Award, estimated at close to $14,825 for five days of studio use at Studio13 in Valais, Switzerland.
“What really struck us about ‘Yazz’ is its unique and very personal perspective on a world we think we know, but rarely see from the inside,” the jury stated. “The project has also shown to be at incredibly advanced stage of development that has already received strong recognition, with experienced co-production partners on board, great talent attached and development funding secured in Switzerland — confirming our belief in the project’s artistic and production potential.”
The Masé Studios Post-Production Award, worth nearly $31,000 in post-production services, was shared by queer and feminist coming-of-age musical “Cuore Matto,” by Tamer Ruggli, produced by Francine Lusser and Gérard Monier of Switzerland’s Tipimages Productions, and “Les Orages Magnétiques” (“Magnetic Storms”) by Wendy Pillonel, produced by Flavia Zanon of Swiss shingle Close Up Films, a coming-of-age tale that explores the complexity of becoming a woman in a misogynistic environment. “Les Orages Magnétiques”also picked up the Midpoint Consulting Award, an online script consultancy with a Midpoint Institute expert.
