© Orange Studio
In collaboration with the film’s rights holder Orange Studio and thanks to the Festival’s Berlin- and Zurich-based partner Cinegrell Laboratories, the restoration process is now underway for the 278-minute drama starring Hiam Abbass, Béatrice Dalle, Rim Turkhi, Ahmad Al Ahmad, Bassel Khayyat and Orwa Nyrabia, among others, which world premiered Out of Competition at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004.
Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director, Locarno Film Festival: "Bringing back to life Yousry Nasrallah's masterpiece La Porte du soleil (Bab el shams, 2004), produced by Humbert Balsan, is an exciting adventure. With the collaboration, generosity, and enthusiasm of Cinegrell, we revive a key film of contemporary cinema. An adaptation of Elias Khoury's novel of the same name, Nasrallah's masterpiece is a political and lyrical film in which the director injects his irrepressible storytelling talent, observing with clarity the contradictions and sorrows of an endless conflict. Epic and melodrama, spectacle and adventure, according to Nasrallah's refined taste, a great master of today's cinema. Through Heritage Online, the Locarno Film Festival actively participates in the defense of heritage cinema, its dissemination, and knowledge for new generations, so that cinema continues to be a shared heritage for all."
Markus Duffner, Head of Locarno Pro: “The Locarno Film Festival has taken its mission of preserving the heritage of cinema seriously. Being able to actively restore this history is a great achievement for both the Festival and our Heritage Online project, launched in 2020. Thanks to our partners at Cinegrell, we were also able to launch our very first Heritage Online Contest. And we believe that Locarno will play a major role for the Heritage Film Industry, thanks to a full day dedicated to History of Cinema: Heritage Monday!”
Since 2021 the Festival has played an active role in restoring older films to their former glory. For last year’s edition alone, the Festival was a partner in the restoration of Nos vies privées (Our Private Lives, 2007) by Denis Côté and O Dia do Desespero by Manoel De Oliveira (1992).
For the first time, Locarno Pro, will offer, in the framework of Heritage Online, a full day dedicated to the Heritage film industry, on Monday 7 August. Panel discussions on the state of heritage film distribution, case studies and presentations of brand-new restored films, as well as industry screenings of classics will be the core of this day. The full program will be announced in July 2023.
This year, the Festival has also launched the Heritage Online Contest, an open call for applications for international classic and library films in need of complete or partial restoration. Submissions for the Contest closed in April. The winning restoration project, selected by a jury of three international industry professionals, will be announced during the Locarno Pro Award Ceremony on Sunday 6 August. After restoration, the title will premiere at the 77th Locarno Film Festival in the Histoire(s) du cinéma: Heritage Online section.
Heritage Online is a Worldwide Heritage and Library Films database dedicated exclusively to industry professionals. Rights holders of heritage and library films can connect with streaming platforms and distributors, with a mission to help classic titles find a new commercial life and facilitate their distribution. On Heritage Online, streamers and other buyers can watch the available titles, consult the relevant detailed technical information – including the availability of films in the various territories – and get in touch directly with rights holders. Rights holders (international sales agents, film libraries, archives, institutes, and restorers’ associations among others) can share their catalogues with potential clients.
Locarno Pro is possible thanks to the support of the Federal Office of Culture / MEDIA Desk Suisse.
