Locarno Festival Honors Talemwa Pius and Mohammed Sheikh's Films
WHO:
Variety - Talemwa Pius is a Ugandan filmmaker.
Variety - Mohammed Sheikh is a Somali filmmaker.
WHAT:
Variety - Talemwa Pius’s film “A Vineyard for a Lobster” and Mohammed Sheikh’s film “Accept My Plea for a Burial” won the two biggest cash prizes at the Locarno Film Festival's Open Doors initiative.
Deadline - Aseye Fiagbe’s film “Too Much Music” from Ghana also shared the cash prize of 50,000 with the other two films.
Variety - Talemwa Pius’ film “A Vineyard for a Lobster” won a top prize at the Locarno Film Festival.
Variety - Mohammed Sheikh’s film “Accept My Plea for a Burial” also won a top prize at the Locarno Film Festival.
Deadline - The films “A Vineyard for a Lobster” and “Accept My Plea for a Burial” shared a cash prize of 50,000.
WHERE:
Variety - The awards were presented at the Locarno Film Festival.
WHEN:
Deadline - The Locarno Film Festival took place in 2026.
WHY:
Variety - “A Vineyard for a Lobster” is described as a magic realist fable.
Variety - “Accept My Plea for a Burial” critiques ancient customs in Somalia.
HOW:
Deadline - The winners were part of the Locarno Pro umbrella, which includes initiatives like First Look, Alliance 4 Development, and Open Doors.
(UPDATED August 10, 2026 13:22 UTC)
At the Locarno Film Festival's Open Doors initiative, Talemwa Pius’s film “A Vineyard for a Lobster” and Mohammed Sheikh’s film “Accept My Plea for a Burial” took home the two biggest cash prizes. Additionally, Aseye Fiagbe’s film “Too Much Music” from Ghana shared the cash prize of 50,000 with the other two films. This recognition highlights the growing talent and diversity in the global film industry.
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(UPDATED August 10, 2026 12:10 UTC)
Talemwa Pius, a Ugandan filmmaker, and Mohammed Sheikh, a Somali filmmaker, both won top prizes at the Locarno Film Festival for their films, “A Vineyard for a Lobster” and “Accept My Plea for a Burial,” respectively. The two films shared a cash prize of 50,000, with Pius's work being a magic realist fable and Sheikh's film critiquing ancient customs in Somalia. These winners were recognized under the Locarno Pro umbrella, which supports various initiatives for emerging filmmakers.