Hot Topics:

Locarno opens up to Latin talent

More than 300 projects enter market

Fox greenlights J.J. Abrams' 'Fringe'

ABC bets there is 'Life on Mars'

CBS considering new comedy block

Spielberg to focus on Civil War film

Taylor Lautner to star in 'Max Steel'(3434 views)

Jack Black animates film pitch(3225 views)

'Blind Side' tackles box office competition(2703 views)

Nine(1518 views)

Bennett Miller to direct 'Moneyball'(1397 views)

Overture nabs rights to 'Stone'(1041 views)

The Locarno Film Festival’s Open Doors co-production mart, dedicated this year to projects from Latin America, is being submerged with submissions, with more than 300 projects vying to make the cut, almost triple those last year.

Projects from Argentina, Chile, Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and Mexico lead the pack of candidates hoping to be included in the dozen that will participate in the workshop to be held during the Swiss lakeside fest’s 61st edition, which will run Aug. 6-16.

"Judging from the number of projects received, the potential for Latin American cinema far exceeds that of the larger producing countries we usually see at festivals," said Locarno artistic topper Frederic Maire.

The Swiss government is providing two grants of 50,000 Swiss Francs ($46,000) each — one for development and one for production — while France’s Centre National de la Cinematographie is supporting a first Latin American feature with Euros 10,000 ($14,500) in development coin.

Locarno’s list of 12 selected Latin American projects will be announced in mid-June.