Vincenzo Bugno, Former Head of Berlinale World Cinema Fund, to Receive Honor at Cannes
Vincenzo Bugno, the former long-serving director of the Berlinale’s World Cinema Fund (WCF), will receive the inaugural Arab Cinema Gamechanger Award during this year’s Cannes Film Festival. The ceremony will take place on May 16 as part of the 10th Critics’ Awards for Arab Films, organized by the Arab Cinema Center (ACC).
Bugno led the WCF for 21 years before stepping down at the end of 2025. Under his leadership, the fund became a vital resource for international co-production and the circulation of films from the Middle East, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.
Notable films from the Arab world that benefitted from the fund during his tenure include Hala Lotfy’s Coming Forth By Day, Kaouther Ben Hania’s Four Daughters, Ayten Amin’s Souad, Suhaib Gasmelbari’s Talking About Trees, and Morad Mostafa’s Aisha Can’t Fly Away.
The ACC described Bugno as having built a career characterized by a “rare combination of cultural sensitivity, curatorial rigor, and an unwavering commitment to reshaping the global cinematic landscape.” His influence has been particularly significant in elevating independent voices from underrepresented regions, especially the Arab world.
“Central to Bugno’s philosophy is a rejection of Eurocentric frameworks and reductive narratives. His curatorial approach has consistently emphasized authenticity over conformity, guided by his long-held belief that ‘the more local, the more international,’” the ACC stated.
Additionally, Bugno played a crucial role in shaping the Middle East focus of Open Doors at the Locarno Film Festival in 2007, marking a pivotal moment for emerging filmmakers from the region to connect with European industry networks.
Bugno remains actively engaged in various industry initiatives as a curator for the TorinoFilmLab Feature Lab and participates in festival activities in Bolzano/Bozen, while maintaining strong connections to major cultural centers such as Berlin and Venice.
“Receiving this award brings me immense joy. It is deeply heartening to know that colleagues in the Arab World have viewed my work so positively over the years, particularly our efforts to amplify the voices of new filmmakers and champion innovative storytelling,” Bugno remarked.
He added, “This achievement is not mine alone; it would never have been possible, whether through the WCF or other initiatives, without the passion and dedication of the incredible team and colleagues I’ve had the privilege of working with for years.”
