Locarno film festival organisers have selected 13 projects from 120 submission for this year's Open Doors co-production lab. The lab is focused on projects from the Near and Middle East.

The selections include new films from directors Ra'anan Alexandrowicz (James' Journey to Jerusalem) and Tawfik Abu-Wael (Thirst).

Open Doors runs Aug 5-8, during the 60th Locarno International Film Festival (Aug 1-11).

Open Doors selections are:
Harag we marag by Nadine Khan (Egypt)
Messages from the Sea by Daoud Abd El-Sayed (Egypt)
Justice Must Be Seen by Ra'anan Alexandrowicz (Israel)
Man without a Cell Phone by Sameh Zoabi (Israel)
Tanathor by Tawfik Abu-Wael (Israel)
From Nowhere with Love by Hazim Bitar (Jordan)
Halal by Assad Fouladkar (Lebanon)
The One-Man Village by Simon El Habre (Lebanon)
Eye of the Phoenix by Mai Masri (Lebanon)
I Can't Go Home by Khalil Joreige & Joana Hadjithomas (Lebanon)
Fix Me by Raed Andoni (Palestine)
He! N'oublie pas le cumin by Hala Alabdalla (Syria)
Le chemin des figuiers by Meyar Al-Roumi (Syria)

Festival artistic director Frederic Maire said: 'The overall high standard made it difficult but fascinating to select the projects. Of the 13 selected projects, there are four documentaries, and four first feature films. Alongside young filmmakers, we are delighted to have a film by a master of Egyptian cinema, Daoud Abd El-Sayed.'

Open Doors project manager Vincenzo Bugno added: 'We were struck by the diversity and power of the subject matter of the projects submitted which covered a wide range of perspectives for example, issues around the psychological repercussions of conflict in the region, the burdens of exile, an Israeli take on the judicial system in Israel, but also stories dealing with love and sexuality.'

The lab is supported by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

Two projects will each win grants of $40,700 (CHF 50,000) and France's CNC supports a $13,468 (Euros 10,000) prize for the development of a debut feature.

In addition to lab meetings, the Festival hosts screenings of previous films from Open Doors film-makers as well as screenings of films from the Near and Middle East.

Open Doors also annually presents Windows, devoted to the Buenos Aires Lab and Cannes Cinefondation.

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