79th Locarno Film Festival Opens with Premiere of Drama «Les yeux verts»

A total of 233 short, feature, documentary, and experimental films from around the world will be shown in Locarno over the coming days. The selection is spread across various competitions and sections, reflecting a broad spectrum of cinematic forms and narrative approaches.

International Contributions and Focus Areas

Alongside the official competitions, the program includes contributions from filmmakers from South Korea and Canada, among others. Among the works on display is a new film by Canadian director Denis Cote, whose work has already screened at international festivals on multiple occasions. The experimental cinema section also presents current short films, including a contribution from director Ann Oren.

The festival is framed by the so-called Open-air Gala program at Piazza Grande, where a film is screened under the open sky every evening. With Wednesday's opening, the eleventh and final season under the current festival leadership also begins; in recent years, this leadership has sharpened the festival's profile.

Honorary Award for Isabella Rossellini

With actress Isabella Rossellini, an internationally renowned filmmaker is receiving this year's honorary award of the festival. The distinction honors her longstanding artistic work in front of and behind the camera, as well as her commitment to independent cinema.

The festival week is accompanied by an extensive industry program featuring workshops, panel discussions, and pitching formats for emerging producers. As in previous editions, the «Pardi di domani» section is dedicated to the international short film and once again brings together numerous debut works.

Industry Program and Outlook

The festival is also flanked by a market for distributors and buyers, designed to prepare the commercial exploitation of the works on display. Locarno explicitly sees itself as a showcase for discoveries beyond the mainstream.

Until the closing one week from Saturday, premieres, retrospectives, and special screenings are expected daily. Organizers and the city once again anticipate tens of thousands of visitors streaming to Piazza Grande and into the cinemas along the shores of Lake Maggiore.

Media coverage of the festival includes, among others, the «Neue Zürcher Zeitung», reporting from Locarno and providing critical commentary on the program in the coming days. Other Swiss and international media outlets are also present on site.

According to the program's leadership, the opening is one of the festival's most emotional moments. The atmosphere at Piazza Grande, the summer weather on Lake Maggiore, and the mix of stars and emerging talent give the event its special character.

With the opening evening, the starting gun has been fired for eleven days of festival programming. Over the next days, jury decisions in the various competitions as well as further premieres are expected, which will shape the picture of this year's edition.