Locarno, 16 August 2026
Romanian filmmaker Florin Șerban has won the Golden Leopard, the top prize at the International Film Festival Locarno, for his film "Nu e locul tau aici" ("Du gehörst nicht hierher"), with South Korea's Hong Sang-soo named best director for his chamber piece "Nun Dul Dega Eomne" ("Nirgends, da ich meinen Blick ruhen lassen kann").
Update from 16 August 2026: Festival officials in Locarno confirmed on Saturday afternoon that the Golden Leopard, the competition's top prize, goes to "Nu e locul tau aici" ("Du gehörst nicht hierher"), written and directed by Romanian filmmaker Florin Șerban. The film's Romanian title translates literally to "You don't belong here," framing a story about displacement and estrangement that resonated with the jury.
What is new since 15 August
The award was presented as part of the festival's closing honours, held in a small ceremony on Saturday afternoon. "Alle Ehrungen wurden bereits am Samstagnachmittag in einer kleinen Zeremonie überreicht," a festival spokesperson said, confirming that all prizes were handed out in the same low-key afternoon event rather than at a larger gala.
In the directing category, the jury named South Korean auteur Hong Sang-soo as best director for "Nun Dul Dega Eomne," which carries the English subtitle "Nirgends, da ich meinen Blick ruhen lassen kann" — "Nowhere I can let my gaze rest." The film is a chamber piece in Hong's characteristic minimalist style, focusing on a small ensemble of characters in confined spaces and extended conversations. The prize adds to a long list of festival honours for Hong, whose work has screened regularly in competition sections across Europe and Asia.
Florin Șerban's festival pedigree
Florin Șerban is no stranger to international festival audiences either. He first drew widespread attention with his debut feature "Eu când vreau să fluier, fluier" ("If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle"), which won the top prize in the Berlin Film Festival's Generation section in 2010 and screened widely afterwards. His latest work, set in the Romanian title "Nu e locul tau aici," marks his return to feature-length fiction after years spent working across Europe.
The Locarno festival, held annually on the Swiss-Italian border, is one of Europe's longest-running showcases for arthouse and independent cinema. Its top prize, the Golden Leopard, has historically launched or cemented careers for filmmakers working outside the major Anglo-American studio system. Past winners include directors who went on to broader international recognition.
This year's edition placed a notable emphasis on Eastern European and East Asian cinema, with the top two prizes both going to filmmakers from those regions. Hong Sang-soo's selection continues a recent pattern of Locarno juries rewarding directors who have sustained distinctive authorial voices over many years, while Șerban's win signals the festival's continued attention to new Romanian voices.
Locarno's place on the European circuit
Festival organisers have not yet released detailed jury statements explaining the rationale behind each award, and it is not clear from the official announcement whether further comments will follow. Coverage from earlier in the festival had identified several other titles as contenders, including works from first-time directors and more established names.
The closing ceremony itself was deliberately understated, in keeping with Locarno's tradition of a relaxed, intimate awards format. The festival's smaller scale, set in the lakeside town of Locarno in Switzerland's Ticino canton, is often cited as part of its appeal for filmmakers and audiences who prefer a less pressurised environment than larger European events such as Cannes or Venice.
Both films are expected to continue their festival runs in the coming months, with screenings anticipated at autumn showcases including events in San Sebastián, Busan and beyond. Distributors who acquire the films will face the challenge of bringing chamber pieces and Eastern European drama to wider audiences at a time when arthouse cinema continues to navigate shifting viewing habits.