Locarno Film Festival Announces 221-Film Program for 78th Edition

The prestigious Locarno Film Festival is set to launch its 78th edition with an ambitious program featuring 221 films. Running from August 6 to 16, this year's festival continues its tradition of showcasing innovative cinema while maintaining its position as one of Switzerland's premier cultural events. The program comprises 150 feature films, 70 short films, and a TV series, demonstrating the festival's commitment to diverse storytelling formats.

This year's edition boasts an impressive 99 premieres, highlighting the festival's role in introducing new cinematic voices to the world. The opening night will feature the world premiere of 'Le Pays d'Arto' by Tamara Stepanyan, a Franco-Armenian co-production, screening at the iconic Piazza Grande. The competition section features 17 world premieres competing for the coveted Golden Leopard, showcasing the festival's commitment to discovering and promoting groundbreaking cinema.

Switzerland maintains a strong presence at this year's festival with Neuchâtel-born director Fabrice Aragno's 'Le Lac' competing for the Golden Leopard. The film, praised by festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro for its poetic visual language, represents Swiss cinema's continuing innovation and artistic excellence. The press conference announcing the program was held at the LUMA Westbau, owned by festival president Maja Hoffmann's LUMA Foundation, underlining the festival's deep Swiss roots.

According to festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, this year's selection demonstrates a strong focus on relationship narratives and conflict exploration. The programming reflects contemporary global discussions while maintaining an eye toward lasting relevance. 'We wanted to structure the programme in such a way that in 30 years' time we could say that the festival was up to date,' Nazzaro explained, emphasizing the festival's commitment to both timely and timeless storytelling.