The Locarno International Film Festival in Switzerland has unveiled an eclectic lineup for its 77th edition, taking place Aug. 7-17. The fest will screen 225 total films, including 104 world premieres, five international premieres and some debut features, including new films from such directors as Hong Sang-soo, Spanish actress Paz Vega and Radu Jude. Gianluca Jodice’s Le Déluge, starring Mélanie Laurent and Guillaume Canet, will also world premiere and open the fest, with Locarno on Wednesday unveiling that the two French stars will receive the Excellence Award Davide Campari on the fest’s opening night.
Beyond new fare, some of this season’s film festival favorites and classics will screen in Locarno’s main Piazza Grande section, taking place on the town’s main square set up with 8,000 seats. Films to be screened include Cannes hits such as Laetitia Dosch’s Dog on Trial, Mohammad Rasoulof’s The Seed of the Sacred Fig, and Claude Barras’ Savages, along with such classics as Jane Campion’s The Piano, the world premiere of the 4K restored director’s cut of Tarsem Singh’s The Fall, and Jean-Luc Godard’s A Woman Is a Woman.
New offerings include the world premieres of Vega’s feature directorial debut Rita, in which she also appears, Mexico 86, starring Bérénice Béjo, by César Díaz, and Le Déluge by Gianluca Jodice with Laurent as Marie-Antoinette and Canet as Louis XVI in the film about “the last days of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette before they were executed.”
Steven Spielberg’s E.T. will screen on the square as a pre-festival event on Aug. 4.
The fest’s Concorso Internazionale, or international Competition, in which the Pardo d’Oro, or Golden Leopard is the top honor, will include the likes of Timestalker, directed by and starring English actress Alice Lowe, along with Nick Frost; Bogancloch by Ben Rivers; Der Spatz im Kamin by Ramon Zürcher; and Wang Bing’s Qing Chun (Ku), whose English title is Youth (Hard Times).
Meanwhile, Locarno’s Concorso Cineasti del Presente sidebar, which puts the spotlight on first and second features, will include Invention by Courtney Stephens, Iva Radivojević’s When the Phone Rang, and Crickets, It’s Your Turn by Olga Korotko, among others.
Fuori Concorso, Locarno’s non–competitive section that organizers describe as a “laboratory for the mixing of all conceivable genres and varied forms of storytelling,” includes such offerings as U.S. film Bang Bang, starring Tim Blake Nelson and directed by Vincent Grashaw, as well as a new film from Italian director Marco Tullio Giordana and two films, including a tribute to Andy Warhol’s Sleep, from experimental and provocative Romanian auteur Radu Jude (2023’s Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World).
And Locarno’s Pardi di Domani section, showcasing short and medium-length films focused on experimentation and innovative forms, will include a contribution from Canadian auteur Denis Côté.
Finally, a 10-film homage to late avant-garde U.S. filmmaker Stan Brakhage will also be part of Locarno 77.
“From well–established film directors, such as Hong Sang-soo, Wang Bing, Ben Rivers, Pia Marais, Silvia Luzi and Luca Bellino, including Ala Eddine Slim, Gürcan Keltek and Kurdwin Ayub, Christoph Hochhäusler, the Zürcher brothers and Laurynas Bareiša, to Mar Coll and Sara Fgaier, Marta Mateus, Sylvie Ballyot, and Virgil Vernier, the competition is a deep immersion into the possibilities of contemporary film language,” said Locarno’s artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, calling it “an ambitious competition.”
He added: “In the non-competitive sections too, artists like Edgar Pêra, Radu Jude, Bertrand Mandico, and Fabrice Du Welz, with their fresh approaches to the film essay, or Marco Tullio Giordana and Isild Le Besco, with their cinema rooted in the abysmal depths of the unspoken in families and related traumas, are key elements of vital conversations.”
During a press conference, Nazzaro mentioned that 34.9 percent of films in the selection are from female filmmakers. In the Concorso Internazionale, female filmmakers account for eight of 17 movies (47.1 percent), in the Cineasti del Presente program seven of 15 (46.7 percent), and in the Pardi di Domani lineup 18 out of 40 (45 percent).
Asked why no movie from Israel was in the lineup, but co-productions with Qatar were, and whether that was a political decision, the artistic director said no, pointing to Qatar’s active role in the film space in recent years, including due to the work of the Doha Film Institute. “We watched all of the films. We also received films from Israel, and we discussed all of them,” Nazzaro said. “But we really viewed the films as works in themselves.” He concluded: “So, it’s really not an issue.”
Locarno previously unveiled that it will honor Indian superstar Shah Rukh Khan with its lifetime achievement award, the Pardo alla Carriera, or career leopard. The star, known to his fans as “King Khan,” will receive the prize on Aug. 10.
The night before, French-Swiss actress Irène Jacob, best-known for her star-making turns in Krzysztof Kieślowski’s The Double Life of Veronique (1991), and Three Colors: Red (1994), will receive this year’s Leopard Club Award for her contribution to contemporary cinema.
The event will also honor veteran indie producer Stacey Sher (Erin Brockovich, Django Unchained) with this year’s Premio Raimondo Rezzonico Award for the best independent producer on Aug. 8.
Austrian filmmaker Jessica Hausner will serve as jury president of the Concorso Internazionale section. The jury will decide the winner of the Pardo d’Oro, the Golden Leopard, at the Swiss fest.
Check out the Locarno film festival’s full main feature competition lineup below:
Piazza Grande Program
Electric Child by Simon Jaquemetworld premiere
Gaucho Gaucho by Michael Dweck, Gregory KershawSwiss premiere
Le Déluge by Gianluca Jodiceworld premiere
Dog on Trial by Laetitia DoschSwiss premiere, first feature
Mexico 86 by César Díazworld premiere
Reinas by Klaudia ReynickeSwiss premiere
Rita by Paz Vegaworld premiere, first feature
Savages by Claude BarrasSwiss premiere
Sew Torn by Freddy Macdonaldinternational premiere, first feature
Shambhala by Min Bahadur BhamSwiss premiere
The Fall (Restored Cut)by Tarsem Singhworld premiere of the 4K restoration and director’s cut
The Piano by Jane Campion
The Seed of the Sacred Fig by Mohammad RasoulofSwiss premiere
Timestalker by Alice LoweSwiss premiere
A Woman Is a Woman by Jean-Luc Godardworld premiere of the 4K restoration
Concorso Internazionale Program
Agora by Ala Eddine Slimworld premiere
Akiplėša (Toxic) by Saulė Bliuvaitėworld premiere, first feature
Bogancloch by Ben Riversworld premiere
Cent Mille Milliards by Virgil Vernierworld premiere
Der Spatz im Kamin by Ramon Zürcherworld premiere
Fogo Do Vento (Fire of Wind) by Marta Mateusworld premiere, first feature
Green Line by Sylvie Ballyotworld premiere, first feature
La Mort Viendra by Christoph Hochhäuslerworld premiere
Luce by Silvia Luzi, Luca Bellinoworld premiere
Mond (Moon) by Kurdwin Ayubworld premiere
Qing Chun (Ku) (Youth (Hard Times)) by Wang Bingworld premiere
Suyoocheon (By the Stream) by Hong Sang-sooworld premiere
Salve Maria by Mar Collworld premiere
Seses (Drowning Dry) by Laurynas Bareišaworld premiere
Sulla Terra Leggeri by Sara Fgaierworld premiere, first feature
Transamazonia by Pia Maraisworld premiere
Yeni Șafak Solarken (New Dawn Fades) by Gürcan Keltekworld premiere
Concorso Cineasti Del Presente Program
Crickets, It’s Your Turn by Olga Korotkoworld premiere
Der Fleck by Willy Hansworld premiere, first feature
Fario by Lucie Prostworld premiere, first feature
Fekete Pont (Lesson Learned) by Bálint Szimlerworld premiere, first feature
Foul Evil Deeds by Richard Hunterworld premiere, first feature
Hanami by Denise Fernandesworld premiere, first feature
Holy Electricity by Tato Kotetishviliworld premiere, first feature
Invention by Courtney Stephensworld premiere
Joqtau by Aruan Anartayworld premiere, first feature
Kada Je Zazvonio Telefon (When the Phone Rang) by Iva Radivojevićworld premiere
Kouté Vwa (Listen to the Voices) by Maxime Jean-Baptisteworld premiere, first feature
Les Enfants Rouges by Lotfi Achourworld premiere
Monólogo Colectivo by Jessica Sarah Rinlandworld premiere
Olivia & Las Nubes by Tomás Pichardo-Espaillatworld premiere, first feature
Real by Adele Tulliworld premiere
Fuori Concorso
Bang Bang by Vincent Grashawinternational premiere
Cartas Telepáticas (Telepathic Letters) by Edgar Pêraworld premiere
Dragon Dilatation by Bertrand Mandicoworld premiere
Espèce Menacée by Bruno Devilleworld premiere
Fréwaka by Aislinn Clarkeworld premiere
La Passion Selon Béatrice by Fabrice Du Welzworld premiere
La Prodigiosa Trasformazione Della Classe Operaia in Stranieri by Samirworld premiere
La Vita Accanto by Marco Tullio Giordanaworld premiere
Ma Famille Chérie by Isild Le Bescoworld premiere
Opt Ilustrate Din Lumea Ideală (Eight Postcards from Utopia) by Radu Jude, Christian Ferencz-Flatzworld premiere
Sleep #2 by Radu Judeworld premiere
Pardi di Domani Program (short and medium-length films focused on experimentation and innovative forms)
Pardi Di Domani – Concorso Internazionale400 Cassettes by Thelyia PetrakiB(l)ind the Sacrifice by NakhaneDespre Imposibilitatea Unui Omagiu (On the Impossibility of an Homage) by Xandra PopescuDull Spots of Greenish Colours by Sasha SvirskyFreak by Claire BarnettGender Reveal by Mo MattonGimn Chume (Hymn of the Plague) by Ataka51Icebergs by Carlos PereiraLinnud Läinud (On Weary Wings Go By) by Anu-Laura TuttelbergLudwig (Power Inferno) by Anton BialasMother Is a Natural Sinner by Boris Hadžija, Hoda TaheriPunter by Jason Adam MaselleQue Te Vaya Bonito, Rico by Joel Alfonso VargasRazeh–del by Maryam TafakorySoleil Gris by Camille MonnierThe Cavalry by Alina OrlovThe Form by Melika PazoukiThe Nature of Dogs by Pom BunsermvichaWashhh by Mickey LaiWhat Mary Didn’t Know by Konstantina Kotzamani
Pardi Di Domani – Concorso NazionaleBetter Not Kill the Groove by Jonathan LeggettLux Carne by Gabriel GrosclaudeMaman Danse by Mégane BrüggerMétropole by Theo KunzProgress Mining by Gabriel BöhmerRevier by Felix ScherrerSans Voix by Samuel PattheySky Rogers: Manager De Stars by Ciel SourdeauTinderboys by Sarah Bucher, Carlos Tapia
Pardi Di Domani – Concorso Corti D’autore1 Hijo & 1 Padre by Andrés Ramírez PulidoChou He Zhuang (Like What Would Sorrow Look) by Hao ZhouGwe–in Esi Jeongche (The Masked Monster) by Syeyoung ParkJours Avant La Mort De Nicky by Denis CôtéLa Fille Qui Explose by Caroline Poggi, Jonathan VinelLes Bouches by Valentin MerzMy Life Is Wind (A Letter) by Anahita GhazvinizadehPractice, Practice, Practice by Kevin Jerome EversonRevolving Rounds by Johann Lurf, Christina JauernikUpshot by Maha Haj
