Locarno Film Festival Opens with Celebrated Honorees
The prestigious Locarno Film Festival kicks off on Wednesday, bringing together notable figures in the film industry, including Shah Rukh Khan, Jane Campion, Alfonso Cuaron, and Irene Jacob, who will be honored with special awards. Established in 1946, Locarno is one of the world’s oldest film festivals, known for its focus on auteur cinema.
Festival Highlights
Held on the picturesque shores of Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking Ticino region of southern Switzerland, the festival features films screened in Locarno’s central square, Piazza Grande, which can accommodate up to 8,000 moviegoers. This open-air venue is a staple of Swiss culture, even depicted on the country’s 20-franc banknotes, and boasts one of the largest screens in the world.
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Shah Rukh Khan to Receive Pardo alla Carriera
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, 58, will be awarded the Pardo alla Carriera on Saturday. This award celebrates individuals whose artistic contributions have redefined cinema. Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro praised Khan, stating, “The wealth and breadth of his contribution to Indian cinema is unprecedented. Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him. This brave and daring artist has always been willing to challenge himself.”
Other Honorees
- Jane Campion: The New Zealand director will receive the Leopard of Honour for her outstanding contributions to world cinema. Campion is the first woman to be nominated twice for the best director Oscar and won for “The Piano” (1993) and “The Power of the Dog” (2021). Nazzaro highlighted her work’s focus on complex, tortured characters and her skill in exploring the disturbing aspects of the human condition.
- Alfonso Cuaron: The Mexican filmmaker, renowned for his Oscar-winning films “Gravity” (2013) and “Roma” (2018), will receive the lifetime achievement award. Nazzaro commended Cuaron for his ability to reinvent himself with each new film.
- Irene Jacob: The French-Swiss actress, known for her roles in “The Double Life of Veronique” (1991) and “Three Colours: Red” (1994), will be honored with the Leopard Club Award, recognizing her work’s impact on the collective imagination.
- Stacey Sher: The US film producer, known for producing iconic films like “Pulp Fiction,” “Erin Brockovich,” and “Django Unchained,” will receive the Raimondo Rezzonico Award for significant achievements in international movie production.
Festival Details
The 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival runs until August 17 and features 225 films, including 104 world premieres and 15 debut movies. The festival’s top prize, the Golden Leopard, comes with a prize fund of 75,000 Swiss francs ($87,400) shared between the director and producer. This year, 17 films from countries including Lithuania, France, Austria, Italy, and South Korea are competing for the award.
Additionally, the festival will celebrate the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures with a special retrospective. Last year’s event attracted nearly 150,000 attendees, showcasing the festival’s significant impact on the global film industry.
