Switzerland, Locarno / founded in 1946
Held in August
An acclaimed Swiss film festival that has been called “an alternative Cannes for radical film buffs.” The authors of this definition emphasize that both Cannes and Locarno retain, unlike many others, global significance, but similarities can be seen in the fact that both festivals were held for the 67th time this year. Another feature that makes Cannes and Locarno similar is the demand: a small Swiss town can play host to ~170,000 people for 11 days.
In addition to the main program (Concorso internazionale), which, as already mentioned, usually includes uncompromising auteur films, the Festival offers an international competition for first and second films (Concorso Cineasti del presente), a competition for short and medium-length films by young authors (Pardi di domani) and an out of competition selection of first films made by already established directors. The festival awards – leopard statuettes – come with handsome cash prizes of up to 90,000 Swiss francs.
For professionals in the film industry in Locarno organizes separate screenings of films and presentations of projects in various stages of readiness and implemented mainly in countries where there is no established cinematic tradition. For film school students the festival also offers short summer educational programs (directing, film criticism, documentary filmmaking), similar to those we mentioned when talking about the Berlin Film Festival.