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The picturesque town of Locarno, nestled on the shores of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region, is set to come alive as the Locarno Film Festival opens on Wednesday, august 7, with an ode to cinema’s finest.
The 77th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, running until August 17, features an impressive selection of 225 films, including 104 world premieres and 15 debut movies.
This year’s festival promises a stellar lineup, with iconic figures such as Shah Rukh Khan, Jane Campion, Alfonso Cuaron, and Irene Jacob being honored for their outstanding contributions to the world of cinema. The open-air Piazza Grande, capable of accommodating up to 8,000 moviegoers, will once again serve as the grand stage, showcasing films on one of the largest screens globally.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, aged 58, will be the highlight on Saturday, August 10, as he receives the prestigious Pardo alla Carriera award. This accolade recognizes individuals whose artistic contributions have significantly redefined cinema. Festival director Giona A. Nazzaro emphasized the unprecedented impact of Khan’s work on Indian cinema, hailing him as a king who has maintained a profound connection with his audience through his daring and brave artistic endeavors.
The coveted Golden Leopard, the festival’s top prize, has previously been awarded to legendary directors such as Roberto Rossellini, John Ford, Stanley Kubrick, Milos Forman, Mike Leigh, and Jim Jarmusch. This year, 17 films, all premiering either globally or internationally, will compete for this prestigious award, with entries from countries like Lithuania, France, Austria, Italy, and South Korea.
The Golden Leopard winner will take home a prize fund of approximately $87,400, shared between the director and the producer. Additionally, the festival will feature a retrospective dedicated to the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures, further enriching the cinematic celebration.
Among the honorees, New Zealand’s Jane Campion will receive the Leopard of Honor, a testament to her remarkable influence on world cinema. Known for her masterpieces like The Piano and The Power of the Dog, Campion’s films delve into the darker facets of the human condition, creating complex and captivating characters. Past recipients of this honor include Ennio Morricone, Jean-Luc Godard, Bernardo Bertolucci, Paul Verhoeven, Terry Gilliam, and Werner Herzog. Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuaron, lauded for his directorial brilliance in Gravity and Roma, will be bestowed with the lifetime achievement award. Nazzaro commended Cuaron for his continual reinvention as an artist with each new project.
French-Swiss actress Irene Jacob, celebrated for her roles in La Double vie de Veronique and Trois couleurs: Rouge, will receive the Leopard Club Award for her influential contributions to film. Additionally, US film producer Stacey Sher, known for her work on Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty, Gattaca, Erin Brockovich, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight, will be honored with the Raimondo Rezzonico Award for major achievements in international movie production.
Last year’s festival drew nearly 150,000 attendees, and this year’s edition promises to be an even grander celebration of cinematic artistry, attracting film enthusiasts from around the globe.
With a rich history dating back to its inception in 1946, the Locarno Film Festival is renowned as one of the world’s longest-running annual film festivals, dedicated to auteur cinema.
With AFP
