Human rights and comedy for Locarno’s screens
The leading Swiss film festival of Locarno is highlighting universal human rights in this year’s edition, which takes place in August.
“Every human being is unique, valuable and irreplaceable,” artistic director Carlo Chatrian is quoted as saying.
Presenting the line-up of the ten-day festival on Wednesday, the organisers External linkannounced that 15 films will be competing for a Golden Leopard award this year, including a Swiss entry – Thomas Imbach’s love drama, Glaubenberg.
A total of 18 films will also be shown in the popular Piazza Grand open-air cinema for up to 8,000 spectators each night.
Experts say a few star directors will be represented at the festival in southern Switzerland this year, notably Spike Lee.
French director Bruno Dumont will receive an Honorary Leopard award, and the Excellence Award will go to American actor/director Ethan Hawke. The festival will also pay tribute to American author Leo McCarey by screening LibertyExternal link, a short comedy film from 1929 starring Laurel and Hardy.
It is the final festival edition for Chatrian, who is set to leave southern Switzerland for the Berlin film festival in the German capital next year.
More
The history and future of films in Locarno
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