Login
Newsletter
Hub für audiovisuelle Kultur
PalaCinema Locarno is the hub where audiovisual culture comes to life.
The building, situated in the heart of Locarno, brings together under one roof six resident institutions and spaces dedicated to cinema, education, events and the city’s cultural life.
The resident institutions are: the Locarno Film Festival, CISA – one of Switzerland’s five film education centres, the Ticino Film Commission, the Media and MINT lab of SUPSI, RSI’s Locarno antenna and PalaCinema Locarno. The hub comprises three cinema halls with a total of 714 seats, the Foyer Public and the Bistrot. The building, inaugurated in 2017, reflects the Locarno region’s longstanding commitment to and vocation for the audiovisual sector – a journey that began in 1946 with the founding of the Locarno Film Festival, which has established the city as an international reference point for auteur cinema. The building, designed by architects Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Maider Llaguno-Munitxa of studio AZPML is an iconic work of contemporary architecture. The resident institutions and PalaCinema Locarno generate local, national and international synergies, promoting content and training programmes for the region. Together, they bring their expertise and vision, contributing to the development of the audiovisual sector in Ticino and serving as a point of reference for the film and audiovisual industry.
PalaCinema is a unique project in Switzerland and one of only a few of its kind in Europe. With an annual footfall of around 70'000 people – including members of the public, industry professionals and students – it is a vibrant, open place, present in the cultural life of the Locarno area.
Energy certification
Swisstainable · Level II
Mission
To make audiovisual culture accessible and visible throughout the year.
PalaCinema Locarno produces, co-produces, researches and presents its own installations and events, actively contributing to cultural vitality and the audiovisual sector. It is a platform that combines culture, education and research — a forum for dialogue, experimentation and exchange for professionals in the sector and for anyone interested in the field. It fosters interest among the younger generation and encourages collaboration between the resident institutions, which generate new cultural energy for the region and beyond.
Vision
An audiovisual hub setting the standard in Ticino
PalaCinema Locarno envisions a Ticino where audiovisual culture is recognised as a resource for education, knowledge, creativity and regional identity.
The vision is to become a leading audiovisual hub in Ticino, where institutions, professionals, trainees and the public can come together, collaborate and work together to shape the future of audiovisual culture.
Values
Audiovisual as a universal language
Moving images tell the story of the world, shape a critical eye and build communities. Through cinema, installation and the audiovisual arts, we explore different perspectives: those of the creator, the viewer and the learner. We ask ourselves how the audiovisual medium tells the past, and seek new answers for the future.
Diversity enriches us
Through our work, we cultivate an awareness of diverse audiovisual perspectives. Visitors to PalaCinema – whether for a screening, an installation, an event or simply to linger for a while – encounter stories, voices and perspectives from around the world.
We never stop learning
We are curious people; we listen and learn through exchange. We ask questions, examine things critically and share our knowledge. Through practice, experimentation and reflection, we accumulate and create experience.
Inclusivity and creativity
For PalaCinema Locarno, inclusivity and creativity are core values. We foster an environment in which inclusion, creativity and innovation are welcomed and encouraged. We support open-mindedness, tolerance and acceptance, and condemn all forms of discrimination.
Quality and care
We place great importance on quality – from the landmark architecture designed by AZPML to the attention paid to the interior spaces, from the cinema halls to the Foyer Public, right through to the culinary offer at the Bistrot PalaCinema.
Sustainability
Protecting the environment and the climate is an integral part of our management. We are committed to using resources responsibly, in line with the United Nations’ SDG goals and the City of Locarno’s commitment to sustainability.
Synergy as a source of strength
Collaboration is in PalaCinema Locarno’s DNA. The residents, cultural partners and the local community form a network in which diverse skills come together, enriches one another and generates a constant exchange of cultural energy.
Role in the Region
PalaCinema Locarno is a cultural infrastructure at the service of its region. Bringing the Locarno Film Festival, CISA, the Ticino Film Commission, the Media and MINT lab of SUPSI, RSI and PalaCinema Locarno together under one roof is no coincidence — it is a strategic choice. The day-to-day proximity between these organisations generates natural and ongoing synergies, fostering an ecosystem in which expertise comes together to create cultural value for the region and beyond.
