Locarno Film Festival

In 1946, at the height of the cultural fervour of the post-war reconstruction, the heart of quality cinema began to beat in Locarno, Switzerland. Thanks to its summer programme, designed for both the general public and film enthusiasts, and venues such as the Piazza Grande – home to one of the world’s largest open-air screens, in front of which thousands of spectators gather – the Locarno Film Festival offers a unique platform for discovering the best of national and international cinema. From fiction films to documentaries, from feature-length films to short films, from the new frontiers of cinematic storytelling to the rediscovery of treasures from the past.

Set against the enchanting backdrop of the lake and the mountains of the Canton of Ticino, the festival brings together emerging talents in filmmaking, professionals from the audiovisual industry, masters of the seventh art, and those who wish to enjoy, understand or learn about cinema. Locarno is a growing community and a veritable permanent laboratory, brought to life by a programme that keeps it vibrant throughout the year.

In Locarno, cinema fosters dialogue, encourages discussion and helps shape the collective imagination of our time: it is a Festival that explores cinema across the board, discovering the filmmakers and films of the future in the present.

© Locarno Film Festival