Switzerland’s prestigious Locarno Film Festival opens its doors on Wednesday, celebrating its 77th year with special honors for Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan, acclaimed directors Jane Campion and Alfonso Cuarón, and French-Swiss actress Irene Jacob.
Founded in 1946, Locarno is renowned as one of the world’s longest-running film festivals, renowned for its focus on auteur cinema. Held on the scenic shores of Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking Ticino region, the festival features screenings in the iconic Piazza Grande, which can accommodate up to 8,000 moviegoers and boasts one of the largest outdoor screens globally.
Shah Rukh Khan, 58, will be honored with the Pardo alla Carriera award on Saturday, recognising his transformative impact on Indian cinema. Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro praised Khan for his “unprecedented” contributions and his ability to continually engage and challenge audiences. “Khan is a king who has never lost touch with the audience that crowned him,” Nazzaro said.
The festival, which runs until August 17, showcases 225 films, including 104 world premieres and 15 debuts. The coveted Golden Leopard, Locarno’s top prize, will be awarded to one of seventeen films competing for the honor.
Previous winners include cinematic legends such as Roberto Rossellini, John Ford, and Stanley Kubrick. The Golden Leopard, accompanied by a prize fund of 75,000 Swiss francs ($87,400), is shared between the director and producer.
In addition to the film screenings, Locarno will feature a special retrospective celebrating the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures.
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New Zealand director Jane Campion will receive the Leopard of Honour, awarded for exceptional contributions to world cinema. Campion, renowned for her works such as The Piano and The Power of the Dog, is recognized for her remarkable skill in depicting complex human conditions.
“Her work represents one of the undisputed pinnacles of contemporary filmmaking,” Nazzaro commented.
Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, celebrated for Gravity and Roma, will be honored with the lifetime achievement award. Nazzaro commended Cuarón for his continual artistic reinvention. French-Swiss actress Irene Jacob, known for The Double Life of Véronique and Three Colours: Red, will receive the Leopard Club Award for her influential contributions to cinema.
Additionally, US film producer Stacey Sher, known for her work on Pulp Fiction, Django Unchained, and The Hateful Eight, will be awarded the Raimondo Rezzonico Award for significant achievements in international film production.
Last year’s festival drew nearly 150,000 attendees, highlighting Locarno’s significant role in the global film industry.
