Locarno International Film Festival
About
One of the world's oldest film festivals, held annually in August in Locarno, Switzerland. Renowned for its open-air Piazza Grande screenings and its Golden Leopard award, Locarno has championed independent and avant-garde cinema since 1946.
Submit
Submission Page
Type
Top 50
Qualifies For
None
Template
Browse All
Founded in 1946, the Locarno Film Festival is one of the world's oldest and most prestigious film festivals, held annually in August in Locarno, Switzerland. A FIAPF-accredited event, it has championed independent, avant-garde, and innovative cinema from around the globe for nearly eight decades.
The Piazza Grande
Locarno is best known for its iconic open-air screenings at the Piazza Grande, a town square that seats approximately 8,000 spectators under the stars. Introduced in 1971, the Piazza Grande has become one of cinema's most celebrated venues - so distinctive that it has appeared on Swiss twenty-franc banknotes since 2017.
Awards & Competition
The festival's highest honour is the Golden Leopard, awarded in the international competition. Additional prizes include the Leopard of Honour for lifetime achievement and the Prix du Public audience choice award. The festival presents competitive and non-competitive sections spanning feature films, documentaries, shorts, and avant-garde works.
History & Mission
Conceived as a platform for artistic freedom after World War II, Locarno has consistently programmed the boldest voices in world cinema - from Italian Neo-Realism and Latin American cinema to Asian and Eastern European film. Under Artistic Director Giona A. Nazzaro, the festival continues its founding commitment to discovery, exchange, and creative independence.
Awards & Recognition
The Pardo d'Oro (Golden Leopard) for Best Film in the Concorso Internazionale is the top prize. Special Jury Prizes, Best Director, Best Performance, and the FIPRESCI Prize are also awarded. The Cineasti del Presente section has its own competition with a dedicated Pardo.
The Raimondo Rezzonico Award is given to an international producer. The Locarno Kids section and Pardi di Domani shorts program both award their own prizes.
Festival Leadership & Programmers
Giona A. Nazzaro has served as Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival, continuing the festival's tradition of bold curatorial leadership. Marco Solari is President of the festival. The programming team includes curators for all sections.
Budget Templates
Track your festival submissions
Use Saturation to budget your festival run — submission fees, travel, and marketing costs in one place.
Get Started Free
