Locarno Festival Announces ‘Adventurous’ Lineup Featuring Caleb Landry Jones, Isabelle Huppert, Hong Sang-soo and Monica Bellucci
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- Locarno Festival unveiled 103 world premieres for its 79th edition (Aug. 5-15), with Artistic Director Giona A. Nazzaro calling it "an adventurous selection, full of surprises" that "tackles the challenges of the present."
- Hong Sang-soo returns to Locarno with "Nowhere to Lay My Eyes" starring Kim Minhee, adding to a Locarno history that includes a Golden Leopard for "Right Now, Wrong Then" and a recent Berlinale Silver Bear for "A Traveler's Needs."
- Monica Bellucci stars in Giovanni Tortorici's "Ketticè," produced by Luca Guadagnino, set in Berlusconi-era Palermo circa 2012 — a film Tortorici said depicts the "cultural stagnation" of his adolescence.
- Piazza Grande section will showcase Isabelle Huppert and Diane Kruger in "All About Corinne," Chiara Mastroianni in "Love Lessons," and Caleb Landry Jones alongside Mena Suvari in Peter Brunner's "Down the Arm of God."
- Asia Argento will receive the Life Achievement Award and present "Armony" by Dario Albertini, while classic screenings will include "Wild at Heart," "Dances with Wolves," and "Taxi Driver."
- The International Competition spans productions from South Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, India, Canada, Germany/Ukraine, Chile, Italy, and more — including Gurvinder Singh's India-France co-production "Rehmat" starring Naseeruddin Shah as a tale of hope amid "divisive political forces."
Why it matters: With 103 world premieres packed into 11 days, Locarno positions itself as a launchpad for auteur cinema — spotlighting returning masters like Hong Sang-soo alongside emerging voices from Southeast Asia, South America, and the subcontinent. The festival's 79th edition doubles as a statement that independent, politically engaged filmmaking remains a core identity even as the audiovisual sector faces "transformations" the artistic director flagged.
