Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival has announced its full lineup, which will see Radu Jude, Abdellatif Kechiche and Ben Rivers competing for its prestigious Golden Leopard.
Jude, who won the Special Jury Prize only two years ago – for “Do Not Expect Too Much from the End of the World” – will bring the much-anticipated “Dracula.” In a conversation with Variety, the Romanian director said: “If ‘Kontinental’ 25’ is my answer to Roberto Rossellini, let’s say that ‘Dracula’ is my love letter to Ed Wood.”
“There’s a lot of talk about A.I. these days, but after this film, you won’t talk about it in the same way. It’s a very radical film, a crazy political comedy,” said Artistic Director Giona A. Nazzaro.
Among all the 17 world premieres in Locarno’s main International Competition, Abdellatif Kechiche will continue his controversial saga with “Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due” – a decision that has already been hotly debated by people watching the announcement online – and Rivers will focus on “Mare’s Nest.” Hana Jušić will prove why “God Will Not Help,” while Miguel Gomes’ collaborator Maureen Fazendeiro will welcome “The Seasons.”
“It’s a poetic look at the history of Portugal,” said Nazzaro, also praising Dane Komljen’s “Desire Lines”: This is really a film that’s one of ours.”
There will be also some humor. “People always say Locarno is all about serious films – no, you can also smile,” he said, mentioning “Sorella di clausura” – “I laughed myself silly” – as well as “Solomamma” and “Donkey Days,” the latter described as a “very special comedy.”
Outside of the main competition, Palme d’Or winner Jafar Panahi – for “It Was Just an Accident” – and Joachim Trier, whose “Sentimental Value” was one of the best-reviewed films in Cannes, will now present the titles at Piazza Grande. Jackie Chan, set to receive Locarno’s career achievement award, will bring 1985’s “Police Story.”
Nazzaro said: “It’s the ‘Citizen Kane’ of action films! Jackie Chan did it all himself. He’s an artist, modern-day Buster Keaton. There’s no one like him.”
Among new highlights, “Birthday Party” with Willem Dafoe will see the acclaimed actor playing a tycoon throwing a celebration for his daughter. “Dead of Winter” stars Emma Thompson as a fisherwoman forced to save a kidnapped girl. Thompson will be also awarded at Locarno.
Jean-Stéphane Bron’s Gaumont series “The Deal,” about the U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement, is also shaping up to be quite an event, with Nazzaro admitting to binging the entire show. Speaking to Variety, Bron admitted the idea stemmed from an article in a Swiss newspaper “about a head of protocol and the title was: The one who is never in the photo.”
And then “the grand finale, with songs,” said Nazzaro about Bill Condon’s “Kiss of the Spider Woman” with Jennifer Lopez, already shown at Sundance.
“It’s the best way to conclude the Piazza Grande program. Colors, songs and superstars!”
“In a time when film is undergoing profound transformations – in the technological and economic spheres – Locarno continues to stand as a beacon for independent thought and cinematic experimentation,” said Festival President Maja Hoffmann, promising an “ambitious and exciting edition.”
“More than a celebration, Locarno78 is a defense of cinema as a living, evolving form of art.”
Nazzaro added: “The question is simple, and brutal in its inevitability: what is the place of cinema when the proliferation of images is unstoppable and continuous? […] After all – without ever forgetting Roberto Rossellini – we work for humanity. We regain the world (and perhaps peace) one film at a time.”
According to Nazzaro, the festival is a cinema that does not turn its gaze away from reality, but also “explores the still possible forms of the image without forgetting to smile at the absurdities of our lives.”
Locarno will offer “a cinema that is playful, takes risks, dreams, and provokes; a cinema that stubbornly remains in the world. Looking onward, alongside all human beings,” he said.
Here’s the full lineup:
International Competition
“Desire Lines”
Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Netherlands, Croatia, Germany
Directed by Dane Komljen
World premiere
Branko keeps trailing his brother through Belgrade, trying to understand his unusual behavior, but realizes “that he himself is the strange one – an observer.” As he keeps on walking, he leaves the city behind, “passing through landscapes and borders on his way to somewhere else.” Companies involved are Serbia’s Dart Film, in co-production with SeriousFilm (the Netherlands), Mak Film and Marletti (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Pipser (Croatia) and Flaneur Films (Germany). Ivan Čuić, Branka Katić and Petja Golec Horvat act.
“Donkey Days”
Netherlands, Germany
Directed by Rosanne Pel
World premiere
Families – you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. Two sisters, Anna and Charlotte, are back in their old home. It’s time for long-overdue confrontation following a holiday gone wrong. Pel already made “Light as Feathers,” noticed at multiple festivals. “Donkey Days” is a Family Affair Films production, made in co-production with Junafilm and SWR. Family Affair Films backed Steve McQueen’s doc “Occupied City” and Bianca Stigter’s “Three Minutes – A Lengthening.”
“Dracula”
Romania, Austria, Luxembourg
Directed by Radu Jude
World premiere
The extremely prolific Romanian Radu Jude (“Aferim,” “Bad Luck Banging or Loony Porn”), at this point known to cinephiles all over the world, finally heads to Transylvania, playing with the vampire mythos. Paris-based Luxbox is already on board. Serban Pavlu, Eszter Tompa and Ilinca Manolache star, while producing are Saga Film and MicroFilm (Romania) and Nabis Filmgroup (Austria), Paul Thiltges Distribution and Samsa Film (Luxembourg), RT Features (Brazil), Bord Cadre Films (Switzerland) and Sovereign Films (U.K.).
“Dry Leaf”
Germany, Georgia
Directed by Alexandre Koberidze
World premiere
The Georgian filmmaker, whose playful dramedy “What Do We See When We Look At the Sky?” was one of the revelations in Berlin back in 2021, takes on the story about sports photographer Lisa who suddenly vanishes without a trace. In her note, the only thing left behind, Lisa’s explicitly asks not to be found. Her father, refusing to accept it, sets out on a long journey alongside her best friend. Produced by New Matter Films, it features the director’s father, David Koberidze, as well as Irina Chelidze, Vakhtang Fanchulidze Giorgi Bochorishvili, and Otar Nijaradze.
“God Will Not Help”
Croatia, Italy, Romania, Greece, France, Slovenia
Directed by Hana Jušić
World premiere
Sold by Warsaw-based New Europe Film Sales, Jušić’s new film is set in the early 20th century, following a woman from Chile who ends up in a remote Croatian sheepherding community. But her presence quickly upsets its order, forcing her to rethink her own desires. Produced by Ankica Jurić Tilić’s (Kinorama), it has been developed at the Cannesv Festival’s Cinéfondation and TorinoFilmLab’s ScriptLab. This will mark the Croatian director’s second feature after “Quit Staring at My Plate,” awarded in Venice.
“God Will Not Help”
“Le Lac”
Switzerland
Directed by Fabrice Aragno
World premiere
In this film by a frequent Jean-Luc Godard collaborator, a woman and a man (Clotilde Courau and Bernard Stamm) throw themselves into a sailing race, which continues for several days and nights. He told Variety about the film produced by Casa Azul Films that “the story is quite simple. It’s about a couple who want to feel again. I’m using everything I’ve discovered with Godard, playing with the freedom of image and sound. It will be a real ‘spectacle cinématographique.’”
“Mosquitos”
Italy, Switzerland, France
Directed by Valentina Bertani, Nicole Bertani
World premiere
In the 1990s, Linda is only eight years old. She has “a few teeth, a very rich grandmother and a beautiful, dangerous and disruptive mother.” But an encounter with two peers, sisters Azzurra and Marta, will teach her “how to become a child.” This Emma Films and Cinédokké production marks the feature debut of the Italian directors, who co-wrote the script with Maria Sole Limodio. Valentina Bertani also directed “The Crown Shyness” in 2022, nominated for Italy’s David di Donatello Award.
“Mare’s Nest”
United Kingdom, France, Canada
Directed by Ben Rivers
World premiere
Beijing sales outfit Rediance reunites with experimental wiz Rivers for the third time, now on a story about a girl called Moon (Moon Guo Barker) traveling through a mysterious world free of adults. “Once I had Moon in my mind, the image of the film became clearer and it became a kind of near future road movie, a world that has an underlying sense of uncertainty and disturbance, but also about possibilities and joy,” said Rivers. It was produced by the director for Urth Films, together with Paris-based 4A4 Productions.
“Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due”
France
Directed by Abdellatif Kechiche
World premiere
Following “Canto Uno” and “Intermezzo,” Kechiche returns to his sun-drenched, sensual – and somewhat controversial – trilogy, showing Amin, who returns home to reconnect with family and childhood friends. Visits to his parents’ restaurant, local bars and beaches ensue. With Shaïn Boumedine, cast as Amin, Ophélie Bau and Jessica Pennington. Also behind “Black Venus,” Kechiche is best known for “Blue Is the Warmest Colour,” a Cannes Festival Palme d’Or winner.
“Phantoms of July”
Germany
Directed by: Julian Radlmaier
World premiere
Spain’s Bendita Film Sales is handling sales for this socially pointed but playful dramedy, starring Locarno winner Clara Schwinning (“A Good Place”) which comes after Radlmaier’s “Self-Criticism of a Bourgeois Dog” and “Bloodsuckers.” “It’s a film about the alchemy of encounter,” said the director. Split into three sections, the film is produced by Kirill Krasovski at Blue Monticola Film, while Westdeutchen Rundfunk co-produces. Bendita Film Sales’ Luis Renart teased: “Julian has created a film that feels as light as a summer breeze yet lingers like a ghost.”
“The Seasons”
Portugal, France, Spain, Austria
Directed by Maureen Fazendeiro
World premiere
Maureen Fazendeiro, a French director and screenwriter based in Lisbon, brings a film that travels through the seasons and “through the true and fictional history of a region in Portugal, the Alentejo,” as well as the peoples who inhabited it. Previously, Fazendeiro delivered “The Tsugua Diaries” – co-directed with Miguel Gomes. She also co-wrote his well-received “Grand Tour.” Norte Productions’ Valentina Novati and O Som e a Fúria’s Luís Urbano produce.
“Solomamma”
Norway, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, Finland
Directed by Janicke Askevold
World premiere
After “Together Alone,” Askevold explores single motherhood. Edith decides to get pregnant via a sperm donor. Buts as her son turns five, parenting all alone becomes increasingly difficult. Lisa Loven Kongsli (“Force Majeure”) and Herbert Nordrum (“The Worst Person in the World”) are in the cast alongside Céline Engbrightsen, Rolf Kristian Larsen and Nasrin Khusrawi. The film is produced by Bacon Pictures Oslo and Danish Bacon Pictures Copenhagen, in co-production with Latvia’s Mistrus Media, Dansu (Lithuania) and It’s Alive Films (Finland).
“Sorella di clausura”
Romania, Serbia, Italy, Spain
Directed by Ivana Mladenović
World premiere
MicroFilm (Romania) joins forces with Dunav 84 (Serbia), Nightswim (Italy) and Boogaloo Films (Spain) on a story about Stela, who falls for a Balkan musician she saw on TV. With the help of a starlet named Vera, her dream of meeting him slowly takes shape. Serbian director Mladenović – based in Romania – is known for her documentary “Turn Off the Lights,” which premiered at Tribeca, and “Ivana the Terrible,” the latter awarded also at Locarno. Adrian Schiop co-wrote the script.
“Tales of the Wounded Land”
Lebanon
Directed by Abbas Fahdel
World premiere
Born in Iraq and later based in France, Fahdel has delivered the likes of “Yara,” “Homeland (Iraq Year Zero)” and “Tales of the Purple House.” “Another beloved director, bringing the second chapter of his trilogy about Lebanon,” said Nazzaro during the announcement. “It’s a very intimate film about his family, his house, and living through the war.”
“Two Seasons, Two Strangers”
Japan
Directed by Sho Miyake
World premiere
Behind “All the Long Nights,” “Small, Slow but Steady” and “Playback,” also shown at Locarno, Miyake takes on works by celebrated manga artist Yoshiharu Tsuge, “Mister Ben of the Igloo” and “A View of the Seaside.” The film follows Li, a screenwriter played by Shim, who embarks on a journey of self-reflection following a chance meeting with Benzo. “Through her writing process, she explores meaningful moments of human connection,” it was stated. The film features Shim Eun-kyung and Shinichi Tsutsumi. Bitters End handles sales.
“White Snail”
Austria, Germany
Directed by Elsa Kremser, Levin Peter
World premiere
The directorial duo returns after “Dreaming Dogs” and “Space Dogs.” In their latest – and their first fiction film – a Belarusian wannabe model is drawn to a mysterious loner (Marya Imbro and Mikhail Senkov) working the night shift at a morgue. It’s described as a “fragile love story of two outsiders who turn each other’s worlds upside down and discover that they are not alone.” Vienna-based Panama Film produces. “It will be a real surprise,” said Nazzaro.
“With Hasan in Gaza”
Palestine, Germany, France, Qatar
Directed by Kamal Aljafari
World premiere
Aljafari’s latest film kicks off as three miniDV tapes of life in Gaza from 2001 are rediscovered, standing as a testament to a place and time that no longer exists. “What began as a search for a former prison mate from 1989 led to an unexpected road trip from the north to the south of Gaza, accompanied by Hasan, a local guide whose fate remains unknown.” Hailing from Palestine, Aljafari is known for “A Fidai Film,” “Port of Memory” and “Recollection.”
“The Seasons”
Marianne Andrea Borowiec
Filmmakers of the Present
“Affection Affection”
France
Directed by Alexia Walther, Maxime Matray
World premiere
“A Balcony in Limoges”
France
Directed by Jérôme Reybaud
World premiere
“Balearic”
Spain, France
Directed by Ion de Sosa
World premiere
“Becoming”
France, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Lithuania, Sweden
Directed by Zhannat Alshanova
World premiere
“Blue Heron”
Canada, Hungary
Directed by Sophy Romvari
World premiere
“Don’t Let the Sun”
Switzerland, Italy
Directed by Jacqueline Zünd
World premiere
“Don’t Let Me Die”
Romania, Bulgaria, France
Directed by Andrei Epure
World premiere
“Fantasy”
Slovenia, North Macedonia
Directed by Kukla
World premiere
“The Fin”
South Korea, Germany, Qatar
Directed by Park Syeyoung
World premiere
“Follies”
Canada
Directed by Eric K. Boulianne
World premiere
“Hair, Paper, Water…”
Belgium, France, Vietnam
Directed by Nicolas Graux, Trương Minh Quý
World premiere
“Hijo Mayor”
Argentina, France
Directed by Cecilia Kang
World premiere
“Olivia”
Argentina, United Kingdom, Spain
Directed by Sofía Petersen
World premiere
“The Plant from the Canaries”
Germany
Directed by Ruan Lan-Xi
World premiere
“Sweetheart”
Italy
Directed by Margherita Spampinato
World premiere
“Don’t Let the Sun”
Piazza Grande
“In the Land of Arto”
France, Armenia
Directed by: Tamara Stepanyan
World premiere
“The Birthday Party”
Greece, Spain, Netherlands, United Kingdom
Directed by: Miguel Ángel Jiménez
World premiere
“The Dead of Winter”
USA, Germany
Directed by: Brian Kirk
World premiere
“The Deal”
Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium
Directed by: Jean-Stéphane Bron
Swiss premiere
Episodes 1&2
“Heads of Tails?”
Italy, USA
Directed by: Alessio Rigo de Righi, Matteo Zoppis
Swiss premiere
“Irkala – Gilgamesh’s Dream”
Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, France, United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia
Directed by: Mohamed Jabarah Al-Daradji
World premiere
“It Was Just an Accident”
Iran, France, Luxembourg
Directed by: Jafar Panahi
Swiss premiere
“Kiss of the Spider Woman”
USA, Uruguay
Directed by: Bill Condon
International premiere
“La Petite Dernière”
France, Germany
Directed by: Hafsia Herzi
Swiss premiere
“Police Story”
Hong Kong
Directed by: Jackie Chan
“Sentimental Value”
Norway, France, Denmark, Germany, Sweden
Directed by: Joachim Trier
Swiss premiere
“The Shining”
United Kingdom, USA
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
“Rosemead”
U.S.
Directed by: Eric Lin
International premiere
“Together”
Australia, U.S.
Directed by: Michael Shanks
Swiss premiere
“Irkala – Gilgamesh’s Dream”
Fuori Concorso
“Bobò”
Italy
Directed by Pippo Delbono
World premiere
“The Deal”
Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium
Directed by: Jean-Stéphane Bron
World premiere
Episodes 3-6
“Deathstalker”
Canada
Directed by Steven Kostanski
World premiere
“E”
Finland
Directed by Anna Eriksson
World premiere
“Exile”
Tunisia, Luxembourg, France, Qatar, Saudi Arabia
Directed by Mehdi Hmili
World premiere
“I Live Here Now”
U.S.
Directed by Julie Pacino
European premiere
“Judas’ Gospel”
Italy, Poland
Directed by Giulio Base
World premiere
“Keep Quiet”
U.S.
Directed by Vincent Grashaw
World premiere
“Kerouac’s Road: the Beat of a Nation”
U.K., U.S.
Directed by Ebs Burnough
International premiere
“Le Chantier”
France, Switzerland
Directed by Jean-Stéphane Bron
World premiere
“Legend of the Happy Worker”
U.S.
Directed by Duwayne Dunham
World premiere
“Nova ’78”
UK, Portugal
Directed by Aaron Brookner, Rodrigo Areias
World premiere
“Silence”
Spain
Directed by Eduardo Casanova
World premiere
“Some Notes on the Current Situation”
Israel
Directed by Eran Kolirin
World premiere
“Kerouac’s Road: the Beat of a Nation”
