Locarno78: Official Selection Announced

Between August 6-16, 2025, the Swiss city of Locarno will transform into a bustling crossroads for the independent cinema from around the world, featuring a vibrant program of films that straddles the line between the radical and the popular. From bold competitions that invigorate audiences with new forms and artistic pathways for filmmaking to the soaring human dramas of the Piazza Grande program, the Locarno78 selection is a showcase for all the possible worlds of cinema.

 

DOWNLOAD THE LIST OF TITLES (PDF)

 

Giona A. Nazzaro, Artistic Director of the Locarno Film Festival: “The films of the 78th edition represent what is alive, necessary, and daring in contemporary cinema today. A cinema entirely in the present tense, devoid of any nostalgia and projected forward towards an open, dynamic, inclusive future that is to be imagined together, once again. A playful and dangerous cinema that takes many risks, but also a cinema that does not forget to laugh and smile, and to question history in all its aspects. A necessary cinema, therefore, to be discovered in the darkness of the screening hall, where we rediscover the profound sense of aesthetic pleasure and feel part of a community. These are films designed for the cinema and for the collective experience in front of the screen. Once again, cinema is now – and facing into the future.”

 

Piazza Grande

 

14 films, including 4 world premieres, and 2 international premieres, will be screened in Piazza Grande, Locarno’s extraordinary open-air cinema that accommodates an audience of thousands of people every night.

 

Concorso Internazionale

 

Consisting of 17 world premieres, the Concorso Internazionale assembles major films from all over the globe to compete for the Pardo d’Oro. Showcasing both established auteurs and emerging talents, classical form and experimentation, the Concorso Internazionale is a forum for the very best of contemporary cinema.

 

Concorso Cineasti del Presente

 

The Concorso Cineasti del Presente selection, dedicated to discovering the cinema of tomorrow, comprises 15 films: first and second features, all world premieres.

 

Fuori Concorso

 

The blackboard upon which the languages of cinema are etched and revised, a non-competitive section of the Festival program that doubles as a laboratory for the mixing of all conceivable genres and varied forms of storytelling. The section features 14 films, of which 12 are world premieres and one is an international premiere.

 

Histoire(s) du Cinéma

 

Unprecedented perspectives on film history with 15 films, a diverse selection that includes newly restored classics and underknown films alike.

 

Already Announced

 

Pardi di Domani

 

Pardi di Domani is a cornerstone of the Locarno Film Festival’s mission to foster dialogue between generations and traditions and to support the filmmakers who will define the future of cinematic expression. This year’s edition features 40 world premieres across three competitions and from 25 countries, offering audiences a glimpse into the possible pathways the cinema of the future might take. In the Concorso Internazionale and the Concorso Nazionale, many fresh voices find their first international home, giving their voice expression in front of the international industry. The Concorso Corti d’Autore highlights how filmmakers, well-versed in feature-length storytelling, draw creative strength and inspiration from working in the short film format.

 

Retrospective

 

Few international festivals can claim the cultural significance of the Locarno Film Festival’s famous retrospectives, which have long had a major impact on the worldwide conversation around the cinema of the past. Whether in its complete studies of major auteurs – offering the chance to absorb the complexities of a single filmmaker’s artistic output in its entirety – or in canon-busting reconsiderations of national cinemas or film studios, the sprawling Retrospective is a beloved event for cinephiles, scholars, professionals, and the general public. And this year is no exception – with “Great Expectations”, the Festival pays a tribute to British postwar cinema, bringing together digital restorations and archival prints from the collection of the BFI National Archive – which celebrates its 90th anniversary this year.

 

Locarno Kids Screenings

 

A rite of passage that gifts a love of cinema to young kids, with a varied selection of films for children and teenagers, featuring 4 world premieres and 2 international premieres, and deep dives into the world of animation, including the Swiss premiere of Mary Anning, chasseuse de fossiles (2025) the new film by Marcel Barelli, recipient of this year’s Locarno Kids Award, presented by la Mobiliare.

 

Open Doors Screenings

 

In the first year of a four-year cycle dedicated to 42 countries of the African continent, Open Doors will offer an overview of the most interesting independent productions from its current focus region. This year will feature 8 long and 5 short length films.

 

Independent Sections

 

Semaine de la Critique

 

The Semaine de la Critique features 7 full-length documentaries as world or international premieres, selected by the Swiss Association of Film Journalists.

 

Panorama Suisse

 

A selection of 10 feature films and 2 shorts representing the state of the art in Swiss cinema, chosen by representatives from SWISS FILMS, the Solothurner Filmtage, and the Swiss Film Academy.

 

The Press Area of the Locarno Film Festival is now accessible here.

 

Ticket Shop

 

Tickets and Festival passes for the 78th Locarno Film Festival can be purchased online through the Ticket Shop or at any Info Point during the Festival.

 

Voting for the Prix du Public UBS can be conducted via the website or by scanning QR codes on tickets and on the back cover of Pardo, the Festival’s printed daily magazine.