Locarno has announced the full lineup for its 79th edition, featuring 103 world premieres.
Artistic Director Giona A. Nazzaro called it “an adventurous selection, full of surprises, which tackles the challenges of the present without ever sacrificing the pleasures of storytelling and entertainment.”
Festival regular Hong Sang-soo will present “Nowhere to Lay My Eyes” and Nelson Yeo “The House on the Moon.”
“Returning to Locarno with ‘The House on the Moon’ feels like the stars have aligned. A few years ago, this felt like reaching for the moon – and we have,” he told Variety. “I’m so grateful to our fantastic cast and crew for embarking on this journey with me and bringing a childhood dream to life. We can’t wait to share the film with audiences around the world.”
Other titles include Sarah Leonor’s “D’ici Là,” Isabelle Stever’s “I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming,” Meritxell Colell Aparicio’s “Far from the Trees” and “Donkey Princess” directed by stop-motion animators Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña.
Italy will be represented by Salvatore Mereu’s “Wandering Trees” and Giovanni Tortorici’s “Ketticè” – the latter produced by Luca Guadagnino and starring Monica Bellucci.
“I want to describe the [Silvio] Berlusconi-era Palermo of roughly the year 2012,” the director told Variety.
“Let’s say that my generation – compared to previous ones, or maybe even compared to today – at 16 was totally devoid of any idealism or social conscience. I wanted to depict the cultural stagnation that really characterized my adolescence.”
Ann Oren will present “Objet A” and Canadian director Denis Côté “Nobody’s Violence,” while Wayne Wapeemukwa’s “Manhunt” marks another Canadian offering. Florin Șerban’s “You Don’t Belong Here,” Basil Da Cunha’s “O Jacaré” and “The Riverbank” by Matheus Farias and Enock Carvalho will also be shown.
The lineup also includes Lê Bảo’s “Hearing” and Gurvinder Singh’s “Rehmat,” which will star Naseeruddin Shah. The screenplay is adapted from short stories by Ajeet Cour.
“When I approached him, he agreed without even asking about the role. In the end, the screen character is a complex mix of what I imagined and how Naseer inhabited it,” Singh said.
“‘Rehmat’ portrays how people in a culturally and religiously diverse land navigate life, dealing with divisive political forces, yet retaining hope and compassion.”
Finally, Maria Bäck’s will bring “Brave New Love” with Anders Danielsen Lie (“The Worst Person in the World,” “Sentimental Value”) and Angeliki Papoulia.
“We are incredibly pleased that ‘Brave New Love’ is having its international premiere in Locarno,” she told Variety, noting the film was created “in collaboration with the bravest of actors and an exceptional team of artists and filmmakers.”
“For many years, the festival has distinguished itself by showcasing uncompromising and innovative films driven by strong personal voices, making this selection truly special to us.”
Piazza Grande section will see quite a few stars, from Isabelle Huppert and Diane Kruger (“All About Corinne”) to Chiara Mastroianni (“Love Lessons”) and Caleb Landry Jones and Mena Suvari, playing in Peter Brunner’s world premiere “Down the Arm of God.”
Asia Argento, who will receive the Life Achievement Award at the fest, will present “Armony” by Dario Albertini, while Claes Bang will star in “I Is Another” directed by Felix Randau.
The audience will also get to see such classics as “Wild at Heart,” “Dances with Wolves” and “Taxi Driver,” as well as Olivia Wilde’s new hit “The Invite” with Seth Rogen, Wilde, Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton.
Nazzaro added: “Ours is a selection of films deliberately set against the complexities of the present day, which explores and reflects on the transformations currently taking place within cinema and in the wider audiovisual sector.”
Locarno’s CEO Raphaël Brunschwig noted: “For almost 80 years, Locarno has drawn its strength from bringing together different dimensions: the radical nature of artistic exploration, a vibrant relationship with audiences, the discovery of new voices and the work that accompanies them, cinema’s memory, the complexity of the industry, a deep-rooted connection to its geographic surroundings, and an engagement with public life.”
This coexistence is “fragile and precious,” he said.
“It requires care, independence, and consistency. Above all, it asks us to welcome every film as part of a relationship – with those who created it, with those who watch it, and with what it can set in motion.”
“This is also how a festival becomes a public good: not only by showing films, but by fostering encounters between people, works of art, and ideas beyond the usual paths. Locarno does not simply welcome what is visible; it accompanies what is about to become so. It belongs to those who live here, to those who come here, and to those willing to let themselves be surprised.”
The festival will take place over Aug. 5-15.
‘Rehmat’
Vahao Studio
Here’s the full list:
International Competition
“Brave New Love”
Denmark, Sweden, Greece
Dir: Maria Bäck
World Premiere
Anders Danielsen Lie (“The Worst Person in the World,” “Sentimental Value”), Kathrine Thorborg Johansen, Simon Sears and Angeliki Papoulia star in this story about a woman who’s having an affair – and navigating love. Produced by Snowglobe, it’s sold by REinvent International Sales. Previously, Bäck directed “Psychosis in Stockholm.”
“D’ici Là”
France
Dir: Sarah Leonor
World Premiere
French director behind another Locarno premiere “Real Life” and “The Great Man” returns with a film featuring Frank Beauvais, Dinara Droukarova, Louiza Aura, Dimitri Doré, Laetitia Dosch, Jean-Louis Scheidecker, Fatou Dicko, Adrien Michaux and David Faivre.
“Donkey Princess”
Chile, France, Uruguay, Netherlands, Germany
Dir: Cristóbal León, Joaquín Cociña
World Premiere
Chilean stop-motion animators Cristóbal León and Joaquín Cociña, who have been collaborating since 2007, bring a new film to the fest. Their first feature, “The Wolf House,” was shown at Berlinale.
“Far From the Trees”
Spain, Peru, Italy
Dir: Meritxell Colell Aparicio
World Premiere
Produced by Allegra Films, Animalita Films and Exit Media, it’s a third feature by Meritxell Colell (“Facing the Wind,” “Dúo”). It follows a woman who travels to Peru and, continuing her grandfather’s legacy, tries to create a sound map of languages that are disappearing. With Angélica Castelló, Jose Luis López Cama, Teresita Sánchez and Caterina Ramirez Guallar.
“Hearing”
Vietnam, Singapore, Norway, France, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Cambodia, Thailand, Taiwan
Dir: Lê Bảo
World Premiere
Vietnamese director Lê Bảo, awarded for “Taste” at Berlinale, turns his attention to a decibel mechanic measuring sound – and discovering a whole different world around him. Produced by Sensory Ocean Films, it features Nguyễn Quốc Tuấn, Ngọc Tản, Vân Hà, Chí Linh, Khánh Huyền.
“The House on the Moon”
Singapore, Taiwan, Germany, Indonesia
Dir: Nelson Yeo
World Premiere
Nelson Yeo brings a touch of sci-fi to the main competition, reimagining ancient legends. Yeo has previously directed “Dreaming & Dying,” which become the first Southeast Asian film to win both the Golden Leopard in the Filmmakers of the Present category and the Best First Feature award.
“I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming”
Germany, Ukraine
Dir: Isabelle Stever
World Premiere
Made with Ukrainian writer Anna Melikova, and with Tania Myronyshena, Markus Bright, Iryna Mak, Viktor Zhdanov, Maiia Sobolevska, Maria Myronyshena and Oleksandr Rudynskyi, it’s directed by Germany’s Isabelle Stever (“Grand Jeté,” “The Weather Inside”).
“Ketticè”
Italy
Dir: Giovanni Tortorici
World Premiere
Monica Bellucci plays the head of an aristocratic Sicilian family in this drama produced by Luca Guadagnino, Marco Morabito and Agustina Costa Varsi for Frenesy Film, as well as The Apartment, Memo Films and Piper Film. Tortortici made his debut with “Diciannove.” Now, he focuses on two teenagers in Palermo.
“Manhunt”
Canada
Dir: Wayne Wapeemukwa
World Premiere
Wapeemukwa fillows Tornto winner “Luk’Luk’I” with second feature “Manhunt”: a road movie through Canada’s vast northern frontier which turns to violence, inspired by real-life murders. Produced by Matt Drake, Nathan Drillot and Wapeemukwa, it stars Harris Lowe, Landon Tunold, Bianca Foscht and Dilara Foscht.
“Nobody’s Violence”
Canada
Dir: Denis Côté
World Premiere
With the help of Larissa Corriveau, Philippe Rebbot, Xavier Bergeron, Gabrielle Lazure, and Pierrette Robitaille, the renowned Canadian filmmaker tells the story of Mira, who keeps meeting people with whom she forges death pacts. Then she meets Madeleine and Ludo. It’s Côté’s 17th feature (“That Kind of Summer,” “Social Hygiene”).
“Nowhere to Lay My Eyes”
South Korea
Dir: Hong Sang-soo
Kim Minhee, Choi Myeonggil, Kwon Haehyo, Shin Seokho, Park Miso
World Premiere
Exceptionally prolific South Korean director returns again, with another film starring Kim Minhee. In the past, he received awards for “Hahaha,” “Our Sunhi” and the Golden Leopard for “Right Now, Wrong Then.” Recently, “A Traveler’s Needs” won a Silver Bear at Berlinale.
“Objet A”
Germany, Luxembourg, Greece
Dir: Ann Oren
World Premiere
Written and directed by Oren (“Piaffe”), it follows hand surgeons – and fetishists – forced to rethink their well-established routines and desires. With Georg Friedrich (“Great Freedom”), Aenne Schwarz, Louis Hofmann, Simone Bucio and Sofia Kokkali, it’s produced by Schuldenberg Films, Tarantula and Asterisk.
“O Jacaré”
Switzerland, Portugal
Dir: Basil Da Cunha
World Premiere
Set in Reboleira, a suburb of Lisbon, this drama deals with the aftermath of a robbery. Its haul has mysteriously disappeared, which drives a small community wild with excitement. Produced by Thera Production, Continue Walking and RTS Radio Télévision Suisse, it’s directed by Basil Da Cunha whose “Mango D’Terra” premiered at Locarno as well.
“Rehmat”
India, France
Dir: Gurvinder Singh
World Premiere
As previously reported by Variety, this Punjabi-language feature from Singh (“Anhey Ghorhey Da Daan” and “Chauthi Koot”) is produced by Vahao Studio in India. The film unfolds across three interconnected stories. A young woman secretly nurses a wounded stranger; a family lives in the long shadow of a disappearance; an elderly arrives in a village claiming to be God.
“The Riverbank”
Brazil, Germany
Dir: Matheus Farias, Enock Carvalho
World Premiere
A Gatopardo Filmes and Poetik Film production, the film focuses on a young Black gay man – and former evangelical Christian – who tries to escape his dreary reality. But his misadventures soon turn violent. Caique Copque, Ítalo Martins, Artia Lauandah, Renna Costa, Robério Diógenes and Ísis Broken act in this feature debut from Matheus Farias and Enock Carvalho.
“Wandering Trees”
Italy
Dir: Salvatore Mereu
World Premiere
Turning his attention to the novel by Alberto Capitta, Mereu (“Bellas Mariposas,” “Bentu”) goes back to his home, Sardinia, and follows three families as they clash over the years. Giulia Maenza, seen in Netflix’s “The Invisible Thread,” was cast as one of the leads, acting alongside Romeo Perrone, Lorenzo Richelmy, Lupo Barbiero and Edoardo Raiola. It’s produced by Viacolvento and Rai Cinema.
“You Don’t Belong Here”
Romania
Dir: Florin Șerban
World Premiere
Best known for “Box” and “If I Want to Whistle, I Whistle” – which brought him multiple awards, also at Berlinale – Romanian director focuses on a complicated relationship between a father and a son. His latest drama is produced by Fantascope Films. Adrian Văncică, Teodor Butănescu, Cristina Richter, Alex Conovaru and Izdrailă Janir star.
‘I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming’
X Filme Creative Pool GmbH.jpg
Piazza Grande
“All About Corinne”
France, Belgium
Dir: Marc Fitoussi
World Premiere
“Armony”
Italy
Dir: Dario Albertini
World Premiere
“The Chilean”
Italy, Chile, Switzerland
Dir: Sergio Castro-San Martín
World Premiere
“Congo Boy”
Central African Republic, France, Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy
Dir: Rafiki Fariala
“Dances With Wolves”
U.S., U.K.
Dir: Kevin Costner
“Down The Arm of God”
France, U.S
Dir: Peter Brunner
World Premiere
“Frank & Louis”
Switzerland, United Kingdom
Dir: Petra Volpe
“The Green Eyes”
France, Belgium, Sweden
Dir: Fanny Liatard, Jérémy Trouilh
World Premiere
“I Is Another”
Germany, Austria
Dir: Felix Randau
World Premiere
“The Invite”
U.S.
Dir: Olivia Wilde
“Love Lessons”
France, Belgium
Dir: Martin Provost
World Premiere
“Paper Tiger”
U.S.
Dir: James Gray
“Taxi Driver”
U.S.
Dir: Martin Scorsese
“Wild at Heart”
USA
Dir: David Lynch
‘The Chilean’
Courtesy of Locarno Film Festival
Filmmakers of the Present
“At Night”
United Kingdom, France
Dir: Beatrice Gibson
World Premiere
“The Days Off”
Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, France
Dir: Lucila Mariani
World Premiere
“Demons”
Ukraine, Poland
Dir: Natalka Vorozhbyt
World Premiere
“Destroy All Girls”
USA
Dir: Erin Vassilopoulos
World Premiere
“Ego Reach We All (Our Time Will Come)”
Ghana, France
Dir: Amartei Armar
World premiere
“Fire Flower”
France, Brazil
Dir: Ana Vaz
World Premiere
“The Illusion of an Everlasting Summer”
Argentina, USA
Dir: Alessandra Sanguinetti
World Premiere
“In All My Journeys I Am Returning”
Colombia
Dir: Manuel Ponce De León
World Premiere
“Magic Atlas”
Singapore
Dir: Sun Xun
World Premiere
“Revolutionaries Never Die”
Palestine, Belgium, Qatar
Dir: Mohanad Yaqubi
World Premiere
“September Afternoon”
Germany
Dir: Nicolaas Schmidt
World Premiere
“Small Talk”
Switzerland
Dir: Mateo Ybarra
World Premiere
“Summer Meadow”
Belgium, France
Dir: Naël Khleifi
World Premiere
“Tear Gas”
Georgia, France, Germany
Dir: Uta Beria
World Premiere
“Tomorrow A Long Time Ago”
Germany
Dir: Luise Donschen
World Premiere
‘September Afternoon’
Courtesy of Locarno Film Festival
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