Get ready for the 2025 Locarno Film Festival, where cinema meets stunning landscapes and unforgettable tributes.
Locarno Film Festival 2025: A Sneak Peek
As August rolls in, the Locarno Film Festival is set to roar back to life for its 78th edition, nestled beside the stunning Lake Maggiore in Switzerland. This year marks my second attendance at this festival, which quickly became one of my top film destinations after last year’s impressive lineup featuring works from Radu Jude and Hong Sang-soo, alongside a celebration of Columbia Pictures’ centenary. I also fell in love with the charming town, where cobblestone streets and Lombard-style buildings converge at the Piazza Grande, an open-air square that hosts screenings for up to 8,000 viewers.
There’s nothing quite like exiting a film late at night, stepping into the humid air, and witnessing the glow of a massive screen illuminating the night sky.
Highlights of Locarno 2025
This year, several exciting titles and events have already piqued my interest. Here are some highlights to look forward to:
Lucy Liu: Career Achievement Award 2025
A Tribute to Lucy Liu
For nearly three decades, Lucy Liu has established herself as a formidable action star in Hollywood. She first garnered attention on “Ally McBeal,” earning Emmy and SAG nominations for her role as the fierce lawyer Ling Woo, before starring in iconic films such as “Kill Bill,” “Charlie’s Angels,” and “Kung Fu Panda.” This year, she takes on a more subdued role in “Rosemead,” an intimate drama where she portrays an immigrant widow. Liu will not only have her film premiere at Locarno but will also receive the festival’s lifetime achievement award, a recognition that feels long overdue given her illustrious career.
Great Expectations: British Postwar Cinema 1945-1960
Following last year’s homage to Columbia Pictures, this year’s Retrospettiva section focuses on British postwar cinema. Curated by filmmaker and critic Ehsan Khoshbakht, this celebration will showcase 40 classic films and lesser-known gems from the era’s most significant stars and directors. Among my favorites set to screen are Michael Powell’s “Peeping Tom,” Jules Dassin’s “Night and the City,” and David Lean’s “The Passionate Friends.” I’m particularly excited about rarities like George King’s “The Shop at Sly Corner” and Wendy Toye’s “The Stranger Left No Card.” With such a rich program, it will be challenging to tear myself away to catch new films.
Concorso Internazionale
The festival’s main competition, which awards the prestigious Golden Leopard to the best film, is filled with intriguing entries. Romanian auteur Radu Jude presents a nearly three-hour adaptation of Dracula, while Japanese director Naomi Kawase returns with “Yakushima’s Illusion,” her first film since the poignant “True Mothers,” starring Vicky Krieps.
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Additionally, Sho Miyake, one of Japan’s most underrated directors, brings “Two Seasons, Two Strangers,” featuring Shim Eun-kyung. Not to be overlooked, Abdellatif Kechiche, known for “Blue is the Warmest Color,” will present the third installment of his Mektoub, My Love series, titled “Mektoub, My Love: Canto Due.” With such a diverse lineup, the competition promises to be fierce.
Keep One Eye Open
Throughout the festival, several noteworthy mentions stand out. Canadian director Sophy Romvari’s feature debut, “Blue Heron,” will premiere at Locarno before heading to the Toronto International Film Festival. Given that several of her shorts have been featured on Criterion Channel, her coming-of-age story could be the festival’s breakout hit.
Moreover, former David Lynch collaborator Duwayne Dunham, who edited “Blue Velvet” and “Wild at Heart,” presents “Legend of the Happy Worker,” produced by Lynch himself. Starring Thomas Haden Church and Colm Meaney, this quirky Western could resonate beyond Locarno and into American theaters.
Lastly, I must mention Francis Ford Coppola’s “Megalopolis.” Although it’s an older title, it will be featured in the Histoire(s) du Cinéma section as part of a tribute to Academy Award-winning costume designer Milena Canonero, who will receive the festival’s Vision Award. I highlight this because Coppola was recently hospitalized in Rome for a heart procedure. Though he quickly reassured fans of his health, if you find yourself at the PalaCinema on August 10, try to catch Coppola’s ambitious work on the big screen, surrounded by predominantly Italian-speaking audiences.
