The Locarno Film Festival has formed an advisory board for its industry side and recruited a roster of top indie industry figures including former Amazon Studios film executive Ted Hope, Bobby Allen, who is senior VP of content at Mubi, and former European Film Market chief Beki Probst as members.
Locarno’s industry advisory board will be headed by Nadia Dresti, the former head of the prominent Swiss indie cinema event’s market side who has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years with an interlude for a few years as head of marketing for Fox Switzerland.
“I am delighted that in this ever-changing audiovisual landscape, the Locarno Film Festival has decided to initiate an ongoing conversation with industry professionals who will advise the board of directors on issues concerning the festival’s future,” Dresti said in a statement. “Together we will tackle relevant issues with the aim of providing invaluable industry insights.
Locarno’s industry advisory board will be headed by Nadia Dresti, the former head of the prominent Swiss indie cinema event’s market side who has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years with an interlude for a few years as head of marketing for Fox Switzerland.
“I am delighted that in this ever-changing audiovisual landscape, the Locarno Film Festival has decided to initiate an ongoing conversation with industry professionals who will advise the board of directors on issues concerning the festival’s future,” Dresti said in a statement. “Together we will tackle relevant issues with the aim of providing invaluable industry insights.
- 2/19/2024
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Veteran producer Ted Hope and former European Film Market head Beki Probst have been named as members of the Locarno Film Festival’s new industry advisor board.
They will be joined by Mubi Senior Vice President Bobby Allen, Locarno Industry Academy International Project Manager Marion Klotz; Emmanuel Cuénod, the former director of the Geneva International Film Festival (Giff) and the current head of the Swiss Digital Creation Hub, top Swiss exhibitor Edna Epelbaum, and Gerardo Michelin, the founder of the trade website LatAm cinema.
The new board’s mission will be advise the festival on how to keep in step with developments in the audiovisual sector and remain relevant to the film industry at large.
The new initiative was first announced last September when Maja Hoffmann was unveiled as the festival’s new president, replacing outgoing Marco Solari who held the role for 23 years.
As previously announced, long-time Locarno collaborator...
They will be joined by Mubi Senior Vice President Bobby Allen, Locarno Industry Academy International Project Manager Marion Klotz; Emmanuel Cuénod, the former director of the Geneva International Film Festival (Giff) and the current head of the Swiss Digital Creation Hub, top Swiss exhibitor Edna Epelbaum, and Gerardo Michelin, the founder of the trade website LatAm cinema.
The new board’s mission will be advise the festival on how to keep in step with developments in the audiovisual sector and remain relevant to the film industry at large.
The new initiative was first announced last September when Maja Hoffmann was unveiled as the festival’s new president, replacing outgoing Marco Solari who held the role for 23 years.
As previously announced, long-time Locarno collaborator...
- 2/19/2024
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- Deadline Film + TV
As the first major international film festival mounted following SAG-aftrta’s decision to join the WGA in strike action against the studios, there was much speculation about how the Locarno Film Festival would adapt its lineup.
The fest lost its opening-night centerpiece at short notice, with UK actor-producer Riz Ahmed pulling out of an appearance during which he was set to receive Locarno’s Davide Campari lifetime achievement award. Fellow lifetime award recipient Stellan Skarsgård also pulled out of his festival engagements.
Instead, the fest pulled into motion Wednesday evening with a subdued opening-night ceremony. Proceedings began with the festival’s outgoing president, Marco Solari, opening the event for the last time following a 23-year tenure. He was followed onstage by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, who, despite Ahmed’s absence, pushed on with the Davide Campari lifetime achievement award presentation, handing the gong to director Yann Mounir Demange. The...
The fest lost its opening-night centerpiece at short notice, with UK actor-producer Riz Ahmed pulling out of an appearance during which he was set to receive Locarno’s Davide Campari lifetime achievement award. Fellow lifetime award recipient Stellan Skarsgård also pulled out of his festival engagements.
Instead, the fest pulled into motion Wednesday evening with a subdued opening-night ceremony. Proceedings began with the festival’s outgoing president, Marco Solari, opening the event for the last time following a 23-year tenure. He was followed onstage by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro, who, despite Ahmed’s absence, pushed on with the Davide Campari lifetime achievement award presentation, handing the gong to director Yann Mounir Demange. The...
- 8/2/2023
- by Zac Ntim
- Deadline Film + TV
The opening night of the Locarno Film Festival was led by a pair of rousing call to arms for the theatrical experience.
Early on it was rain, rather than Covid-19, which threatened to put a dampener on proceedings, as sodden conditions in the famous Piazza Grande forced the world premiere of “Beckett” indoors. However, ironically, the comments made by the Netflix film’s lead John David Washington felt even more powerful in front of a vast, crowded indoor theatre.
Asked how he found playing the film’s central character, an American tourist who gets caught up in a deadly manhunt, Washington had a blunt, yet thoughtful response.
“Stressful,” Washington began, to a titter from the crowd. “I just connected with the story. When I think about Beckett, I think of survival and that’s very personal to me. Part of the reason we’re all here tonight is survival of the theatrical experience,...
Early on it was rain, rather than Covid-19, which threatened to put a dampener on proceedings, as sodden conditions in the famous Piazza Grande forced the world premiere of “Beckett” indoors. However, ironically, the comments made by the Netflix film’s lead John David Washington felt even more powerful in front of a vast, crowded indoor theatre.
Asked how he found playing the film’s central character, an American tourist who gets caught up in a deadly manhunt, Washington had a blunt, yet thoughtful response.
“Stressful,” Washington began, to a titter from the crowd. “I just connected with the story. When I think about Beckett, I think of survival and that’s very personal to me. Part of the reason we’re all here tonight is survival of the theatrical experience,...
- 8/4/2021
- by Will Thorne
- Variety Film + TV
Italian film critic Giona A. Nazzaro, former head of the Venice Film Festival’s Critics’ Week, has been appointed new artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival.
His appointment comes just over a month after Lili Hinstin stepped down from the role in a shock departure.
A longtime Locarno fest collaborator, Nazzaro has plenty of programming experience, having served since 2005 at the helm of the independently run Venice section and on selection committees for the Rome, Turin and Visions du Reel festivals, as well as the Festival dei Popoli in Florence. He is an author of a book and essays on Hong Kong cinema, postmodern action films, and monographs on Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee and Gus Van Sant.
As head of the Venice Critic’s Week, Nazzaro raised the profile of the section dedicated to first works by making it bolder and edgier, with titles such as Indian animation “Bombay Rose” directed by Gitanjali Rao,...
His appointment comes just over a month after Lili Hinstin stepped down from the role in a shock departure.
A longtime Locarno fest collaborator, Nazzaro has plenty of programming experience, having served since 2005 at the helm of the independently run Venice section and on selection committees for the Rome, Turin and Visions du Reel festivals, as well as the Festival dei Popoli in Florence. He is an author of a book and essays on Hong Kong cinema, postmodern action films, and monographs on Abel Ferrara, Spike Lee and Gus Van Sant.
As head of the Venice Critic’s Week, Nazzaro raised the profile of the section dedicated to first works by making it bolder and edgier, with titles such as Indian animation “Bombay Rose” directed by Gitanjali Rao,...
- 11/5/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
His appointment follows the sudden departure of previous artistic director Lili Hinstin in September.
Giona A. Nazzaro has been named as Locarno Film Festival’s new artistic director.
He will take up his post officially from January 1, 2021, but will start working immediately alongside Nadia Dresti, who was appointed as the interim head of artistic direction in September and will remain in place until the end of December 2020.
Dresti will also continue to oversee the festival’s industry-focused Locarno Pro programme while the festival looks for a replacement for Valentina Merli, who left after just one edition at the helm to...
Giona A. Nazzaro has been named as Locarno Film Festival’s new artistic director.
He will take up his post officially from January 1, 2021, but will start working immediately alongside Nadia Dresti, who was appointed as the interim head of artistic direction in September and will remain in place until the end of December 2020.
Dresti will also continue to oversee the festival’s industry-focused Locarno Pro programme while the festival looks for a replacement for Valentina Merli, who left after just one edition at the helm to...
- 11/5/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival, one of the key events on the European summer fest circuit, has named Italian film critic Giona A. Nazzaro as its new artistic director.
Nazzaro joins from Venice Critics’ Week, where he has served as General Delegate since 2016; he will take up his new role on January 1, 2021 but will work with interim director Nadia Dresti until then. He is a member of the selection committees for Rotterdam and Visions du Réel Festival in Nyon and has worked as a moderator at Locarno. During his career, he has also collaborated with Italy’s Turin Film Festival, the Rome Film Fest and the Festival dei Popoli in Florence.
Nazzaro replaces Lili Hinstin, who stepped down in September after less than two years in a row in something of a shock move. At the time, the fest cited “diverging strategic views” for the split. Dresti, who had spent...
Nazzaro joins from Venice Critics’ Week, where he has served as General Delegate since 2016; he will take up his new role on January 1, 2021 but will work with interim director Nadia Dresti until then. He is a member of the selection committees for Rotterdam and Visions du Réel Festival in Nyon and has worked as a moderator at Locarno. During his career, he has also collaborated with Italy’s Turin Film Festival, the Rome Film Fest and the Festival dei Popoli in Florence.
Nazzaro replaces Lili Hinstin, who stepped down in September after less than two years in a row in something of a shock move. At the time, the fest cited “diverging strategic views” for the split. Dresti, who had spent...
- 11/5/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Appointment follows the sudden departure of artistic director Lili Hinstin in September.
The Locarno Film Festival’s long-time industry chief Nadia Dresti has been appointed “interim head of its artistic direction”.
The appointment follows the unexpected departure of its previous artistic director Lili Hinstin at the end of September, amid rumoured differences with the festival’s long-time president Marco Solari.
The festival said that the executive board had taken the decision to appoint Dresti as interim artistic chief during a recent meeting to discuss potential permanent replacements for Hinstin.
”The executive board of the Locarno Film Festival, under president Marco Solari,...
The Locarno Film Festival’s long-time industry chief Nadia Dresti has been appointed “interim head of its artistic direction”.
The appointment follows the unexpected departure of its previous artistic director Lili Hinstin at the end of September, amid rumoured differences with the festival’s long-time president Marco Solari.
The festival said that the executive board had taken the decision to appoint Dresti as interim artistic chief during a recent meeting to discuss potential permanent replacements for Hinstin.
”The executive board of the Locarno Film Festival, under president Marco Solari,...
- 10/5/2020
- by Melanie Goodfellow
- ScreenDaily
Lili Hinstin has stepped down as artistic director of the Locarno Film Festival after two years due to differences with the event’s top management.
The Paris-based Hinstin had been appointed in August 2018 becoming the prominent Swiss event’s second female chief since its founding in 1946 and one of the few women to head an A-list fest around the world.
“The Locarno Film Festival, under the Presidency of Marco Solari, and the Artistic Director Lili Hinstin decided today by mutual agreement to end their working relationship,” the festival said on Thursday in a statement.
“Having acknowledged their diverging strategic views,” the statement added, they “decided by mutual consent to follow separate ways.”
The Locarno statement noted that the fest expressed “its gratitude” to Hinstin “for her intense work in the artistic field over the past two years and wishes her all the best for the future.”
Locarno’s board, which is headed by Solari,...
The Paris-based Hinstin had been appointed in August 2018 becoming the prominent Swiss event’s second female chief since its founding in 1946 and one of the few women to head an A-list fest around the world.
“The Locarno Film Festival, under the Presidency of Marco Solari, and the Artistic Director Lili Hinstin decided today by mutual agreement to end their working relationship,” the festival said on Thursday in a statement.
“Having acknowledged their diverging strategic views,” the statement added, they “decided by mutual consent to follow separate ways.”
The Locarno statement noted that the fest expressed “its gratitude” to Hinstin “for her intense work in the artistic field over the past two years and wishes her all the best for the future.”
Locarno’s board, which is headed by Solari,...
- 9/24/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
The physical festival will be replaced with a new format called “Locarno 2020 - For the Future of Films”.
The Locarno Film Festival has cancelled its 2020 edition, which was due to take place on August 5 to 15, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival said in a statement that due to the health emergency and current instructions from the federal authorities regarding major events, it was clear that the 2020 edition could not take place in its usual format.
”Unfortunately, the film selection and in principle the physical festival locations, starting with the iconic Piazza Grande, will have to be dispensed with in...
The Locarno Film Festival has cancelled its 2020 edition, which was due to take place on August 5 to 15, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival said in a statement that due to the health emergency and current instructions from the federal authorities regarding major events, it was clear that the 2020 edition could not take place in its usual format.
”Unfortunately, the film selection and in principle the physical festival locations, starting with the iconic Piazza Grande, will have to be dispensed with in...
- 4/29/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The physical festival will be replaced with a new format called “Locarno 2020 - For the Future of Films”.
The Locarno Film Festival has cancelled its 2020 edition, which was due to take place on August 5 to 15, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival said in a statement that due to the health emergency and the current instructions from the federal authorities regarding major events, it was clear that the 2020 edition could not take place in its usual format.
”Unfortunately, the film selection and in principle the physical festival locations, starting with the iconic Piazza Grande, will have to be dispensed with...
The Locarno Film Festival has cancelled its 2020 edition, which was due to take place on August 5 to 15, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The festival said in a statement that due to the health emergency and the current instructions from the federal authorities regarding major events, it was clear that the 2020 edition could not take place in its usual format.
”Unfortunately, the film selection and in principle the physical festival locations, starting with the iconic Piazza Grande, will have to be dispensed with...
- 4/29/2020
- by 1100388¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The Locarno Film Festival, a significant stop on the summer European festival calendar, has canceled its 2020 edition due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The decision was made following the Swiss government’s decision to extend its ban on events exceeding 1,000 people through August. The festival had been set to take place August 5-15.
In a statement, fest heads said they would not be replacing the physical event with an online festival, but would instead be running a series of initiatives aimed at supporting independent auteur filmmaking and cinemas.
This year, Locarno will hand out special Leopard awards, the event’s top prizes, to international and domestic productions that have been put on hold due to the pandemic, though did not specify how much these could be worth or what exactly they would go towards. The fest said backing for the awards would come from its existing partners.
Locarno is the...
The decision was made following the Swiss government’s decision to extend its ban on events exceeding 1,000 people through August. The festival had been set to take place August 5-15.
In a statement, fest heads said they would not be replacing the physical event with an online festival, but would instead be running a series of initiatives aimed at supporting independent auteur filmmaking and cinemas.
This year, Locarno will hand out special Leopard awards, the event’s top prizes, to international and domestic productions that have been put on hold due to the pandemic, though did not specify how much these could be worth or what exactly they would go towards. The fest said backing for the awards would come from its existing partners.
Locarno is the...
- 4/29/2020
- by Tom Grater
- Deadline Film + TV
Uncertainty remains over this year’s Locarno and Karlovy Vary film festivals.
The head of the Sarajevo Film Festival has declared there is “no doubt” the event will take place in August while organisers at the Jerusalem Film Festival have postponed the 2020 edition due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The festival calendar has been thrown into disarray following the Covid-19 outbreak, with events cancelling on an almost daily basis as distancing measures continue to prevent mass gatherings. The uncertain fate of this year’s Cannes Film Festival has also led to confusion throughout the industry as to when and where...
The head of the Sarajevo Film Festival has declared there is “no doubt” the event will take place in August while organisers at the Jerusalem Film Festival have postponed the 2020 edition due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
The festival calendar has been thrown into disarray following the Covid-19 outbreak, with events cancelling on an almost daily basis as distancing measures continue to prevent mass gatherings. The uncertain fate of this year’s Cannes Film Festival has also led to confusion throughout the industry as to when and where...
- 4/22/2020
- by 1100453¦Michael Rosser¦9¦¬1100796¦Matt Mueller¦47¦¬1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
Carlo Chatrian’s rapid rise to becoming Berlin’s artistic director stems from the steely resolve of a soft-spoken film lover with smarts and a clear sense of what he considers meaningful in contemporary cinema today.
The Italian film critic and curator previously served a five-year stint as artistic director of Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival. He is considered a bold choice on the part of German culture minister Monika Gruetters, who led the search team for a new Berlinale topper after
longtime director Dieter Kosslick exited last year. Chatrian is tasked with rebooting the Berlinale’s lineup, which Kosslick critics said was too large and favored quantity over quality.
Chatrian says that in his job interview with the culture minister and the selection committee, he “told them what cinema means for me and what I think festivals are.” His vision for Berlin and also what he achieved at Locarno motivated their choice,...
The Italian film critic and curator previously served a five-year stint as artistic director of Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival. He is considered a bold choice on the part of German culture minister Monika Gruetters, who led the search team for a new Berlinale topper after
longtime director Dieter Kosslick exited last year. Chatrian is tasked with rebooting the Berlinale’s lineup, which Kosslick critics said was too large and favored quantity over quality.
Chatrian says that in his job interview with the culture minister and the selection committee, he “told them what cinema means for me and what I think festivals are.” His vision for Berlin and also what he achieved at Locarno motivated their choice,...
- 2/17/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
Paris-based Merli has worked with Gemini FIlms and Pyramide.
Industry veteran Nadia Dresti has stepped down as head of Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s industry section, after 20 years at the helm.
She is to be replaced by Valentina Merli, founder of Paris-based Misia Films.
Dresti, who is remaining with Locarno as an international advisor, will accompany Merli to Berlin and Cannes this year to help the preparations for this year’s edition of Locarno which takes place August 5-15.
“Over the 20 years of my tenure, Nadia has been a priceless asset for the festival because of her remarkable skills,...
Industry veteran Nadia Dresti has stepped down as head of Locarno Pro, the Swiss festival’s industry section, after 20 years at the helm.
She is to be replaced by Valentina Merli, founder of Paris-based Misia Films.
Dresti, who is remaining with Locarno as an international advisor, will accompany Merli to Berlin and Cannes this year to help the preparations for this year’s edition of Locarno which takes place August 5-15.
“Over the 20 years of my tenure, Nadia has been a priceless asset for the festival because of her remarkable skills,...
- 1/13/2020
- by 57¦Geoffrey Macnab¦41¦
- ScreenDaily
The Locarno Film Festival has announced that Nadia Dresti is stepping down as head of the prominent Swiss indie cinema event’s market side which she built over two decades into a unique and formidable space for international quality cinema industry operators.
Dresti praised in a statement as Locarno’s “Grand Dame,” is staying on board at the fest as “international consultant.”
The new head of Locarno Pro is experienced Paris-based indie exec Valentina Merli best known on the festival circuit for her years as head of sales and business affairs at French arthouse distributor Pyramide International which she left in 2018 to form her own production company, Misia Films.
Dresti has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years, starting out in the press office – with an interlude for a few years as head of marketing for Fox Switzerland. In 2,000 she was entrusted in by its then artistic chief Marco Mueller...
Dresti praised in a statement as Locarno’s “Grand Dame,” is staying on board at the fest as “international consultant.”
The new head of Locarno Pro is experienced Paris-based indie exec Valentina Merli best known on the festival circuit for her years as head of sales and business affairs at French arthouse distributor Pyramide International which she left in 2018 to form her own production company, Misia Films.
Dresti has been with Locarno intermittently for roughly 30 years, starting out in the press office – with an interlude for a few years as head of marketing for Fox Switzerland. In 2,000 she was entrusted in by its then artistic chief Marco Mueller...
- 1/13/2020
- by Nick Vivarelli
- Variety Film + TV
At a meeting held in Locarno on Friday 24 August 2018, the Board of Governors of the Locarno Festival agreed unanimously to appoint Lili Hinstin as its new Artistic Director. Lili Hinstin will take up her appointment from December 1st 2018, replacing Carlo Chatrian who is leaving Locarno to take over the artistic direction of the Berlinale. With immediate effect and from December 1st, Ms. Hinstin will be devoting part of her time to the preparation of the next edition of the Locarno Festival, assisted by the Chief Operating Officer’s and Artistic Director’s teams, together with the staff of the President’s Office.Lili Hinstin. Locarno Festival /Photo by Sabine Cattaneo
Since 2013 Lili Hinstin has been Artistic Director of the Entrevues Belfort — Festival International du Film in France. She was born in Paris in 1977. After studying at the Universities of Paris and Padua for a degree in Foreign Languages, Literatures and Civilizations with a specialization in Philosophy,...
Since 2013 Lili Hinstin has been Artistic Director of the Entrevues Belfort — Festival International du Film in France. She was born in Paris in 1977. After studying at the Universities of Paris and Padua for a degree in Foreign Languages, Literatures and Civilizations with a specialization in Philosophy,...
- 8/24/2018
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The Locarno Film Festival has appointed Lili Hinstin as its next artistic director, replacing Carlo Chatrian who is leaving to become Berlin co-chief.
Hinstin will take up her appointment from December 1, 2018 after she was elected by a unanimous decision from the festival’s board. Since 2013 she has been artistic director of the Entrevues Belfort – Festival International du Film in France. From 2005 to 2009 she was responsible for the film-related activities of the Academy of France in Rome, and from 2011 to 2013 she was also deputy artistic director of the Paris–based international Film Festival Cinéma du Réel.
Festival president Marco Solari commented on her appointment, “Lili Hinstin emerged as the candidate who more than any other corresponded to the profile sought by the presidency, the executive board and the board of governors for the person to be in charge of the artistic direction of the Locarno Festival. The development of a festival...
Hinstin will take up her appointment from December 1, 2018 after she was elected by a unanimous decision from the festival’s board. Since 2013 she has been artistic director of the Entrevues Belfort – Festival International du Film in France. From 2005 to 2009 she was responsible for the film-related activities of the Academy of France in Rome, and from 2011 to 2013 she was also deputy artistic director of the Paris–based international Film Festival Cinéma du Réel.
Festival president Marco Solari commented on her appointment, “Lili Hinstin emerged as the candidate who more than any other corresponded to the profile sought by the presidency, the executive board and the board of governors for the person to be in charge of the artistic direction of the Locarno Festival. The development of a festival...
- 8/24/2018
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Lili Hinstin has been named the new artistic director of the Locarno Festival. Hinstin, who will take up the role Dec. 1, was unanimously appointed by the film festival’s board of governors at a meeting Friday.
Taking over the role is “an honor, because this is a festival that over the years has become a benchmark for cinephiles worldwide,” Hinstin said, adding: “I will be putting all my experience and passion into taking forward this project of freedom and discovery.” Her first festival as artistic director will be next year’s 72nd edition, which runs Aug. 7-17 in the southern Swiss town.
Hinstin replaces outgoing festival chief Carlo Chatrian, who has served as artistic director of Locarno since 2013 and is heading to the Berlinale. Hinstin is the 13th artistic director of the Locarno Festival since it was founded in 1946 and is the event’s second female chief, following Irene Bignardi,...
Taking over the role is “an honor, because this is a festival that over the years has become a benchmark for cinephiles worldwide,” Hinstin said, adding: “I will be putting all my experience and passion into taking forward this project of freedom and discovery.” Her first festival as artistic director will be next year’s 72nd edition, which runs Aug. 7-17 in the southern Swiss town.
Hinstin replaces outgoing festival chief Carlo Chatrian, who has served as artistic director of Locarno since 2013 and is heading to the Berlinale. Hinstin is the 13th artistic director of the Locarno Festival since it was founded in 1946 and is the event’s second female chief, following Irene Bignardi,...
- 8/24/2018
- by Robert Mitchell
- Variety Film + TV
Hinstin had been artistic director of the Entrevues Belfort - Festival International du Film in France.
Lili Hinstin has been appointed as Locarno’s new artistic director to succeed Carlo Chatrian, who had worked for the festival for the past 15 years, including the last six as artistic director.
The appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the festival’s Board of Governors in Locarno today.
Paris-born Hinstin, who has been artistic director of the Entrevues Belfort - Festival International du Film in France, will take up her position from December 1, 2018.
The 41-year old is the second woman in the history...
Lili Hinstin has been appointed as Locarno’s new artistic director to succeed Carlo Chatrian, who had worked for the festival for the past 15 years, including the last six as artistic director.
The appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the festival’s Board of Governors in Locarno today.
Paris-born Hinstin, who has been artistic director of the Entrevues Belfort - Festival International du Film in France, will take up her position from December 1, 2018.
The 41-year old is the second woman in the history...
- 8/24/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Get in touch to send in cinephile news and discoveries. For daily updates follow us @NotebookMUBI.NEWSThe 30 films comprising the main slate of this year's New York Film Festival have been announced, including Alfonso Cuarón's autobiographical, Mexico-set film Roma, Mariano Llinás's fourteen-hour "adventure in scale and duration" La Flor, and Alex Ross Perry's '90s rockstar melodrama Her Smell. "The unifying thread is their bravery," says Festival Director Kent Jones. "The bravery needed to fight past the urge to commercialized smoothness and mediocrity that is always assuming new forms." Festival president Marco Solari and Vice President Carla Speziali of the Locarno Film Festival—which is currently ongoing until August 11—have agreed to sign a pledge "ensuring gender equality and inclusion in programming". The initiative was organized by members of the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan), including filmmaker Ursula Meier, and joins a number of pledges to...
- 8/10/2018
- MUBI
Dresti will split her time with her role running Locarno Pro.
Nadia Dresti is stepping down from the post of deputy artistic director of the Locarno Festival, to head up the Ticino Film Commission (Tfc) from October. She will remain in her position as head of Locarno Pro.
She has come to an agreement with festival president Marco Solari to divide her time equally between running the film commission and continuing as head of the festival’s industry activities gathered under the Locarno Pro umbrella. Locarno is part of the Ticino region of Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Tfc has strong ties to...
Nadia Dresti is stepping down from the post of deputy artistic director of the Locarno Festival, to head up the Ticino Film Commission (Tfc) from October. She will remain in her position as head of Locarno Pro.
She has come to an agreement with festival president Marco Solari to divide her time equally between running the film commission and continuing as head of the festival’s industry activities gathered under the Locarno Pro umbrella. Locarno is part of the Ticino region of Italian-speaking Switzerland.
Tfc has strong ties to...
- 8/6/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Gender equality has been among the hottest of topics on the film-festival circuit these last few years, with Cannes earning praise for recent developments and Venice earning criticism for a lack of female filmmakers in competition. With the Locarno Film Festival underway, festival president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali have signed the Programming Pledge for Parity and Inclusion in Cinema Festivals. An initiative of the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan), the Pledge has also been signed by Cannes.
The Pledge’s commitments are as follows:
To compile statistics according to gender, especially those regarding the number of films submitted, in order to support Swan with reliable data. To disclose the list of the appointed members of selection committees and programmers, the aim being to eliminate any suspicion of a lack of diversity and parity while allowing the festivals to fully pursue their editorial and strategic choices. To...
The Pledge’s commitments are as follows:
To compile statistics according to gender, especially those regarding the number of films submitted, in order to support Swan with reliable data. To disclose the list of the appointed members of selection committees and programmers, the aim being to eliminate any suspicion of a lack of diversity and parity while allowing the festivals to fully pursue their editorial and strategic choices. To...
- 8/5/2018
- by Michael Nordine
- Indiewire
Locarno Film Festival officials signed today a programming pledge for parity and inclusion, following the footsteps of Cannes Film Festival.
The pledge was signed by Locarno fest president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali. The initiative was put together by the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan) with director Ursula Meier, who is the pledge Godmother, and producer Pauline Gygax, the pledge advisor.
“We are thrilled about this first step towards equality and diversity in festivals. Just as with budgets and funding, women are entitled to an equal share of the spotlight and the screens. Visibility of our films is essential,” said Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stéphane Mitchell, Swan’s co-presidents, in a statement.
“The financing part is essential to allow women directors to make movies and being selected at a festival plays a key role in the financing because it can raise a profile of a filmmaker and create a demand,...
The pledge was signed by Locarno fest president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali. The initiative was put together by the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan) with director Ursula Meier, who is the pledge Godmother, and producer Pauline Gygax, the pledge advisor.
“We are thrilled about this first step towards equality and diversity in festivals. Just as with budgets and funding, women are entitled to an equal share of the spotlight and the screens. Visibility of our films is essential,” said Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stéphane Mitchell, Swan’s co-presidents, in a statement.
“The financing part is essential to allow women directors to make movies and being selected at a festival plays a key role in the financing because it can raise a profile of a filmmaker and create a demand,...
- 8/5/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy and John Hopewell
- Variety Film + TV
The Locarno Festival has agreed to sign the Programming Pledge for Parity and Inclusion in Cinema Festivals after being introduced to the measure by the Swiss Women's Audiovisual Network (Swan).
Locarno will be the first A-list festival after Cannes and the first Swiss fest to sign the pledge, which came out of the French movement 5050x2020 during Cannes in May.
The pledge will be signed by Locarno president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali on Sunday at a special ceremony along with Swan co-presidents Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stephane Mitchell, Swiss Director of Federal Office ...
Locarno will be the first A-list festival after Cannes and the first Swiss fest to sign the pledge, which came out of the French movement 5050x2020 during Cannes in May.
The pledge will be signed by Locarno president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali on Sunday at a special ceremony along with Swan co-presidents Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stephane Mitchell, Swiss Director of Federal Office ...
- 7/31/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The Locarno Festival has agreed to sign the Programming Pledge for Parity and Inclusion in Cinema Festivals after being introduced to the measure by the Swiss Women's Audiovisual Network (Swan).
Locarno will be the first A-list festival after Cannes and the first Swiss fest to sign the pledge, which came out of the French movement 5050x2020 during Cannes in May.
The pledge will be signed by Locarno president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali on Sunday at a special ceremony along with Swan co-presidents Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stephane Mitchell, Swiss Director of Federal Office ...
Locarno will be the first A-list festival after Cannes and the first Swiss fest to sign the pledge, which came out of the French movement 5050x2020 during Cannes in May.
The pledge will be signed by Locarno president Marco Solari and vice president Carla Speziali on Sunday at a special ceremony along with Swan co-presidents Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr and Stephane Mitchell, Swiss Director of Federal Office ...
- 7/31/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Following the Cannes and Annecy film festivals, Locarno is the latest international fest whose chiefs have agreed to sign a pledge ensuring gender equality and inclusion in programming.
Organized by the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan), the pledge will be signed by Locarno festival president Marco Solari and Vice President Carla Speziali on Sunday. The film festival begins Wednesday.
The pledge-signing event will be attended by prominent Swiss industry figures and members of Swan, notably filmmaker Ursula Meier, along with producer Pauline Gygax, and Swan’s three co-presidents and authors-directors Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr, and screenwriter Stephane Mitchell.
“The fact that Locarno Festival signs the pledge, only months after Cannes, is absolutely thrilling. When we approached them with Swan, the Locarno Festival was immediately open to meeting with us and signing the pledge,” said Kaehr, who will introduce the pledge-signing at the Spazio Cinema in Locarno along with federal...
Organized by the Swiss Women’s Audiovisual Network (Swan), the pledge will be signed by Locarno festival president Marco Solari and Vice President Carla Speziali on Sunday. The film festival begins Wednesday.
The pledge-signing event will be attended by prominent Swiss industry figures and members of Swan, notably filmmaker Ursula Meier, along with producer Pauline Gygax, and Swan’s three co-presidents and authors-directors Gabriel Baur, Laura Kaehr, and screenwriter Stephane Mitchell.
“The fact that Locarno Festival signs the pledge, only months after Cannes, is absolutely thrilling. When we approached them with Swan, the Locarno Festival was immediately open to meeting with us and signing the pledge,” said Kaehr, who will introduce the pledge-signing at the Spazio Cinema in Locarno along with federal...
- 7/31/2018
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Carlo Chatrian and Mariette Rissenbeek, managing director of German Films, have been officially confirmed as the new dual heads of the Berlinale to take over from the present festival director Dieter Kosslick when his contract expires in May 2019.
The appointment of both an artistic director and festival manager – an innovation for the 68-year-old festival, but general practice at many other international film festivals – was announced in Berlin today (Friday) by Monika Grütters, the state minister for culture and media who lead the hiring committee. Rissenbeek was a member of the three-strong committee, along with Björn Böhning, the former head of the Berlin senate chancellery.
The appointment of both an artistic director and festival manager – an innovation for the 68-year-old festival, but general practice at many other international film festivals – was announced in Berlin today (Friday) by Monika Grütters, the state minister for culture and media who lead the hiring committee. Rissenbeek was a member of the three-strong committee, along with Björn Böhning, the former head of the Berlin senate chancellery.
- 6/22/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
Swiss-born filmmaker Rebecca Panian working on project.
Beki Probst, the grande dame of the international film world and outgoing president of Berlin’s European Film Market (Efm), is to be the centre of a feature documentary with the working title Beki, which is being directed by the Swiss-born filmmaker Rebecca Panian.
Speaking exclusively to Screen, Panian said that Zurich’s Dschoint Ventschr is producing the project which has been in the making for the past three years. The idea for a film about Probst was proposed by her close friend Edi Stöckli.
”She is such an impressive woman for what she has done at the Berlinale over the past 30 years and I also want to show the next phase where she will attend a script writing course at the film school in Lausanne, Switzerland,” Panian explained.
Panian had accompanied Probst to Jerusalem in 2015 for a memorial to the late Jerusalem Film Festival founder Lia Van Leer, ”It was...
Beki Probst, the grande dame of the international film world and outgoing president of Berlin’s European Film Market (Efm), is to be the centre of a feature documentary with the working title Beki, which is being directed by the Swiss-born filmmaker Rebecca Panian.
Speaking exclusively to Screen, Panian said that Zurich’s Dschoint Ventschr is producing the project which has been in the making for the past three years. The idea for a film about Probst was proposed by her close friend Edi Stöckli.
”She is such an impressive woman for what she has done at the Berlinale over the past 30 years and I also want to show the next phase where she will attend a script writing course at the film school in Lausanne, Switzerland,” Panian explained.
Panian had accompanied Probst to Jerusalem in 2015 for a memorial to the late Jerusalem Film Festival founder Lia Van Leer, ”It was...
- 2/22/2018
- by Martin Blaney
- ScreenDaily
This article was produced as part of the Locarno Critics Academy, a workshop for aspiring journalists at the Locarno Film Festival, a collaboration between the Locarno Film Festival, IndieWire and the Film Society of Lincoln Center with the support of Film Comment and the Swiss Alliance of Film Journalists.
“In France, young people get hell from the government who tells them to stop dreaming, to be more grounded.” – Axelle Ropert
During the conference following the press screening of her third feature film, “The Apple of My Eye” — which was competing for the Golden Leopard at the 69th Locarno International Film Festival — Axelle Ropert said that she “absolutely” wanted to depict today’s European youth in her new film. That will come as a surprise to those who have followed Ropert’s work as a screenwriter, director and film critic known for her disinterest in films that deal with modern-day concerns.
“In France, young people get hell from the government who tells them to stop dreaming, to be more grounded.” – Axelle Ropert
During the conference following the press screening of her third feature film, “The Apple of My Eye” — which was competing for the Golden Leopard at the 69th Locarno International Film Festival — Axelle Ropert said that she “absolutely” wanted to depict today’s European youth in her new film. That will come as a surprise to those who have followed Ropert’s work as a screenwriter, director and film critic known for her disinterest in films that deal with modern-day concerns.
- 8/11/2016
- by Fanta Sylla
- Indiewire
ROME -- Frederic Maire's days at the helm of the Locarno Film Festival will draw to a close next year, when he will depart to take over the governing board of the Swiss Film Archive, Locarno announced Monday.
Maire, who will direct his third Locarno festival in August, will take over the Lausanne-based film archive from film historian Herve Dumont in late 2009, after completing his fourth Locarno festival. The long buildup to the move will give Locarno extra time to find a replacement for Maire.
"I regret having to leave Locarno, but the pressing invitation from the film archive and the understanding attitude of the festival president (Marco Solari) convinced me that this decision, though difficult, was the right one," said Maire, the first Swiss director of the venerable Locarno event in 20 years.
Solari added: "I'm sorry he's leaving us; Frederic Maire made his mark on Locarno."
This year's Locarno event, the 61st, is set for Aug.
Maire, who will direct his third Locarno festival in August, will take over the Lausanne-based film archive from film historian Herve Dumont in late 2009, after completing his fourth Locarno festival. The long buildup to the move will give Locarno extra time to find a replacement for Maire.
"I regret having to leave Locarno, but the pressing invitation from the film archive and the understanding attitude of the festival president (Marco Solari) convinced me that this decision, though difficult, was the right one," said Maire, the first Swiss director of the venerable Locarno event in 20 years.
Solari added: "I'm sorry he's leaving us; Frederic Maire made his mark on Locarno."
This year's Locarno event, the 61st, is set for Aug.
LOCARNO, Switzerland -- The 60th annual Locarno Film Festival got under way late Wednesday with the world premiere of the Japanese animated futuristic film "Vexille" screening to a mostly full Piazza Grande and opening remarks that bounced among English, Italian, French, German and Japanese.
Fukihiko Sori's "Vexille", about a female agent dispatched to late 21st century Tokyo, was met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd in Locarno's most famous venue, the outdoor Piazza Grande.
Beforehand, festival president Marco Solari and artistic director Frederic Maire introduced Sori to the crowd in speeches that jumped between languages and was interrupted several times by applause as fireworks exploded in the background.
The festival, which runs through Aug. 11, has embraced lighter fare over the past two years under Maire's direction. Last year's opening film was "Miami Vice". Although "Vexille" is made with an unusual blend of cutting-edge CG animation and more traditional methods, it is still a far cry from the weighty and intellectual fare the festival has been known for in the past.
Fukihiko Sori's "Vexille", about a female agent dispatched to late 21st century Tokyo, was met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd in Locarno's most famous venue, the outdoor Piazza Grande.
Beforehand, festival president Marco Solari and artistic director Frederic Maire introduced Sori to the crowd in speeches that jumped between languages and was interrupted several times by applause as fireworks exploded in the background.
The festival, which runs through Aug. 11, has embraced lighter fare over the past two years under Maire's direction. Last year's opening film was "Miami Vice". Although "Vexille" is made with an unusual blend of cutting-edge CG animation and more traditional methods, it is still a far cry from the weighty and intellectual fare the festival has been known for in the past.
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