68th Locarno Film Festival


The 68th Locarno Film Festival was held from 5 to 15 August 2015 in Locarno, Switzerland. The opening film was Ricki and the Flash directed by Jonathan Demme. It was screened on the Piazza Grande, the 8,000 seat open-air theater.
The festival held a comprehensive retrospective devoted to the work of director Sam Peckinpah. Some festival guests included then 26-year old director Bi Gan with his film Kaili Blues along with Amy Schumer and Bill Hader who were in town to present their new film Trainwreck. Edward Norton received the Excellence Award and gave a talk on cinema.
The Leopard of Honor was awarded to Michael Cimino, for his career achievements in cinema. During his Q&A he took up double his allotted time, criticizing some in attendance, and talking for more the 2 hours This year's Open Doors section was devoted to Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia.
The Golden Leopard, the festival's top prize, was awarded to Right Now, Wrong Then directed by Hong Sang-soo. This was Hong Sang-soo's first ever main competition win at a major European film festival.
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Official Jury

Official Sections

The following films were screened in these sections:

Piazza Grande

The following films were screened on the Piazza Grande:
Piazza Grande: Prefestival
Piazza Grande: Special Event
Original TitleEnglish TitleDirectorYearProduction Country
Asino VolaAsino MoneyMarcello Fonte, Paolo Tripodi2015Italia

'Piazza Grande'''''

Main Competition

The following films were screened in the International Competition:
Highlighted title indicates Golden Leopard winner:

Filmmakers of the Present

The Concorso Cineasti del Presente, also known as the Filmmakers of the Present Competition, showcases first and second feature films from emerging filmmakers. The following films were screened in the Concorso Cineasti del Presente section:
'Filmmakers of the Present'''''

Out of Competition

The following films were screened Out of Competition:
Out of Competition: Feature Films
Out of Competition: Art Basel
Out of Competition: Brilhadora Canvas
Original TitleEnglish TitleDirectorYearProduction Country
GarotoBoyJúlio Bressane2015Brazil
O EspelhoThe MirrorRodrigo Lima2015Brazil
O PrefeitoThe MayorBruno Safadi2015Brazil
Origem Do MundoOrigin of the WorldMoa Batsow2015Brazil

'Out of Competition: Shorts'''''

Open Doors

This year's Open Doors section was devoted to Algeria, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia. The following films were screened in the Open Doors section :
Open Doors: Screenings
Original TitleEnglish TitleDirectorYearProduction Country
Bla CinimaBla CinemaLamine Ammar-Khodja2014France
GabblaCageTariq Teguia2008Algérie
Histoire De JudasHistory of JudasRabah Ameur-Zaïmeche2015France
HorraThat's theMoez Kamoun2014Tunisia
La Chine Est Encore LoinChina is Still Far AwayMalek Bensmaïl2009France
Les TerrassesThe TerracesMerzak Allouache2013France
Sur La PlancheOn the EdgeLeïla Kilani2011Morocco
Open Doors: Libya Shorts
'Open Doors: Shorts'''''

Leopards of Tomorrow

The following films were screened in Leopards of Tomorrow section:

Signs of Life

The following films were screened in the Signs of Life section:

History (s) of Cinema

The festival's Histoire du Cinéma section showcases films deemed significant to the evolution of cinema. Films by the festival's career award winners are presented in this section. The following films were screened in Histoire du Cinéma section:

Retrospective – Sam Peckinpah

The following films were screened in the Retrospective to Sam Peckinpah:

The Films of the Juries

The following films were screened in the Films of the Juries section:

Independent Sections

Critics Week

The Semaine de la Critique is an independent section, created in 1990 by the Swiss Association of Film Journalists in partnership with the Locarno Film Festival. The following films were screened in the Semaine de la Critique section:

Panorama Swiss

The following films were screened in the Panorama Swiss section:

Official Awards

International Competition (Concorso Internazionale)

Filmmakers of the Present Competition (Concorso Cineasti del presente)

  • Pardo d'oro Cineasti del presente – Premio Nescens: Thithi directed by Raam Reddy, India/USA/Canada
  • Premio speciale della giuria Ciné+ Cineasti del presente : Dead Slow Ahead directed by Mauro Herce, Spain/France
  • Premio per il miglior regista emergente : Lu Bian Ye Can directed by BI Gan, China

First Feature

  • Swatch First Feature Award : Thithi directed by Raam Reddy, India/USA/Canada
  • Swatch Art Peace Hotel Award: Sina Ataeian Dena for MA DAR BEHESHT, Iran/Germany
  • Special Mentions: Lu Bian Ye Can directed by Bi Gan, China, Kiev/''Moscow. Part 1'' directed by Elena Khoreva, Russia/Estonia/Ukraine

Pardi di domaniConcorso internazionale

  • Pardino d'oro per il miglior cortometraggio internazionale – Premio SRG SSR: Mama directed by Davit Pirtskhalava, Georgia
  • Pardino d'argento SRG SSR per il Concorso internazionale: La ''Impresión De Una Guerra directed by Camilo Restrepo, France/Colombia
  • Locarno Nomination for the European Film Awards – Premio Pianifica: Fils Du Loup directed by Lola Quivoron, France
  • Premio Film und Video Untertitelung: Mama directed by Davit Pirtskhalava, Georgia
  • Special Mention: Nueva Vida'' directed by Kiro Russo, Argentina/Bolivia

Pardi di domaniConcorso nazionale

  • Pardino d'oro per il miglior cortometraggio svizzero – Premio Swiss Life: Le Barrage directed by Samuel Grandchamp, Switzerland/USA
  • Pardino d'argento Swiss Life per il Concorso nazionale: DOmbres Et DAiles directed by Eleonora Marinoni, Elice Meng, Switzerland/France
  • Best Swiss Newcomer Award: Les Monts S'Embrasent directed by Laura Morales, Switzerland

Piazza Grande

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