Locarno Film Festival Unveils Leopard-Themed Celebration for Its 79th Edition
The 79th Locarno Film Festival will drape the town in leopard motifs, with the animal appearing on posters, merchandise and awards ceremonies throughout August 5-15.
During the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival, held in the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland from August 5 to 15, the city will be awash with leopard-themed graphics, banners and merchandise. Artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro curated the program and oversaw the visual identity that highlights the festival’s signature animal, a motif introduced in 1968 to distinguish its top prize, the Golden Leopard, from other European awards.
This year’s honors include the Career Leopard for director James Gray, the Honorary Leopard for Darren Aronofsky, the Leopard Club Award for Virginie Efira and a Special Leopard for Zoe Saldaña. The campaign also features a live leopard, Bagheera, photographed by wildlife specialist Tim Flach after a 2023 visit to the Cotswolds. The leopard’s agility and elegance are used to symbolize the festival’s adventurous, fringe-leaning approach to cinema, a message echoed by Nazzaro in recent comments.
Why it matters
The festival’s leopard branding highlights Locarno’s unique cultural identity and draws global attention to its avant-garde film selections.
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