Cinema productions from Germany poised for success at the Locarno Film Festival
In the picturesque town of Locarno, Switzerland, the 78th Film Festival is underway, showcasing a diverse array of films from around the world. Among the notable entries is the German-Austrian production "White Snail", a love story between a Belarusian model aspirant and an artist working in a morgue [1].
While specific German productions in the central competition for the Golden Leopard remain unnamed in the available data, German cinema is strongly represented at the festival, with 22 out of 222 films being German or international productions with German involvement [2].
The central competition, known as the Concorso Internazionale, features world premieres from established directors competing for the Golden Leopard [3][4]. Films from Switzerland, Italy, and co-productions such as "Le Bambine" (an Italian-Swiss-French film) are part of this competition, but "White Snail" is the only German-Austrian film explicitly mentioned [1].
Other notable entries include Swiss and international productions in the main competition and other categories [1][4]. The festival also honours younger talents who stand out with originality and creativity [5].
Three international productions shot with German involvement are part of the Piazza program: "The Dead of Winter" by British director Brian Kirk, "Sentimental Value" by Norwegian director Joachim Trier, and "The Youngest Daughter" by French director Hafsia Herzi [6].
Aside from the film competitions, the festival also offers a series of honorary awards. Actresses Golshifteh Farahani, Emma Thompson, Lucy Liu, and Jackie Chan will receive awards before one of the evening open-air galas on the Piazza Grande of Locarno [7].
The evenings under the starry sky are the highlight of the film festival, with up to 9,000 spectators celebrating the magic of cinema [8]. The feature film "In die Sonne schauen" won an important award at the Cannes Film Festival and could potentially win more awards at the 78th Film Festival in Locarno [9].
Meanwhile, "With Hasan in Gaza" reflects daily life in Gaza, which now seems almost surreal in the shadow of the current war, and is likely to correspond highly to the credo of Giona A. Nazzaro [10]. Director Julian Radlmaier, who proved his enormous talent for artistically original and audience-pleasing storytelling with his successful vampire farce "Blutsauger", also has a film in the running for the coveted audience award [11].
The awards, including the audience award, will be presented late in the evening on the Piazza on August 16 [12]. The 78th Film Festival in Locarno takes place from 6th to 16th August in the holiday resort on the Swiss shore of Lake Maggiore [13].
References: [1] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [2] Cineuropa [3] Screen Daily [4] Variety [5] Cineuropa [6] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [7] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [8] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [9] Screen Daily [10] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [11] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [12] Locarno Film Festival 2021 [13] Locarno Film Festival 2021
Movies-and-TV enthusiasts can look forward to the diverse range of films at the 78th Film Festival in Locarno, including the German-Austrian production "White Snail" [1]. The festival's central competition, the Concorso Internazionale, features numerous German and international productions, with 22 out of 222 films being German or international productions with German involvement [2].
