Multiply Award-Winning Cinema Showcased at Locarno Film Festival, Hailing from Germany - Multiple German Film Awards Honored at Locarno Film Festival
The 78th International Film Festival Locarno, one of Europe's most prestigious film events, concluded on Saturday with a notable triumph for German films. White Snail, a co-production between Austria and Germany directed by Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter, won the Special Jury Prize in the Concorso Internationale category, and its lead actors, Maryia Imbro and Mikhail Senkov, received the Best Performance award [1][2].
Another German co-production, Dry Leaf directed by Alexandre Koberidze, received a Special Mention in the international competition and was awarded the FIPRESCI Prize, a prestigious critics' award [1].
White Snail is a socially critical drama that tells a love story, while Dry Leaf is an experimental film. Both films showcase the diversity and innovation in German filmmaking.
Other German co-productions also made an impact at the festival. With Hasan in Gaza by Kamal Aljafari won the Europa Cinema Label, and Blind, Into the Eye by Atefeh Kheirabadi and Mehrad Sepahnia won the Junior Jury Award – Pardi di Domani [1].
The festival, held annually in Locarno, Switzerland since 1946, has a rich legacy as a platform for celebrating independent and auteur cinema from around the world. This year, the top prize, the Golden Leopard, was awarded to the Japanese film Two Seasons, Two Strangers by Sho Miyake [2].
The festival honoured cinematic icons such as Alexander Payne (Leopard of Honour), Lucy Liu (Lifetime Achievement Award), Emma Thompson (Leopard Club Award), and Jackie Chan (Career Award) [2]. The festival poster for 2025 was designed by German artist Wolfgang Tillmans, symbolizing global collaboration and coexistence [2].
In addition to German films, other notable mentions include Iraqi director Abbas Fahdel, who was honoured for his documentary "Tales of the Wounded Land" at the festival [3].
With its strong representation and success, German filmmakers and co-productions confirmed their standing in international arthouse cinema at Locarno 2025. The festival itself maintains a special emphasis on artistic expression and discovery, making it an important event for the global film industry.
[1] - https://www.locarnofestival.ch/en/news/2025/08/16/press-release-awards-78th-locarno-film-festival [2] - https://www.locarnofestival.ch/en/ [3] - https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/locarno-film-festival-2025-winners-1235159637/ [4] - https://www.screendaily.com/festivals/locarno-2025-german-films-shine-at-swiss-festival/5178138.article [5] - https://www.cineuropa.org/en/newsdetail/detail.php?id=190634
The success of German co-productions, such as the Special Jury Prize winner 'White Snail' and the FIPRESCI Prize receiver 'Dry Leaf', at the Locarno Film Festival showcases the strong presence and innovation in German filmmaking. This festival, with its focus on artistic expression and discovery, serves as an essential platform for the global film industry. Furthermore, the community and financial aid provided by Germany contributes to the continued growth and development of entertaining projects, such as movies and television series, in the world of entertainment.
