Introduction to the Locarno Film Festival 2025
The Locarno Film Festival 2025, taking place from August 6th to 16th, has announced its jurors. Among them are Mexican filmmaker Carlos Reygadas and American producer and writer Joslyn Barnes from Louveture films. Reygadas is known for his films such as "Silent Life" and "Battle in Heaven", while Barnes has produced Oscar-nominated documentaries like "Strong Island" and "Hale County This Morning, This Evening".
The Jury Members
The jury members accompanying Reygadas and Barnes include Dutch actress Renée Soutendijk, who won the Best Actress prize at the 2023 Locarno Film Festival for her role in "Sweet Dreams". Filmmaker Rithy Panh will act as the president of the main jury, which will award the Golden Leopard to the best filmmaker in the international competition.
Jury for the Filmmakers of the Present Section
The jury for the Filmmakers of the Present section, which focuses on aspiring directors, will be headed by Indonesian actress Asmara Abigail. She will be joined by curator of film at MoMA, Frances Hui, and actor Kani Kusruti, known for her role in "Everything We Imagine as Light".
Leopards of Tomorrow and First Feature Award
The Leopards of Tomorrow jury, which will award the best short film, consists of French-Egyptian director Jihan El Tahri, Mosotho filmmaker Lemohang Mosese, and Italian actress Sara Serraiocco. The First Feature award will be decided by a jury comprising cameraman James Hawkinson, producer Judith Lou Lévy, and French director Patricia Mazuy.
Pardo Verde Jury and Lineup
The Pardo Verde jury, which focuses on films that contribute to environmental awareness, will consist of American filmmaker Michael Almayda, Italian filmmaker Martina Parenti, and Seta Thakur from the Wyss Academy for Nature. The Locarno Film Festival lineup was unveiled last week, featuring new films by Radu Jude, Abdellatif Kechiche, Kamal Aljafari, and Ben Rivers.
