Locarno Repositions Itself as Forward-Thinking Filmmakers’ Hub

variety.com:

Nick Vivarelli International CorrespondentFor its 75th edition, Switzerland’s Locarno Film Festival, long known as a global indie cinema temple, is looking to the future while repositioning itself as a forward-thinking hub for a wider range of movies, including studio and streamer titles, with broad audience appeal.“We believe that entertainment can be both serious and fun: I don’t see an opposing scenario where entertainment is only cheap, and seriousness is only extremely highbrow,” says the fest’s artistic director Giona A.

Nazzaro.Now on his second edition at the fest’s helm, the Italian critic is putting his stamp on Locarno with a lineup that, along with straightforward auteur movies of various kinds, increasingly includes comedies and genre films.

The fest’s eclectic nature is illustrated by t he choice of the opener, Sony ’s frothy action thriller “Bullet Train,” directed by David Leitch, which Aaron Taylor-Johnson will be tubthumping on Aug.

3 on the 8,000-seat Piazza Grande, and the closer on Aug. 13, “Everything About Martin Suter,” directed by André Schäfer and dedicated to Suter, who is considered the greatest living Swiss author. “The philosophy is to provide a wide range of films that are all hugely entertaining, while not eschewing larger issues,” adds Nazzaro.