Cinema buffs of the world, get ready! The leopard is about to be on the loose again! Attendees of the 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival in the Italian part of Switzerland will get to spot the famous symbol and mascot of the annual celebration of cinema, and its gold or yellow and black colors, on all sorts of posters and bunting, on festival merchandise and on street and shop decorations all over town. In other words: Locarno will be covered in leopard print.
Fans of the festival will, similar to a big cat, be on the hunt for new and old cinematic gems in the lineup put together by artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro and his team for Locarno79.
Of course, the Pardo d’Oro, or Golden Leopard, the top prize at Locarno, and other Leopard awards will be coveted prey for filmmakers throughout the festival program. Before the juries decide the 2026 winners at the end of Locarno79, which runs Aug. 5-15, organizers will also bestow Leopard honors upon various big names.
Director James Gray, for example, will receive the Career Leopard, or Pardo alla Carriera. Director Darren Aronofsky will be honored with the Honorary Leopard (Pardo d’Onore), while Belgian-born actress Virginie Efira will be the recipient of the Leopard Club Award. And Zoe Saldaña will be awarded a Special Leopard.
