admin The Locarno Film Festival 2025 has announced a bold and diverse selection for its 78th edition, with Radu Jude’s Dracula, David Lynch-executive produced Legend of the Happy Worker, and Cannes winner It Was Just an Accident leading the lineup. This year’s event, running from August 6 to 16, will screen 221 films, including 99 world premieres.
Opening the Concorso Internazionale (international competition) is Dracula, a new take on the classic tale by acclaimed Romanian filmmaker Radu Jude, known for his politically sharp narratives. The film will make its world premiere at the festival and is expected to spark critical conversation.
Meanwhile, Legend of the Happy Worker, directed by Duwayne Dunham (known for Twin Peaks and Return of the Jedi), joins the out-of-competition section. Backed by the late David Lynch, the film delves into the absurdities of modern work culture through a surreal lens, marking Dunham’s return to feature filmmaking.
In Locarno’s Piazza Grande, the open-air section on the town’s iconic square, festivalgoers can enjoy crowd-pullers like It Was Just an Accident, the Cannes 2025 winner, and Testa O Croce? (Heads or Tails?), starring John C. Reilly as Buffalo Bill. Directed by Alessio Rigo de Righi and Matteo Zoppis, the latter brings a unique mix of folklore and historical drama.
The festival also features new works from Abdelletif Kechiche, Vincent Grashaw, Sho Miyake, Ben Rivers, and Rosanne Pel, adding global depth to the official selection. The Concorso Cineasti del Presente sidebar, spotlighting first and second features, includes Fantasy by music video director Kukla and Olivia by Sofía Petersen.
Festival artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro described this year’s selection as “alive, necessary, and daring.” In his press note, he said, “Let’s regain the world one film at a time.” He emphasized cinema’s role in facing modern realities while encouraging imagination, humor, and resistance.
In addition to the films, Locarno 2025 will honor Jackie Chan with a Lifetime Achievement Award, Emma Thompson with the Leopard Club Award, and Lucy Liu with a career achievement honor, recognizing their contributions to global cinema.
With fresh voices and iconic names, Locarno promises to be a celebration of cinema that is fearless, contemporary, and deeply human.
Magazine 
