Locarno Film Festival Highlights Swiss Cinema in 79th Edition

The 79th edition of Switzerland's Locarno Film Festival runs from Aug. 5‑16, presenting adventurous new cinema from around the world alongside home‑grown Swiss productions. The popular Panorama Suisse programme showcases Swiss films that have succeeded at festivals, attracted cinema audiences or are currently released in the country, while the Kids Screenings include two titles with Swiss participation.

Notable entries include the political thriller *The Chilean*, an Italy‑Chile‑Switzerland co‑production set in 1976 about an ex‑explosives expert forced into exile, which the director Sergio Castro‑San Martín says highlights the ongoing issue of immigration. Another featured film, *Happiness Is So Close!*, directed by François‑Christophe Marzal, follows octogenarian actor Jean‑Luc as he prepares to portray Don Quixote, confronting health challenges and the fear of being replaced by an understudy.