Locarno Film Festival highlights standout international productions

The 79th Locarno Film Festival is reaching its final phase, highlighting several standout productions. German director Isabelle Stever is receiving significant attention for her German-Ukrainian co-production, ‘I Rarely Wake Up Dreaming’. The drama, co-written by Anna Melikova, explores themes of identity and the impact of the war in Ukraine through the story of a couple navigating existential conflicts.

Other notable films include the French-Indian episodic drama ‘Rehmat’ by Gurvinder Singh and the Swiss production ‘Frank & Louis’ directed by Petra Volpe. The festival's competitive section also features works by Hong Sang-soo. As the event progresses toward the announcement of the Golden Leopard by jury president Fabrice Du Welza, the Piazza Grande continues to host large audiences for these auteur-driven cinematic works.

In other regional film news, the Shortynale festival in Klosterneuburg is set for August 2026, featuring international short films, a new youth jury, and a horror night in collaboration with the Slash Film Festival.