The 78th Locarno Film Festival took place from 6 to 16 August 2025, in Locarno, Switzerland. Cambodian filmmaker Rithy Panh served as the jury president for the main competition.
Japanese drama film Two Seasons, Two Strangers by Sho Miyake was the winner of the Golden Leopard, the festival's main prize. Elsa Kremser and Levin Peter's White Snail was the winner of the Special Jury Prize. American filmmaker Alexander Payne was honoured with Leopard of Honour (Pardo dâÂÂOnore) on 15 August.
The festival poster was designed by the German artist Wolfgang Tillmans. The poster features the festivalâÂÂs iconic leopard resting on a tree branch, surrounded by a vivid mix of yellow and purple abstract patterns. Artistic director, Giona A. Nazzaro, noted that Tillmans' artwork portrays a vision of a world where people can coexist and collaborate.
Tamara Stepanyan's drama film In the Land of Arto was the festival's opening film, while Bill Condon's Kiss of the Spider Woman was the festival's closing film.
On 8 July the festival announced its line-up for this edition. It will screen 221 films, including 99 world premieres.
The following films were selected for the Piazza Grande section, these are eligible for Prix du public award:
The following films were selected for the Golden Leopard competition:
The Concorso Cineasti del Presente, also known as the Filmmakers of the Present Competition, showcases first and second feature films from emerging filmmakers.
The Concorso Corti d'Autore portion of the Leopard of Tomorrow competition features short films by established filmmakers.
The Concorso Internazionale portion of the Leopard of Tomorrow competition features short and medium-length films by emerging international directors.
The Concorso Nazionale portion of the Leopard of Tomorrow competition features short and medium-length films by emerging Swiss directors.
A tribute to British cinema from that period. More than 40 films screened in partnership with the BFI National Archive and the Cinémathèque suisse, with the support of StudioCanal and curated by Ehsan Khoshbakht.
The restored version of Roberto Rossellini's classic film Anno uno (Year One, 1974), will be screened in the festival as part of this section.
The Open Doors focused on 42 countries of the African continent.
The following films will be screened in this section. The opening film of the section is Arco, a French animated feature about the fate of a world impacted by the climate change.
The independent Panorama Suisse section features highlights of contemporary Swiss cinema.
The Locarno Film Festival honors its heritage while embracing innovation, adapting to new audiences and trends. By involving young generations through dedicated training, the Festival strengthens its positive impact locally and globally.
The Locarno Residency supports emerging filmmakers developing their first feature film through a two-phase program. Ten selected participants join workshops and discussions during the Locarno Film Festival, after which three projects (two international, one Swiss) are chosen for a year-long mentorship, including online and in-person sessions in Venice and Arles.
The Locarno Academy is a professional training initiative by the Locarno Film Festival, created to develop the skills of young filmmakers, critics, and film industry professionals.
The Locarno Filmmakers Academy, a ten-day intensive program for emerging filmmakers.
The Locarno Critics Academy is a 10-day workshop that introduces young writers to film festivals, offering hands-on coverage and sessions with industry professionals.