The Locarno International Film Festival – one of the oldest A-class festivals in Europe – kicks off in Switzerland on Wednesday, August 6, this year for the 78th time. Latvian film industry will be represented in both - festival's main competition and in the industry section "Locarno Pro".
Published: 05.08.2025.
The Locarno Festival, founded in 1946, is one of Europe's most influential A-class festivals, this year it takes place from August 6 to 16. Festival president Maja Hoffmann emphasizes that the festival was created to "honor cinema as a power of media by supporting works that do not compromise with the circulation of clichés and the fulfilment of commercial expectations." This year, the number of films included in the programs of the Locarno Festival reaches 221, of which 99 will have a world premiere.
For the main competition International competition 18 films selected to compete for the award Golden Leopard, including Latvian production companies’ Mistrus Media co-production with Norway, Lithuania, Denmark and Finland - feature film Solomamma directed by Janicke Askevold. World premiere is set on August 11, screenings also on August 12 and 13. Composer Kārlis Auzāns, and Latvian producers – Gints Grūbe and Inese Boka-Grūbe – participated in this project. Of the three debut films included in the competition, one is also having presence of Latvian film professionals – a feature film co-created by Austrian director Elsa Kremser and German director Levin Peters White Snail was filmed in Latvia with the participation of a Latvian studio Tasse Film and producer Aija Berziņa, the film's artist is Kristīne Vītola.
In the industry section of the festival, Locarno Pro this year will be organised Latvian previews - several serious projects - upcoming films created by internationally renowned Latvian producers will be presented. The producer of the Flow, Matīss Kaža (Dream Well Studio & Trickster Pictures), will present upcoming feature animation from Gints Zilbalodis Limbo, as well the project where he is a director himself - together with actress and co-director Iveta Pole, Kaža is creating a documentary-scripted comedy I love you, Lex Fridman! Producer Alice Ģelze (White Picture) will present upcoming feature film projects – Summer Blues / Vasaras asaras, debut film directed by Anna Ansone and from the director Juris Kursietis, his fourth feature film Tabita. Guntis Trekteris (Ego Media), will also present two projects – feature Ulya by Viesturs Kairish with the Kārlis Arnolds Avots in the leading role, and from the director Ilze Burkovska-Jakobsen, internationally known for the animated documentary My Favorite War (2020), her upcoming feature animation RoachCoach /Trakmakāns.
As part of the Locarno Festival, from August 8- 10, the cooperation platform Match Me! for young producers will be held for the tenth time, which is organized in cooperation with the film centres of the Baltic States and several film institutions of other countries of the world. The aim of the initiative is to broaden the horizons for the activities, experience and recognition of new, promising producers and new film companies, to create an opportunity for establishing new contacts. Participants for this program are selected by representatives of the Locarno Festival, Latvia will be represented this year by Dārta Vijgrieze (Mistrus Media) and Katrīna Karple (White Picture).
With a strong and strategic participation in the Locarno Festival competition and in the industry section, Latvia is once again confirming its important place in the European film ecosystem by showcasing both new talents and experienced producers, as well as fruitful cooperation in international co-productions, according to Cineuropa, the professional publication of the European film industry.