Seven honorary awards at Locarno79, from Aronofsky to Zoe Saldaña

The 79th Locarno Film Festival, running from 5 to 15 August, is distributing a series of career awards. The first has already been presented: Isabella Rossellini received the Excellence Award on the opening night in Piazza Grande.

Director Darren Aronofsky receives the Pardo d'onore. The actress Virginie Efira is honoured with the Leopard Club Award. Actor and director James Gray takes the Pardo alla carriera, while Asia Argento receives the Life Achievement Award.

Rick Baker receives the Vision Award, given to those who work behind the image, and the producer Sigurjón "Joni" Sighvatsson the Raimondo Rezzonico Award. Zoe Saldaña arrives on 10 August for a conversation with the audience at Forum @Spazio Cinema and receives a Special Pardo.

Two tributes with different roots

On 8 August the Piazza Grande celebrates Jean-Luc Bideau, a historic figure of Swiss cinema and star of "Ah que le bonheur est proche!".

On 6 August it is the turn of Claudio Simonetti, founder and keyboard player of Goblin, with a tribute preceding a special screening of "Inferno in diretta", the 1985 film.

The number of performers announced is substantial. Among the actors expected are Olivia Wilde for "The Invite", Monica Bellucci for "Ketticè", Isabelle Huppert and Sandrine Kiberlain for "Ni vue, ni connue", Claes Bang and Valerie Pachner for "Ich ist ein Anderer", Caleb Landry Jones for "Down the Arm of God", Valerio Mastandrea for "Armony", Kingsley Ben-Adir and Rob Morgan for "Frank & Louis", and Emmanuelle Devos for "Demain je tombe amoureux".

The list is completed by Anders Danielsen Lie, Kathrine Thorborg Johansen and Simon Sears for "Brave New Love", Kim Minhee for "Nun Dul Dega Eomne", Ingrid Caven for "Seize moments de ma vie", Theo Rossi for "Bruton", Giulia Maenza for "Alberi erranti", Alessandro Haber for "Cercatori d'angeli" and Sara Serraiocco for "Il Cileno".

Among the directors present are Hong Sangsoo, Albert Serra, Petra Volpe, Caroline Poggi and Jonathan Vinel, León & Cociña, Ben Rivers, Vincent Grashaw, Denis Côté, Erin Vassilopoulos, Beatrice Gibson and Edgar Pêra.

The spread of awards follows a recognisable logic. Alongside the names that fill the square are figures who work far from the spotlight, such as the special effects artist and the producer, and one share is reserved for those who have accompanied Swiss cinema across its whole span.