Locarno79: SSR between co-productions and a Play Suisse collection

SSR and the Locarno Film Festival have worked together since 1997. This year again the broadcaster is present at the festival with co-productions, premieres and public events.

Three titles carry particular weight in the programme. «Il fabbricante di angeli» is a documentary series by Marina Klauser. «Frank & Louis» is directed by Petra Volpe and had its premiere at the Sundance festival. «O Jacaré» by Basil da Cunha appears in the international competition.

SSR also supports the Pardi di Domani competition. It awards the Pardino d'oro SRG SSR for the best Swiss short film and the Pardino d'argento SRG SSR for the national competition.

Events around town

On 7 August the Castello Visconteo hosts the Aperitivo della SRG SSR from 4pm to 6pm, followed by Play Friday at 6.30pm.

On 8 August the Petit déjeuner RTS takes place in the morning, while at 10.30pm Piazza San Francesco welcomes the Notte Svizzera.

From 5 to 9 August RSI is present with a stand at the Rotonda by la Mobiliare.

The two short film prizes concern directors at the start of their careers. For those working in Switzerland, Pardi di Domani remains one of the few international events with a dedicated national section, and the award weighs on the funding prospects of later projects.

The festival's extension runs through the streaming platform. From 30 August Play Suisse offers a collection of sixteen festival films, available free of charge.

This part of the agreement mainly concerns those who could not travel to Locarno. A small but accessible selection widens the audience for the titles shown, well beyond the days of the event and the boundaries of the Locarno area.

The relationship between the broadcaster and the festival now spans almost thirty years. Over that period SSR's role has widened from co-producing the films to distributing them after the event, with the platform taking in part of the programme.