A Guide to Getting the Most Out of Locarno79

Everything you need to know to make the most of Locarno79. With the next edition of the Festival starting this week, we wanted to give you a guide to help you navigate your experience in Locarno.

© Carolina Altavilla

For eleven days in August, the city of Locarno transforms into one of the most important places in world cinema. “Locarno is a pilgrimage” wrote one critic. Its heart is the Piazza Grande – thousands of seats facing a giant screen under the stars, with the Alps as the backdrop. 

 With the Festival starting on Wednesday, we wanted to share a handy guide both for those attending for the first time and for those who’ve attended before but want a refresh of the key points. We’re here to help you get the most out of your experience.

I WANT TO SEE FILMS, WHERE DO I START?

A good place to start when building your programme: the film sections. From there, you can decide which paths to follow and dig into the individual strands that make up the complete line-up of the Festival.

• Piazza Grande

• Concorso Internazionale (International Competition) 

• Concorso Cineasti del Presente (Filmmakers of the Present) 

• Pardi di Domani (Leopards of Tomorrow) 

• Fuori Concorso (Out of Competition) 

• Locarno Kids Screenings

• Retrospettiva (Retrospective)

• Histoire(s) du Cinéma

• Open Doors Screenings 

• Semaine de la Critique & Panorama Suisse (independent sections)

Seat booking is mandatory for all screenings – except those in Piazza Grande – for all Festival Pass and Day Pass holders.

WHERE DO THE FILMS SHOW?

• Palexpo (FEVI): daily home of the Concorso Internazionale and Panorama Suisse.

• PalaCinema: a cinema palace for diverse sections.

• GranRex: the home of the retrospective and classic cinema.

• La Sala: a second large screening hall for competition repetitions.

• L’altra Sala: the home for Pardi di Domani.

• PalaVideo: a screening space that's a little further away, on the other side of the train station.

• Teatro Kursaal: located between the debarcadero and Piazza Grande, Teatro Kursaal hosts press screenings, films from Open Doors, and Locarno Kids screenings.
• Cinema Rialto: just a two-minute walk from Locarno train station, Cinecentro Rialto hosts First Look, Heritage Monday, and selected public screenings.

• Forum @ Spazio Cinema: where the public discussions for films and honorary guests take place.

• NZZ Wine Bar: a calm and stylish new space to relax with a glass of wine near the Teatro Kursaal.

• Campari Lounge: take a break from films with a signature glass of Campari a stone’s throw from Piazza Grande

• Largo Zorzi: this is the area behind the Piazza Grande screen where you can find all kinds of booths from partnering organisations.

• Honorary Tributes: some of the biggest names of world cinema receive awards nightly on the Piazza Grande, interact with the public at a discussion at the Forum @Spazio Cinema, and present selected films from their career.

• Q&As after screenings: most screenings are followed by a conversation with the director and/or cast, open to everyone who attended the screening.   

PARDO DAILY

Each day, we distribute a daily critical guide to the films & events in the programme, freely available at cafes and cinemas around the city. Featuring interviews, reviews, and features on the films and stars of Locarno79, in Italian and English. 

IMMERSE YOURSELF IN THE EXPERIENCE

• BaseCamp: the creative hub for 200 young international artists, filmmakers, researchers, musicians, writers and practitioners from all disciplines, with many events open to the public. The BaseCamp this year takes place at the Castello Visconteo, a 14th-century castle in the heart of the city.

• Rotonda by la Mobiliare: the vibrant meeting point of Locarno79, bringing together music, food, drinks, and entertainment in the heart of the city.

GETTING TO LOCARNO

Public transport within Ticino & Moesano (Arcobaleno integrated fare network) is included with any Festival ticket, pass, or accreditation for the duration of its validity, thanks to our partnership with SBB. If checked, simply show it. In addition, during the Festival you can benefit from the special event train departing every night at 2 am from Locarno to Lugano-Chiasso.

Your guide to getting the most out of Locarno. Created in partnership with Ascona-Locarno Tourism, our interactive digital map helps you easily find Festival venues, services, and places to explore.

Discover also the venues offering food & beverage discounts to festivalgoers, thanks to our Food & Drink Deals initiative. 

While in Locarno, anyone with a valid Festival pass, ticket, or accreditation can rent an e-bike free of charge at Largo Zorzi, thanks to PubliBike Velospot.

Or hop on the Pardo Bus: a free hybrid-electric shuttle by La Posta/AutoPostale, connecting all Festival venues. 

There’s also a free app for booking a private taxi service, if you need to get around in a hurry. 

DON’T MISS OUT ON YOUR LOCARNO MERCH

Swing by the merch stand at Largo Zorzi, open daily from 10:00 to midnight, to get your hands on some of our Pardo-branded products and bring a piece of the Festival home with you.

Still have questions? Take a look at our FAQs on the website, or get in touch with the Festival's customer service.