Long-standing partnership between SRG and the Locarno Film Festival

The Locarno Film Festival and SRG have maintained a close and successful partnership since 1997. As a public service broadcasting corporation with strong collaboration across the language regions, SRG helps raise the profile of Switzerland's cultural diversity and artistic creation – and showcase it beyond Switzerland's borders.

Through the partnership, SRG supports the competition 'Leopards of Tomorrow' (Pardi di Domani) with the Pardino d’Oro SRG SSR for the Best Swiss Short Film and the Pardino d’Argento SRG SSR for the National Competition.

SRG co-productions and premieres in Locarno

'Der Engelmacher' ('The Angel Maker') by Marina Klauser is the first SRG documentary series to feature in the Fuori Concorso programme. The series sheds light on a historical criminal case and represents the growing importance of documentary series formats in Swiss filmmaking. The RTS co-production 'Ah que le bonheur est proche!', a tribute to Swiss actor Jean-Luc Bideau, will also be previewed in this part of the programme. Following its standing ovation at the Sundance Film Festival, 'Frank & Louis' by Petra Volpe will be celebrating its European premiere on the Piazza Grande. The moving drama is one of the most acclaimed Swiss productions of the year. In the running for the Concorso Internazionale is 'O Jacaré' by Basil da Cunha, an in-depth portrait of urban lives and further evidence of the diversity of Swiss auteur films.

SRG events and encounters at the festival

Once again this year, SRG invites visitors to various events promoting exchange and dialogue with the film industry and festival audiences.

SRG is again creative partner of BaseCamp, which offers young filmmakers a space for exchange and experimentation. The partnership strengthens dialogue with a young, film-savvy target group.

The SRG SSR Aperitivo – a meeting place for filmmakers, partners and representatives of the industry – will take place on Friday 7 August from 4 to 6pm at the Castello Visconteo. Straight afterwards, from 6.30pm, the Castello Visconteo will host Play Friday: an evening dedicated to exchange, networking and creative collaboration.

On Saturday 8 August, RTS is hosting a breakfast event, which will be an opportunity for exchange and dialogue with guests from the Swiss film and media landscape. The Notte Svizzera – a festival event in collaboration with regional film funding bodies and SRG – will also take place on Saturday from 10.30pm.  The event at the Magistrale on Piazza San Francesco celebrates Swiss filmmaking and brings together audiences, filmmakers and partner organisations.

In addition, from 5 to 9 August, SRG will be present at the Rotonda by la Mobiliare with an RSI stand offering a range of activities for the public.

Play Suisse collection on the Locarno Film Festival

To mark the Locarno Film Festival, a special curated collection of 16 films from various editions of the festival will be available on Play Suisse from 30 August. The collection invites audiences to rediscover key works from the recent Swiss film scene.

Highlights include:

• 'Mary Anning, chasseuse de fossiles' by Marcel Barelli (Locarno Kids Award la Mobiliare 2025)
• 'O Rio de Janeiro Continua Lindo' by Felipe Casanova (Pardino d’Oro SRG SSR for the Best Swiss Short Film 2025)
• 'The Deal' by Jean-Stéphane Bron (Premiere Fuori Concorso Locarno 2025)

The collection will be available free on the SRG streaming platform and is aimed at anyone who wants to keep the Locarno spirit alive after the festival is over.