The summer evening gently descends over Lake Maggiore. The air is still warm, filled with the scent of oleanders and a quiet hum of anticipation. Then, about a half-hour drive along the coast, we arrive in Locarno. Here, where the usual hustle and bustle of charming city life mingle, a very special energy always pulsates from the beginning of August. It’s festival time – and the Locarno Film Festival invites you to a spectacle you won’t soon forget.
A World-Class Festival Under Ticino Stars
The Festival del Film Locarno isn’t just any film festival. It’s one of the top film festivals in the world, having taken place since 1946. But what makes it so unique, so irresistible, that film enthusiasts flock here every August?
The answer lies in the heart of the city: the Piazza Grande. This picturesque piazza, lined with historic buildings and bustling cafés, is the centrepiece of Locarno and transforms during the festival into a breathtaking open-air cinema. Imagine: you’re sitting on one of the approximately 8,000 seats, the day drawing to a close by the lake, and above you, the starry Ticino sky slowly unfolds. On the gigantic screen, which measures an impressive 26 × 14 metres (it used to be 22 × 10 metres), a film begins. It’s this ambience that makes the open-air screenings on the Piazza Grande an unparalleled experience.
Every evening, world premieres and other outstanding films are shown here. International stars are guests and are publicly honoured. Films are celebrated. The passion for cinema is almost palpable as the crowd gazes intently at the screen, united in a shared moment of storytelling. The applause that echoes across the Piazza at the end is not just for the film, but also for this collective open-air experience.
The festival is also an important benchmark for the film world: the Variety Piazza Grande Award honours a film shown as a world or international premiere in this category. A jury of critics from Variety magazine presents this coveted prize. From 2024, the new Letterboxd Piazza Grande Award will also be presented, in collaboration with the social online network Letterboxd, to a feature film making its debut on the Piazza Grande. A public jury also awards the Prix du Public UBS to the films shown nightly on the Piazza.
In addition to the headliners on the Piazza Grande, hundreds of films are shown at many other venues in Locarno. Those with a cinematic interest could spend their entire time just watching films. Personally, however, we most appreciate the screenings on the Piazza Grande – because they take place under the open starry sky and exude a very special atmosphere. An anecdote about this: years ago, in the middle of a film, an exceptionally large shooting star blazed across the Piazza Grande. For a few seconds, all visitors were eerily silent – and seconds later, “Ooohs and Aaahs” echoed across the square, followed by applause from the 8,000 visitors. Dreamlike and unforgettably unique!
From Lakeview Cannobio to Film Fun
The beauty of it: a visit to the Locarno Film Festival can be perfectly combined with a relaxing holiday on Lake Maggiore. From our Lakeview Cannobio Camping Resort, you can reach Locarno in just about 30 minutes. This makes it ideal for spending a morning on the beach or lake shore and using the afternoon for an excursion to sophisticated Locarno.
Imagine: you’ve spent the day on Cannobio beach, swimming in the refreshing waters of Lake Maggiore or simply enjoying the sun. Then, in the late afternoon, you set off for Locarno. The short drive along the lake already offers picturesque views and gets you in the mood for the evening.
The Off-Festival: More Than Just Cinema
Before the main film begins on the Piazza Grande, immerse yourself in the lively atmosphere of the Off-Festival, which takes place in the middle of Locarno’s roundabout. Here, life pulses with music, a food festival, and a very special ambience, perfect for an aperitif before the film. It’s like a small festival within a festival, where locals and festival-goers mingle to enjoy the warm summer evenings together. You wander among food trucks, sample local specialities, or enjoy a cool drink while live music fills the air. These hours before the film are a wonderful opportunity to soak up Locarno’s unique atmosphere and get into the mood for the upcoming cinematic experience.
The ambience of the Off-Festival alone is impressive: behind it looms the Castello Visconteo, surrounded by the remains of the old city wall. In between, the modernly designed roundabout with its impressive open space of 110m diameter, where the Off-Festival takes place.
Although the Locarno Film Festival is the main reason for many to visit the Piazza Grande, it’s not the only spectacle this square hosts. The Piazza Grande in Locarno also hosts numerous open-air concerts, such as the famous Moon and Stars Festival, which transforms the stage into another impressive backdrop. And during the day, the Piazza Grande is a beautiful place to stroll, shop, soak up and enjoy the atmosphere of the lakeside town of Locarno.
A Perfect Summer Evening on Lake Maggiore
Thus, a visit to the Locarno Film Festival wonderfully rounds off a successful day at the beach. First the peace and beauty of Lake Maggiore, then the vibrant life and cultural diversity of one of the world’s most important film festivals. It is this mix that makes a summer holiday on Lake Maggiore so special. A day full of relaxation and an evening full of magical film moments – that’s a holiday as it should be.
The Locarno Film Festival is a real highlight for anyone visiting the Ticino (Swiss side) or Piedmont (Italian side) of Lake Maggiore in late summer. It is a feast for the senses, heart, and mind, showing how open-air cinema can become a truly unforgettable experience.
Questions and answers
The Locarno Film Festival is one of the world's top film festivals, renowned for its unique open-air screenings on the Piazza Grande. It combines international cinematic art with a picturesque open-air setting.
