Locarno Film Fest: Infamous Lives on Screen

The 79th Locarno Film Festival, scheduled from August 5 to August 15, 2026, will feature a diverse program focusing on notable and controversial figures. Among the selections is "Sixteen Moments of My Life," exploring German actress Ingrid Caven's career, particularly her collaborations with Rainer Werner Fassbinder. This film offers a unique concert performance format.

Another compelling film, "Bruton," directed by Vincent Grashaw, chronicles the story of Bryan Bruton, who served a decade in Florida's prison system for an unintentional crime. The film, starring Theo Rossi, examines his experiences and his subsequent YouTube series about prison life.

"Marco Bellocchio: La porta della Realtà" offers an intimate portrait of the renowned Italian director through the eyes of his long-time set photographer, Fabio Lovino. The documentary includes interviews and unseen archival footage, featuring family, collaborators, and actors.

Felix Randau's fiction feature "I Is Another" delves into a psychological drama involving Heinrich Himmler's former massage therapist. The film explores themes of doubt and truth as a journalist interviews the therapist.

Mohanad Yaqubi's "Revolutionaries Never Die" pays homage to Lebanese filmmaker Jocelyne Saab, tracing her work documenting Arab revolutions. This film serves as a cinematic tribute, reflecting on the resonance of her archival footage with contemporary realities.

"Transition," co-directed by Peter Badel and Chris Wright, completes Thomas Heise's unfinished film about Berlin's Schönhauser Allee, offering insights into East German life and post-reunification societal shifts.