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The Leopard Takes Over Locarno Again – and It Is Different From Other Film Festival Animal Symbols
Locarno Film Festival will again fill the Swiss town with its leopard branding for its 79th edition, running from 5 to 15 August. The animal is both the festival’s mascot and the emblem of its awards, reflecting Locarno’s identity as a showcase for adventurous, varied cinema.
The Golden Leopard has been the festival’s top prize since 1968, helping distinguish it from Venice’s Golden Lion and Rotterdam’s Tiger. This year’s honorary recipients include James Gray, Darren Aronofsky, Virginie Efira and Zoe Saldaña, while Bagheera, a leopard photographed in the Cotswolds, has represented the festival publicly since 2024.
In short
- Locarno79 brings leopard imagery across the town from 5 August.
- The Golden Leopard has defined the festival since 1968.
- Major film figures will receive special Leopard awards.
Explained simply
Locarno is an annual film festival held in the Swiss town of the same name. It screens films from many countries and backgrounds, including work that may be less familiar to large audiences.
The leopard has been part of the festival’s identity for decades: its main award, the Golden Leopard, has carried that name since 1968. This links the animal to the festival’s history and helps distinguish its award from the Golden Lion at Venice and the Tiger at Rotterdam.
The festival matters as a meeting place for filmmakers and audiences, and as a showcase for a wide range of cinema. Its leopard mascot and award give it a recognisable symbol beyond the films themselves.
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