Argentine filmmaker Lucila Mariani's debut feature *The Days Off* (*Los días libres*) will world premiere on 7 August in the Filmmakers of the Present Competition at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, with the Hollywood Reporter unveiling an exclusive trailer. The film blends coming-of-age and female identity themes with a speculative, near-future setting, reflecting Mariani's stated preoccupations with horror, technology and the boundaries of cinematic storytelling.

Set during an endless summer as a solar eclipse approaches, the story follows 12-year-old Bego as she navigates family life and friendships while meeting REN__, an online contact who introduces her to "shifting" — a practice in which teenagers believe lucid dreaming can grant access to other realities. The film is a co-production between Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and France, starring Antonia Robolini, Luiza Quinteiro, Laura Paredes and Guillermo Berthold, with cinematography by Victoria Pereda and editing by Maximiliano Passarelli; Inwave Films is managing international sales. Mariani has described the project as a personal "love letter" to the internet of her youth, which she credits with introducing her to friends, culture and self-understanding.