An exclusive interview with Raphael Brunschwig, the Managing Director of the prestigious Locarno Film Festival

Known as one of the most respected film festivals worldwide, Locarno attracts filmmakers, industry professionals, and film enthusiasts from all corners of the globe to its stunning location in Switzerland.

In this conversation, we explore the the dynamic between business-to-business (B2B) collaborations and the VIP experiences offered at the Locarno Film Festival. 

Read the interview and discover insights into the strategic vision behind Locarno's VIP offerings, the significance of B2B relationships in enriching the festival experience, and how businesses can leverage these avenues to elevate their presence at one of cinema's most prestigious events and create unforgettable experiences for their clientele. 

1.    Can you disclose some highlights the guests will be experiencing this year in Locarno?

Those attending the Locarno Film Festival really have much to look forward to this year. The Pardo d’Onore Manor will be given to the Academy Award-winning filmmaker Jane Campion from New Zealand, who will receive the Pardo d’Onore on the evening of Friday August 16 in Piazza Grande. We'll also show two of her most remarkable films, one in the Piazza and one in the main program, and on Saturday, August 17 the public will have a chance to speak with Campion during a panel conversation. We’ll also be honoring Claude Barras, the animator-director behind Ma vie de Courgette (2016), who will receive the Locarno Kids Award la Mobiliare and present his latest film Sauvages fresh from Cannes’ success, as well as the French actress Irène Jacob, one of contemporary European cinema’s most familiar faces. Additionally, there will be a major retrospective of more than 40 classic films celebrating the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures.

2.    In the upcoming edition of the Film Festival, what can VIP ticketholders expect to experience? What makes it stand out and makes it unique?

As a major cultural hub, Locarno has always offered an exceptional and unique experience for VIP ticketholders right at the heart of the Festival. This year, they will once again enjoy exclusive networking opportunities, gourmet experiences in lounges, access to special events, and privileged access to the Piazza Grande, the Festival’s iconic venue, guaranteeing them the very best seats in the house. For VIPs, the Festival team will provide personalized service and offer their own insights, helping to make their festival experience both bespoke and truly unparalleled.

3.    What is typically included in a VIP ticket for the Locarno Film Festival?

A VIP ticket or a VIP Pass for the Locarno Film Festival usually offers a variety of exclusive perks and advantages. This includes having the best seats in the middle of Piazza Grande, the chance to walk the red carpet alongside the celebrities and special guests in attendance, direct communication with the Festival team for personalized assistance, and entry to exclusive lounges and VIP areas, such as the Leopard Club Lounge. VIP passes also include access to all festival screenings throughout the entire event.

4.    The Locarno Film Festival is a typical platform for relationship management. Why does it stand out among other platforms?

During the Festival Locarno tranforms itself into a unique site of intensification. Unlike other major platforms, Locarno's uniqueness lies in its ability to bring together diverse interest groups and segments of the public over its 11-day festival, without being tied to any specific industry where everything ultimately revolves around cinema. The groups of diverse stakeholders often head to Piazza Grande in the evening to enjoy an exclusive program, for instance. The target audience are those individuals who come to Locarno because the Festival seamlessly blends culture, economy, academia, civil society, and politics. For this audience, it is a significant event where they can organize activities based on PR needs or partnership agreements. Three defining features of this dimension of the Festival for opinion leaders include: representation from all Swiss linguistic regions as well as international guests, an informal yet high-level setting, and a spectacular platform that excels both as a film festival and a tourist destination. This sets the stage for valuable exchanges and promising collaborations for the future, all against the backdrop of the Festival’s more relaxed activities, like dining, watching films, or enjoying a drink beside the lake.

Photo © Beat Schweizer

Locarno Film Festival | Tickets & Hospitality

Over the course of its 76-year history, the Locarno Film Festival has become one of the most important film events in the world, in one of the most charming locations. Situated between the lake and the mountains, every summer in the entire Swiss-Italian city, in the heart of Europe, turns into the capital of international cinema, bringing the most innovative visions to the screen. It’s eleven days of stars, new talents, professionals and, most importantly, the audience. <br/><br/>With each edition, the city and its Festival play host to thousands of people. Viewers who, over the eleven days of the event, discover the hundred of selected films across almost a thousand screenings, from morning to night. When Piazza Grande comes to life, the inimitable theatre under the Locarno stars gives 8000 viewers the magic of a world premiere. The audience is in the Piazza, the films are on the screen and the stars are in the middle, split between the sky and the stage. <br/><br/>The new edition of the Locarno Film Festival is ready to welcome you between August 7 and 17 to offer an unforgettable cinema experience in the setting of one of the most picturesque cities in Italian-speaking Switzerland. Entertain your guests in the unique ambience of a Swiss Top Event.

daimani