Federal advisor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider gave the official kick-off on the 78th edition of the Locarno Film Festival on Wednesday. In a committed speech pronounced to the masterful, she praised a courageous cinema in the face of world crises.
A few hours before the screening of the opening film on the Grande Piazza and after having attended the Ciné-Concert, the Jurassic praised “an event that resists, which questions, which creates the link”.
In a discourse full of gravity and hope, she called to “do not look away” from current upheavals, emphasizing the irreplaceable role of culture in societies crossed by crises: “In times of international instability, cinema can offer a vision, defend values, open dialogue”.
“Locarno has always been able to reinvent itself”
Elisabeth Baume-Schneider also paid tribute to the artistic commitment of the festival, recalling her tradition of independence and audacity, from the Cold War to contemporary challenges: “Locarno has always been able to reinvent itself, looking at the world with lucidity.
The federal councilor underlined the vitality of Swiss cinema, well represented this year with 28 films on the program, including several in competition. She also praised the commitment of the demonstration in favor of young talents through the “Pardi di Domani” section.
Finally, she expressed her gratitude to the organizers and, in particular, to the president of the festival, Maja Hoffmann: “You are right: cinema can change the world, precisely because it brings out contradictions and resistance”.
For Maja Hoffmann, “cinema is one of the rare almost universal languages,” she said before the Assembly. Small event, a person in the front rows has passed out, causing the momentary speeches, when they had already started three-quarters of an hour late.
From 9:30 p.m., Piazza Grande will again turn into a biggest outdoor cinema in Europe by welcoming the world premiere of “Le Pays d’Arto”, a Franco-Armenian film by Tamara Stepanyan. The festival will continue until August 16.
This article was published automatically. Source: ATS
