On Wednesday night, Isabella Rossellini received an Honorary Leopard at the 79th Locarno Film Festival's opening ceremony, according to Deadline. She also received the Excellence Award, according to newkerala, marking her iconic career.
The 79th Locarno Film Festival celebrated a living legend and premiered new cinema. It also paused to honor its recently deceased predecessors.
The festival balances its rich history and celebrated figures with contemporary programming. This ensures its continued prominence in the film world.
A Legacy Honored
- Isabella Rossellini won the "Excellence Award 2026" at the 79th Locarno Film Festival, according to The Batesville Daily Guard.
- Locarno Film Festival honors Isabella Rossellini, according to Screen Daily.
The festival's choice to bestow the Excellence Award upon Rossellini highlights her significant contributions to film. The report from The Batesville Daily Guard for an "Excellence Award" creates a factual discrepancy regarding the award's timing or name. Other sources refer to an "Excellence Award" or "Honorary Leopard" for the current 79th festival, without the "2026" designation.
New Cinema Kicks Off
The festival officially kicked off with the premiere of ‘The Green Eyes’, according to The Hollywood Reporter. This film, also known as 'Les Yeux Verts', opened the festival.
The simultaneous celebration of a cinematic icon and the debut of a new film shows the festival's dual focus on heritage and innovation. This approach combines recognizing established talent with showcasing future directions in cinema.
