FIPRESCI Prize

For eight decades, the Locarno Film Festival has been at the forefront of the international festival circuit, premiering films by both established auteurs and rapidly rising talents. Nestled among the Swiss Alps and facing out onto Lake Maggiore, the city of Locarno is transformed for eleven days each August into a hub of world cinema. Films can be enjoyed in the calm of a cinema or out in the open air under the stars on the Piazza Grande, the spectacular outdoor venue that accommodates thousands of spectators on one of the largest screens of its kind in the world. Supplementing the main program is a slate of discussions and panels on major future-focused topics as well as masterclasses by some of the most prominent names in the world of cinema. Our FIPRESCI jury of five will give an award to a feature film in the Main Competition.

Set on the remote island of Kastellorizo — the easternmost edge of Greece, where the Aegean meets the Mediterranean — Beyond Borders is a boutique international documentary festival that prioritizes quality, dialogue, and human connection over scale. Now on its 11th edition, the festival features three sections: International competition (feature-length documentaries with a strong focus on sociopolitical issues, human rights and history), International competition (short documentaries), Panorama Section (non-competitive screenings). The Country of Honour for 2026 will be Switzerland, featuring a spotlight on Swiss documentary cinema.

Due to the extraordinary circumstances under which the festival is taking place this year, the FIPRESCI jury will exceptionally be composed of members of the Ukrainian Section of FIPRESCI. The Federation remains committed to supporting the Odesa International Film Festival and Ukrainian film culture during this challenging time.