The Committee of Castellinaria – Young Film Festival announced the appointment of Erik Bernasconi as the new Artistic Director of the event. The decision marks a turning point in the history of the festival dedicated to young cinema, which is preparing to face a new phase after the long direction of Giancarlo Zappoli, driving for 28 years.
The Committee's choice is for a figure deeply rooted in the cultural context of Italian-speaking Switzerland. Born in Bellinzona, Bernasconi combines his work as a director and screenwriter with a strong commitment to education and reflection on film policy. He teaches directing at CISA in Locarno and actively participates in various groups that focus on the development of the audiovisual sector at the cantonal and national levels.
Over the years, his artistic journey has spanned different genres and formats. From the feature film Sinestesia , presented at the Solothurn Film Festival in 2010 and nominated for three Quartz Awards , to the documentary Moka Noir , screened at the Rome Film Fest in 2019. More recently, the television series Alter Ego , produced in 2023 for SRG , has further expanded his scope.
His most recent work, Becàària , an adaptation of Giorgio Genetelli 's novel set in 1970s Ticino, met with public acclaim, winning the Prix du public at the 2026 Solothurn Film Festival. This recognition confirms the director's ability to tell local stories in a language accessible to new generations, a central theme in the debate on young cinema.
Bernasconi's connection to Castellinaria is not a recent one. He has long been involved with the festival as coordinator of the Young Jury and coordinator of Cinema & Gioventù activities. These roles have allowed him to closely observe the dynamics of younger audiences and contribute to building an ongoing dialogue between films, authors, and students. This experience, gained in the field, now flows into his new artistic responsibility.
Commenting on the appointment, Bernasconi emphasized his desire to work closely with the Association's Committee, the presidency, the operational management, and all of the staff, reiterating the importance of maintaining the festival's youthful spirit and supporting its evolution without distorting its identity.
For its part, the Castellinaria Committee expressed its gratitude to Giancarlo Zappoli for his crucial contribution to the festival's growth and consolidation, welcoming its new artistic director with confidence. The stated goal is to guide the festival toward its 39th edition and beyond, strengthening its role as a benchmark for young cinema in Ticino and the Swiss film scene, balancing continuity and renewal.
