The 79th edition of the Locarno Film Festival 2026 will open with the recognition of one of the most iconic figures in contemporary international cinema. On Wednesday, August 5, 2026, Isabella Rossellini will receive the Excellence Award, the prize the Festival awards annually to individuals who have left a profound mark on the global cinematic imagination.
Actress, director, model, and author, Rossellini has spanned decades of cinema while maintaining a unique and unclassifiable artistic trajectory . Her career has spanned Hollywood productions, European arthouse cinema, television, and experimentation, forging a path marked by constant transformation and creative exploration.
After her debut in the fashion world, her name became firmly established in cinema history thanks to her performance as Dorothy Vallens in David Lynch 's Blue Velvet , a 1986 film that has become a staple of contemporary cinema. That role helped define Rossellini's image as a performer capable of combining elegance, restlessness, and emotional intensity.
Over the years, the actress has worked with some of the most influential directors on the international scene, collaborating among others with Robert Zemeckis , David O. Russell , Taylor Hackford , Marjane Satrapi , Guy Maddin and the brothers Paolo Taviani and Vittorio Taviani.
In recent years, her career has seen a new wave of international attention thanks to works such as Alice Rohrwacher 's Chimera and Edward Berger 's Conclave . The latter film earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress, once again confirming the centrality of her screen presence.
In addition to his film work, Rossellini has developed a strong interest in the animal world and scientific dissemination. A master's degree in animal behavior and conservation from Hunter College in New York, he will participate in a public event during the Festival and present a selection of works that showcase the more experimental side of his artistic output.
The works on the program include the web series Green Porno (2008-2009), in which Rossellini portrays animal mating rituals in a costumed setting with an ironic and surreal tone, as well as the short films My Dad is 100 Years Old directed by Guy Maddin , Seduce Me , Mammas , Darwin, What? and Darwin, What? What?, the latter co-directed with Paul David Magid . An excerpt from Animals Distract Me is also on the program.
Underscoring the significance of Rossellini's presence at Locarno was artistic director Giona A. Nazzaro , who called the actress "a true legend of contemporary cinema," highlighting her ability to consistently embrace artistic risk and creative reinvention. Nazzaro also recalled how self-irony and unpredictability have become distinctive elements of her artistic identity over time.
The Excellence Award is one of the Festival's most prestigious honors and, over the years, has been awarded to numerous leading figures in the international film scene. Recent winners include Susan Sarandon , John Malkovich , Willem Dafoe , Isabelle Huppert , Edward Norton , Ethan Hawke , Riz Ahmed, and Golshifteh Farahani , who will receive the 2025 award.
The Locarno Film Festival 2026 will take place from 5 to 15 August 2026.
