The Centovalli and Pedemonte Regional Museum is honoring the 75th anniversary of Switzerland's most prestigious film festival with a special photography exhibition featuring the work of renowned Swiss photographer René Burri. The exhibition showcases Burri's intimate documentation of the Locarno Film Festival, capturing decades of cinematic history through his distinctive lens.
Burri, a passionate enthusiast of cinema, maintained a long-standing relationship with the Locarno Film Festival, attending the event for many years and even serving as a jury member in 2004. Throughout his involvement with the festival, he consistently brought his camera along, creating an extensive archive of images that chronicle the evolution of one of Europe's most important film festivals.
The exhibition presents approximately fifty photographs taken since the 1980s, many of which have never been published before. These remarkable images offer visitors a unique glimpse into various aspects of the festival, featuring cinema personalities, candid life scenes, and iconic festival locations. Among the highlighted venues captured in Burri's work are the famous Piazza Grande, where outdoor screenings take place under the stars, and elegant evening gatherings at the Grand Hotel.
Burri's documentation provides an immersive journey through the history of the Locarno Film Festival, offering perspectives that only an insider with his artistic eye could capture. The photographer, who gained international recognition for his iconic portraits of historical figures including Che Guevara, Pablo Picasso, and Alberto Giacometti, brought the same artistic sensitivity to his festival photography.
The exhibition "René Burri – Locarno Film Festival" runs from July 28 through October 30, 2022, at the Centovalli and Pedemonte Regional Museum, located at Via Museo 8 in Intragna, Tessin, Switzerland. This tribute exhibition offers film enthusiasts and photography lovers alike an opportunity to experience the festival's rich heritage through the masterful work of one of Switzerland's most celebrated photographers.
