7 August 2026
Two brilliant festivals, one after the other, celebrating the arts of music and cinema. And both in marvelous settings. French-speaking VERBIER in July, the trendy laid-back ski village which transforms into a world-class classical music event in the summer for the pleasure of avid mélomanes; and Italian-speaking LOCARNO, with its lake and velvety mountains surrounding its charming town which becomes a cinephiles delight every August.
Only in our beloved Switzerland!
LOCARNO !!
We have no new film releases this week as it’s the middle of summer holidays. So, for serious cinephiles, the main attraction just now is LOCARNO, the biggest film festival in Switzerland. I’m on the train now, heading there for its opening day, running from 5-15 August.
The festival is in its 79th edition, just like Cannes, and a bit younger than Venice, the oldest, which started in August 1932.
Locarno will be offering its regular lineup of independent films from around the world and holding its usual excellent, popular Retrospectives at the retro Rex cinema, this year called Red & Black, featuring films concerning the black-listed artists of the McCarthy era in the 1950s. There will also be many exciting evenings at their exceptional Piazza Grande, which holds some 8000 film buffs nightly for films and awards to their many invitees including such stars as Isabella Rossellini, Virginie Efira, Jean-Luc Bideau, Isabelle Huppert and Monica Belluci, amongst others.
One of the best features of this festival, beyond its excellent organizaton, is their openness to the public through the Forum Meetings which hold in-depth interviews with such luminaries as Rossellini and Efira, as well as the cast and crew of the various films being shown each day. This is an exceptional offering to view and question the artists and creators of cinema up close, with no pushy bodyguards – a rarity among festivals. Come early for seats, as these events are very popular.
Will let you know further what develops as the festival advances. If you’re thinking of joining the festival, make sure you will have a bed, for most hotels are fully booked.
VERBIER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Verbier – so many moments of varied musical offerings once again this year, in its 20th edition. I won’t list again the rich roster of top international musicians, but some of the highlights were the exuberant performance of Mozart’s Cosi Fan Tutte, with the wonderfully enthusiastic Gabor Takacs-Nagy as conductor (his Masterclasses are among the festival’s most popular), and soprano sisters, Johanna and Rebecka Wallroth, who played the naughty ladies who are tested by their conniving fiancés. Delightful voices and sparkling acting.
There was an exciting solo guitar performance at the church with Pablo Sainz-Villegas, plus the impromptu-feeling of the UNLTD concerts, more casual fare for the general public. Another very special morning concert at the church by the Iranian cellist, Kian Soltani and the Shiraz Ensemble, took one to the sublime harmonies of Persian music. In early August, there was a marvelous rendition of Verdi’s La Traviata, with a rising 23-year-old soprano from Georgia, Ana Oniani, who ended up winning this year’s top Verbier Award for most promising young musician. Unforgettable, and she will go far.
So many rich instants of bliss in those Valais mountains – sports and culture beautifully combined.
Try it next year!
Superb **** Very Good *** Good ** Mediocre * Miserable – no stars
By Neptune
Neptune Ravar Ingwersen reviews film extensively for publications in Switzerland. She views 4 to 8 films a week and her aim is to sort the wheat from the chaff for readers.
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