© Locarno Film Festival/Ti-Press Tuesday 12 April 2022 saw the signing at the PalaCinema in Locarno of a letter of intent whose terms will strengthen the partnership between Swatch and the Locarno Film Festival: from 2023 the Swiss watchmaker will become one of the event’s four Main partners.
The ties between Swatch and the Locarno Film Festival are set to become firmer than ever. The new partnership will build on years of close cooperation that have already brought important results, such as the Swatch First Feature Award, destined for best first feature films presented at Locarno. From 2023 Swatch will become a Main Partner of the event, broadening the scope of its involvement with Festival projects in accordance with the points set out in a letter of intent signed today at the PalaCinema in Locarno.
Marco Solari, president of the Locarno Film Festival: “Swatch has always been a brand for surprises. Likewise, the Locarno Film Festival has an acknowledged place on the world cinema scene as a festival of discovery and innovation. With Swatch, the Festival has found a Main partner of high value, and we look forward with confidence to a future together, alongside our other important sponsors and partners. Deep gratitude goes to Manor, which has made a decisive contribution to the growth of the event over the years.”
Carlo Giordanetti, Product and Design Committee and CEO Swatch Art Peace Hotel: “Art-themed projects are part of our DNA at Swatch. Over the years, our collaboration with the Locarno Film Festival has become increasingly important to us: from the discovery of artists with diverse profiles and backgrounds, to the engagement of collectors and movie fans, via the designing every year of a new swatch dedicated to the Festival. From 2023 we will be multiplying those positive energies by further deepening the involvement of Swatch and the Swatch Art Peace Hotel in the Festival program and its ancillary activities.”
Swatch will take over from Manor, which will be ending its term as Main partner of the Festival after the upcoming 75th edition (3-13 August 2022). Manor, which has contributed significantly to the development of the Festival during its more than twenty years of partnership while continuing to stay close to the event, albeit in different formats. The Locarno Film Festival is delighted to be able to continue this collaboration.
Jérôme Gilg, CEO of Manor: "Our commitment to the Locarno Film Festival is a matter of the heart for Manor. Together we have experienced many exciting moments, and we are grateful for this excellent partnership. With Manor stores, we will remain firmly rooted in the region and will continue to be actively involved in the Locarno Film Festival in the future, which we are very pleased about."
