The 2026 Locarno Film Festival is rolling out the red carpet for some of Hollywood’s biggest names, with Zoe Saldaña leading the celebration.
Festival organizers have announced that the Guardians of the Galaxy and Emilia Pérez star will receive the prestigious Special Pardo (Special Leopard) award during the 79th edition of the Swiss festival.
Along with the honor, Saldaña will take part in a public conversation on Aug. 10, giving fans a rare chance to hear about her career firsthand.
Music legend Claudio Simonetti, best known for his haunting scores for horror classics including Suspiria and Dawn of the Dead, will also be recognized for his lasting impact on film music.
He’ll receive his award ahead of a special screening of Cut and Run on August 6.
Locarno is also shaping up to be one of the most star-studded festivals of the year.
Expected attendees include Olivia Wilde, Monica Bellucci, Isabelle Huppert, Claes Bang, Valerie Pachner, Caleb Landry Jones, Kingsley Ben-Adir, Rob Morgan and Theo Rossi, among many others.
The festival had already revealed a lineup of major honorary guests, including directors James Gray and Darren Aronofsky, actress Virginie Efira, legendary special-effects artist Rick Baker, producer Sigurjón “Joni” Sighvatsson, and screen icons Asia Argento and Isabella Rossellini.
Running from August 5-15, the 79th Locarno Film Festival is once again blending awards, world premieres and A-list talent into one of Europe’s biggest celebrations of cinema.
