The Locarno Festival is betting on the Ibero-American cinema in its 71st edition

Locarno.- In the middle of an exhibition of international stars, a large representation of Ibero-American films and the farewells of its current artistic director, Carlo Chatrian, this Wednesday begins the Locarno Festival, considered as one of the most important quotes of the world film scene, after Cannes, Berlin and Venice.

The 71st. The contest, which begins with the French feature film Les Beaux Esprit, directed by Viannney Lebasque, and the silent film Liberty, 1929, starring Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy, will be held from August 1 to 11 in the picturesque city. Swiss on the shores of Lake Maggiore

The exhibition includes more than 200 productions, which will be screened on the iconic Piazza Grande, with a capacity of over 8,000 spectators

La flor of the Argentine Mariano Llinás and Late in the youth, of the Chilean Dominga Sotomayor, are two of the 15 films competing for the Golden Leopard, the main prize of the festival. Romanian Radu Muntean, Korean Hong Sang-soo and Iraqi Abbas Fahdel, among others, are also competing in the main section.

The artistic director, Chatrian, promises an intelligent balance in what will be the last edition that will bear his seal before taking office at the Berlinale.