THE 54TH FESTIVAL
An insider’s look at the Locarno Film fest
by Christine K. Zarb
 A typical Locarno Festival day goes something like this. As you don’t have a key to your friend’s apartment where you are staying, you are held hostage to spending the whole night out until she gets tired. As your friend is single and in her twenties, this means you are forced to drink a hell of a lot of Vodka Martinis in order to stay awake until 4:00 am. The good thing is that Vodka Martinis are great for getting you into the swing of things; dancing at the after hour parties, mingling and schmoozing. Mingling is part of the thing you do in a festival scene and if like me, you are being held captive by a bunch of industry people and filmmakers, the stage is set for a truly amusing time and some occasional schmoozing as well.
One thing that sets the Locarno International Film Festival apart from any other film fest around the world is the fact that in Locarno the event is accessible to the general public and not aimed exclusively at the industry people. Filmmakers and actors from everywhere mingle with the local crowd and there’s not one paparazzi in sight. The atmosphere is informal and laid back; it’s not unusual to spot a celebrity eating at the same pizza restaurant as you. All this makes for a very relaxed and festive atmosphere where movie stars wind down and movie buffs plan their daily viewing schedules with the zeal of explorers mapping out new trails.
But no matter how good a planner you may be, only the early birds get the worm. If you don’t want to miss out on the morning sessions, you’re going to have to get up early. Many of the cinemas are too small to accommodate the ever-increasing crowd of moviegoers, so you have to queue. I’ve been setting my alarm early, to go wait in line an hour before the screenings. I made a mistake once when I had to dash to the loo. By the time I got back, I’d been relegated to the back of the line and missed out.
It’s hard work. Between queuing and dashing across town, from one screening to the next, you often don’t get time to stop for a hot meal. Fortunately, I had my pushbike. It made life easier. Your basic film fest survival kit consists of a backpack containing a jumper — in case the air conditioning is too high or if you’re out until dark, bottled water, a couple of muesly bars —energy for cycling and because you never know when you are going to get your next meal. Other essentials include a foldable umbrella —because the weather is always uncertain, the movie program and a highlighter pen to circle your favorites and of course, a mobile phone. This is essential to catch up with your friends at festival downtimes; just remember to switch off your phone when you’re inside the cinema!
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